Pivot

2021

Pivot enhances relationships between people and their everyday items by giving them voices and unique personalities.

Pivot is an IoT system. Clips (small sensors) can be attached to any items in your living space. When the clips detect an event, the Hub (speaker) will project directional audio, making it seem as if a specific item is speaking. The items' conversations range from comical usefulness to playful banter.

Contribution
Design Research
UI + UX Developer
Lead Fabricator
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Collaborators
Ryan Stephen
Mark Shumskiy
Betty Lo
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Design Thinking

To unpack the topic of IoT in the home, our team decided to use an atypical approach to common design methodology. Instead of initially grounding our project in research, we began with a group brainstorm activity to promote divergent thinking. We thought broadly of things we usually do in the home, to things we never do in the home, and random ideas that bridged the divide. We then used the 8x8 sketching activity to help visualize potentially promising ideas. After reviewing the collection of ideas we worked backwards to identify common themes. Four themes emerged: social home, home as a personality, constrained home, and whimsical home. These themes provided a solid foundation to then move back into the research phase.

Post-it note ideation: things we normally do in the home

Post-it note ideation: things we don't normally do in the home

Design Research

During the primary research phase we used participatory interviews and sketches to better understand three areas of the home: the positive, the negative, and the speculative. These interviews provided a wealth of information, which we synthesized into three guiding principles: supporting low energy tasks, creating companionship, and emphasizing one of a kind originality. Following the primary research we used secondary research, storyboarding, persona + journey mapping, and association mapping to build ideas around these principles and themes.

Prototyping

Pivot was prototyped to work through design decisions and illustrate functionality. To prototype the app interface, we used user flow analysis and wire-framing to reach optimized and high fidelity screens. For the physical prototype we used a variety of methods outlined below.

Original Sketch
After brainstorming various design directions, we narrowed the idea into a single direction.

Form Prototyping
‍Using cardboard prototyping, we began to explore potential form factor and experience.

Material Exploration
Using Fusion 360, we modeled the device to visualize potential material combinations.

Final Form
After finalizing on material, we reconsidered the electrical componentry and made some accommodating changes to the design.

3D Printing
Using a makerspace and 3D printer, we brought the clip and hub prototypes to life.

Physical Computing
To program the ball to pivot, we used a magnetized servo motor and ball.

Materialization
In order to mimic the hub's speaker mesh material, we bought fabric and spray painted it the appropriate color.

Video Prototype
The final step was bringing each element together into a single video prototype to illustrate the IoT system in use.