Encouraging COVID-safe behaviour through innovative smart jewellery
C-Zero is an innovative smart jewellery system that combines wearable technology with a mobile application. The design was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and uses haptic vibrations to alert users when they subconsciously touch their face and mouth.
Winner of the 2020 A'Design Award, School of Design Innovation student Sophia Neill sat down to talk to us about her Bachelor of Design Innovation project 'c-zero'—a smart jewellery system designed to engage users in COVID-safe behaviours.
Sophia created 'c-zero' for her class INDN321 - Interactive Products/Ngā Hua Hei Pāhekohekotanga, as a part of her Bachelor of Design Innovation degree majoring in Industrial Design. Course lecturer Associate Professor Edgar Rodríguez explains,"INDN321 teaches students how to investigate the experiences of people in their everyday lives, and to design products that create a back-and-forth conversation with people through interactions."
During lockdown in 2020, Sophia's class was given the challenge of modifying an interaction in response to COVID-19.
"When it comes to COVID it feels like a lot the preventative products were very sterile and medical—not something you wanted to include in your day-to-day life. At the time we were wearing medical masks and it was all a little bit scary. I wanted to do something that people didn't even notice, something discreet.
"Our task was to change an interaction, to analyse behaviour. I looked into how we interact with ourselves in the spread of COVID-19. Rather than add an interaction, I wanted to remove an interaction—like touching your face or putting your hand near your mouth."
From ideation to prototyping Sophia created 'c-zero'—a wearable jewellery system that uses haptic vibrations to alert users when they subconsciously touch their face or mouth.
"Once I had the idea it just felt right, the design came easily because it took inspiration from existing silver jewellery and simplifying things."
"Sophia made a beautiful connection by using rings, something people already wear in their hands, and designed another piece of jewellery-like technology in the form of earrings. If the earrings sense the ring getting closer, an alarm prevents the person from touching their face. Designing complex technology in the form of jewellery makes it a lot more accessible to people from both a cultural and psychological perspective," says Associate Professor Rodríguez.
Currently, Sophia is well under way with her Master of Design Innovation degree with research focusing on 3D printed heels. Sophia explains that her current goal is to integrate parametric design into her projects and to utilise new technologies to create new systems.
Since 'c-zero' Sophia has grown as a designer.
"To my younger designer self, the advice I have is don't ever doubt your ideas. A lot of us designers will come up with ideas and not take them further. But once you conceptualise something is when you realise if it's a good idea or not."
We look forward to seeing what the future holds for Sophia and her future projects.
For more information on Sophia Neill and her projects please visit her portfolio site.