A master’s thesis exploring touch and
materials for relaxation through self-massage
The assignment
The goal of this masters thesis was to develop an innovative, meaningful product for care and well-being, made of smart material interfaces.
This project was founded by The Institute of Making : EU project which brings together product designers and material researchers to develop a new generation of affordable materials and products that respond to touch with light.
Research process
Three key research questions were answered through literature research, consultation with physiotherapists, and an empirical study.
1. Which material properties combined with specific movements elicit a gratifying massage in a person’s back?
2. What are the characteristics of a back massage in terms of pressure and motion?
3. How do we achieve a relaxing massaging experience: with a static material tactility combination; or is it necessary to provide a dynamic set of combinations to elicit different experiences?
The results served to create a material and tactility matrix and gave clear direction for the ideation process.
Design process
The idea of a massaging wall was explored in depth, since it fitted the design goal, vision and research insights.
”Enable people to shift from being passive recipients of health care to active practitioners of self-care by massaging their body.”
A hand-on materials exploration was done to facilitate quick learning cycles on the aesthetic assessment of the product. Three concepts were made as experiential prototypes to test and evaluate the concept. Each portrayed one of the three design directions: meditate, play and embrace.
These findings formed significantly informed the final concept MURMUR.
Murmur
As a designer I firmly believe that you are the master of your own body, thus the one that understands your pain. By exploring the product’s surface you can naturally relieve your body. The product’s structure responds and understands your movements, to accompany and secure the interaction.
MURMUR was prototyped in a 1:1 scale, and exhibited at ‘Made off..” The final stages of the concept development focused on understanding and exploring valid ways in which MURMUR could guide and communicate its intentions to massage your back. To represent these, this thesis concluded with the formation of meaningful scenario, brought to life in this video.
Graduate student: Master of Science in Design for Interaction, 2014
Sponsors: Technical University of Delft, Netherlands & The Institute of Making
Mentor: Dr. Elvin Karana
Supervisor: Dr. Marieke Sonneveld