cocoon
a warm hug
fall 2023 - 10 weeks
sensory design studio - this project focuses on the sense of touch.
the goal was to create a comfort in the home with warmth. replicating certain feelings with the ability for physical textures the user can interact with and touch. these experiences can help with mental activity in the brain to relax and unwind as a result.
user testing
testing was accomplished with a group of people varying in age and body type. it used a large foam form with a heating pad to stimulate parts of the final experience. users also tested different material samples when heated to gauge what the experience would be.
insights
form is too large to hug comfortable
no definite material choice but it needs to be sturdy
lighting is not necessary to the experience
ambiguous form lets users choose how they want to use
a want from people to warm different areas of the body.
final form
through changes informed by user testing, this is the final form of cocoon. the top of the form has been made thinner to accommodate a hugging motion more easily. and the general form has become more simplified.
process of building
cnc layers to build up the form while insuring an even thickness
gluing and sanding the layers
heating elements are applied throughout the internal surface
