Pomodoro Panda
Interactive Product Design
Overview
The given prompt for my studio class was to design and build a light with a purpose. For our smart products class, we had to code and build a functioning timer. I decided to combine both prompts, giving my light the purpose of being a timer.
The Pomodoro Panda was created as a functional time management tool whose purpose is to enhance productivity and minimize digital distractions in work periods by using light cues and phone-proximity sensing to streamline the pomodoro technique.
Class: Smart Products and Sophomore Studio
Spring 2023, 7-week project
Tools used:
Laser Cutters
Bandsaw
Belt sander
Vinyl Cutter
Spackle, primer, spray paint
Soldering stations
Coding program: Arduino IDE
Ideation
Chosen Concept
Concept Designs
We were tasked with ideating at least 24 different ideas. I came up with 6 study/break timer lights, 6 sleep timers, and miscellaneous ideas. From these, I wanted to focus on the study/break timers and made developed concepts of that.
I wanted to experiment with different shapes and forms for the product. It had to be able to house two sections of lights, and have a spot for the phone to be placed onto. The controls had to be easily visible and be cohesive with the overall aesthetic.
Before we dive deeper,
what is "the pomodoro" method?
a time management method based on 25-minute stretches of focused work broken by five-minute breaks.
Design criteria
I wanted the user to customize their study and break intervals, and the Pomodoro Panda allows for full time customizability
Have functionality (pressing buttons, lights lighting up, sensor working)
Be able to hold a phone in its arms
Time work, and break separately
Use light as an indicator of when time is over
Be alarming of time being up, but not overly alarming as to annoy or bother the user
Must
be able to be opened to fix wiring issues or other electronic component problems
Be compact for a desk space
Should
Have different animal variations in the future
Have bendable arms for different sized phones or phone cases
Have bamboo leaf attachments
Could
Making a foil model for scale
Testing out size and cutouts for base structure
Putting together the base with acrylic section
A look at the solid-core wiring before I switched to flexible silicone wires
Testing LED strip diffusion on the mylar
A view of the LED diffusion method from above
Shaping and prepping the high-density foam pieces for spray painting
Primering the pieces prior to spray painting the color
Heat bending the acrylic pipe to look like bamboo
Integrated model in progress, with buttons sticking out where the ears would go
Prototyping process
Storyboard
