aura: Interactive Light Object for Non-Verbal Connection
aura: Interactive Light Object for Non-Verbal Connection
ROLE
Product Designer
Product Designer
ROLE
TIMELINE
3 Months (2025)
3 Months (2025)
TIMELINE
TEAM
Individual
Product manager
Engineers
Data analyst
Copywriters
TEAM
RESPONSIBILITY
RESPONSIBILITY
Own project end to end, including concept development, interaction design, physical prototyping, and visual execution
Stakeholder research
AI tool benchmarking
Product Definition Workflow Design
Interaction Design Engineering Handoff
HOW IT STARTED
HOW IT STARTED
This project began from a personal experience of distance after moving from Seoul to New York.
This project began from a personal experience of distance after moving from Seoul to New York.
While exploring stranger interactions, I discovered that quiet, non-verbal moments could feel unexpectedly meaningful.
While exploring stranger interactions, I discovered that quiet, non-verbal moments could feel unexpectedly meaningful.
"aura" was created for people in cities who may feel emotionally isolated despite constant proximity, offering a soft, ambient sense of connection without social pressure.
"aura" was created for people in cities who may feel emotionally isolated despite constant proximity, offering a soft, ambient sense of connection without social pressure.
INTERVIEW INSIGHT
INTERVIEW INSIGHT
Had an interview with a music therapist to understand why some people choose non-verbal therapeutic methods over talk-based approaches. The interview highlighted that words can sometimes become a barrier, especially when people feel pressure to explain or articulate emotions.
Had an interview with a music therapist to understand why some people choose non-verbal therapeutic methods over talk-based approaches. The interview highlighted that words can sometimes become a barrier, especially when people feel pressure to explain or articulate emotions.
Words can increase emotional pressure rather than relieve it
Words can increase emotional pressure rather than relieve it
Tactile and sensory interaction supports emotional reset
Tactile and sensory interaction supports emotional reset
Non-verbal expression lowers the cost of connection
Non-verbal expression lowers the cost of connection
Connection can begin through presence, not explanation
Connection can begin through presence, not explanation
This interview sparked my interest in tactile, non-verbal communication and directly shaped aura’s direction as an ambient, low-pressure interaction system.
This interview sparked my interest in tactile, non-verbal communication and directly shaped aura’s direction as an ambient, low-pressure interaction system.
CONCEPT STATEMENT
CONCEPT STATEMENT
aura = tactile + meditative + ambient telepresence
aura = tactile + meditative + ambient telepresence
Purposes
Purposes
To provide a personal, meditative reset
To reveal hidden, ambient connections with nearby strangers
To provide a personal, meditative reset
To reveal hidden, ambient connections with nearby strangers
Connection doesn’t have to be verbal.
Uses proximity and shared, hands-on interaction.
Helps you feel a gentle sense of belonging in your city.
Connection doesn’t have to be verbal.
Uses proximity and shared, hands-on interaction.
Helps you feel a gentle sense of belonging in your city.
Help you feel present, relaxed, and quietly connected to what’s around you.
Help you feel present, relaxed, and quietly connected to what’s around you.
INITIAL PROTOTYPE
INITIAL PROTOTYPE
Designed for flat, tangram-style play
Embedded magnets in each piece
Designed for flat, tangram-style play
Embedded magnets in each piece
Warm → cool light shift as the default interaction
Warm → cool light shift as the default interaction
When matching sides clicked together, pieces lit up together (linked → blue light)
When matching sides clicked together, pieces lit up together (linked → blue light)
USER TESTING
USER TESTING
Key Signals Observed
Calming & pleasant experience
Calming & pleasant experience
avg 6.6 / 7
Most participants described the interaction as emotionally calming and meditative.
Most participants described the interaction as emotionally calming and meditative.
Sense of connection
Sense of connection
avg 6.3 / 7
Users reported feeling connected through presence, not explicit interaction.
Users reported feeling connected through presence, not explicit interaction.
Low-pressure interaction
Low-pressure interaction
avg 6.5 / 7
The absence of rules or goals reduced anxiety and encouraged exploration.
The absence of rules or goals reduced anxiety and encouraged exploration.
Clarity of interaction
Clarity of interaction
avg 5.8 / 7
Some users experienced brief confusion, indicating a need for gentler signaling.
Some users experienced brief confusion, indicating a need for gentler signaling.
Behavioral Patterns
Behavioral Patterns
Curiosity over interpretation
Curiosity over interpretation
Users focused on wondering about the other person, rather than “figuring out” the system.
Users focused on wondering about the other person, rather than “figuring out” the system.
Warm light felt most connective
Warm light felt most connective
Warm orange tones were consistently associated with comfort and emotional safety.
Warm orange tones were consistently associated with comfort and emotional safety.
3D, tactile exploration emerged naturally
3D, tactile exploration emerged naturally
All participants interacted spatially, treating the object as a physical form rather than a flat interface.
All participants interacted spatially, treating the object as a physical form rather than a flat interface.
FINALIZED INTERACTION LOGIC
FINALIZED INTERACTION LOGIC
Simplified to reduce cognitive load.
Default state
Default state
Soft white ambient glow
Soft white ambient glow
When two users are within range
When two users are within range
Proximity and simultaneous interaction are detected
Both objects shift from white to warm orange
Proximity and simultaneous interaction are detected
Both objects shift from white to warm orange
Design adjustments based on testing
Design adjustments based on testing
Removed the confusing “match the same shape” mechanic
Shifted to a first-connection logic
Removed the confusing “match the same shape” mechanic
Shifted to a first-connection logic
-> If two users interact within the same range, the light changes together
-> If two users interact within the same range, the light changes together
Observed that users naturally interacted with the object in 3D rather than on a flat surface
Observed that users naturally interacted with the object in 3D rather than on a flat surface
→ Embraced open-ended, spatial interaction instead of fixed rules
→ Embraced open-ended, spatial interaction instead of fixed rules
COMPANION APP
COMPANION APP
Anonymous connection, quietly extended
Anonymous connection, quietly extended
This is a simple companion app that extends aura’s anonymous, ambient connections. It avoids messaging or profiles, and instead records shared moments of presence without revealing identity.
This is a simple companion app that extends aura’s anonymous, ambient connections. It avoids messaging or profiles, and instead records shared moments of presence without revealing identity.
Features
Features
Reset: Start a new calm interaction
Reset: Start a new calm interaction
Connection Log: Each synced moment appears as a warm, anonymous stamp
Connection Log: Each synced moment appears as a warm, anonymous stamp
Connection Range: Adjust Bluetooth proximity
Connection Range: Adjust Bluetooth proximity
WHAT I LEARNED
WHAT I LEARNED