— PROJECT NAME
Mitime
— ROLE
Research
Product Design
CAD Construction
Details & Aesthetics
Presentation
— DATE
20.03.2020
For the final semester of my design degree, I was tasked with self-directing researching, designing and manufacturing a product of my choice. It was the summation of the knowledge and skills I gained over the duration of my degree.
Mitime is a product designed to personalise physical time management and productivity. It moves away from the usual digital products, and instead focuses on the satisfying physicality and tactility of tangible objects.
Mitime challenges you to re-think your time management, concentration, and self-regulation skills in beneficial ways. It allows you to better prepare, better organise, and better manage, time. So, take control of your time and end the frustration and stress caused by an unproductive day by using Mitime.
The Design Concept
Mitime’s uncomplicated design marries two main concepts: Japanese simplicity and the interlinked sustainable materiality of emotional design.
The Japanese inspiration behind the product’s creation is clear. The central design concept recalls a zen garden – the soothing pattern carved into the wood – with the associated zen emphasis on simplicity, self-discipline and focusing of the mind. The task list brings focus and acknowledges the
importance of the handwritten word. Extending the Japanese influence is the application of Wabi Sabi, a philosophy of unsophisticated beauty that emerges
within the pattern of time. This is reflected by Mitime’s colour palette – organic, earthy, and neutral tones – as well as the choice of sustainable
materials. An emotional connection between user and product is also achieve through the mutual ageing of the carefully selected materials, of Australian maple wood and copper.
Customisability
Individuality is enhanced by Mitime’s ability to customise the three main product components. Magnetic attachments allow the arrangement
of components to be adjusted to suit different working environment and personal preference.
Additionally, as each user will have different aesthetic tastes, colour customisation of the central storage component allows Mitime to compliment the palette of personalised workspaces.
Design Principles
Mitime features several key design principles to achieve a harmonious, visually appealing, and satisfyingly tactile design. Its compact structure allows it to fit comfortably on desks of varying shapes and sizes. The overall shape is symmetrical, balanced by the asymmetrical shape of the zen lid, with the familiar ‘arc’ shape repeated throughout. Contrast is provided visually through colour and textually by the juxtaposition of the tactile sensation of the wooden top and the smoothness of the other surfaces. The rhythm of evenly spaced, asymmetrical and concentric pattern of the wooden design stimulates calming and meditative emotions. The magnetic attachment of several of the components – from the pebbles to the main body – creates a satisfying audible ‘click’ in addition to the precise and pleasing marriage of the componentry.
Functionality
A conscious attempt was made to include as little technology as possible. Thus, it only features in the visual simulation of time via lights. This choice was made to diminish the possibility for distraction commonly found in digital productivity apps. Use of copper is both visually attractive and functional as it creates parallel circuitry that dictates the lighting. Each of the 32 pebbles represents a 15-minute increment. Therefore, the stacking of two equals half an hour, three forty-five minutes, and so on. As each pebble contains a resistor, this stacking alters the voltage of the current running within the device and translates into a timed variable. This calculated time is communicated to the light rings of the device to visually represent the passing of time.
While separated into 8 time blocks, this customisation of timed intervals allows the product to cater to each user’s needs – from a university student studying for an hour, to an office worker completing a 7 hour day. It Is all about the organisation of your time.
Research-backed Design
The research conducted investigated the interrelationship between distractions and the productivity of desk workers through the compiling
of literature research and the comparative analysis of primary research findings sourced from survey and interview responses. The emergence of
interconnected factors allowed for the presentation of design opportunities that informed future design decisions and improved the quality of life of intended users.
Through the completion of both primary (survey and interviews) and secondary research (literature review), it was concluded that there is close alignment between distractions and their causes, and their impact upon the productivity of both university students and office workers. The comparison of research revealed their true interconnectedness.
It has been found that there is increased cognitive processing power in handwriting as it forces the user to slow down and think about what they are writing. The removal of technology allows for better thought processing as it reduces the ‘push’ and ‘pull’ elements of mobile phones that challenge self-regulation and distract. Physical productivity techniques have also been found to increase memory capacity and motivation and decrease stress. Additionally, Mitime utilises the technique of time blocking. This technique follows Parkinson’s law which suggests tasks expand to fill the time we give them, and so, the limitation of working periods creates a competitive pressure that helps to keep users focused and results driven.
Documentation
Fusion 360, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign, Adobe Premiere Pro, Autodesk Skecthbook, Procreate, and Aspire were some of the software utilised during this design process.