The Issue of not having a charged phone battery is vital when you need to call for help.

Using the power of sound, the Safe & Sound case charges your phone wirelessly using piezo energy. The Case is designed with mounted transformers on the back in order to harness maximum power. 

CONTEXT

Time: 2 wk.

Team: 5

Year: 2019

The Greater Manchester Police and City Co came to us with a wicked problem within Manchester’s night-time economy. The night-time economy is business activity that happens after day time employment or education. For the City of Manchester, it was in Jeopardy. They came to Hyper Island with this brief:

How might we create a support tool for a Manchester night out? A night out that helps you consider how to engage with what the city has to offer in a safe and enjoyable way, and what to do if things start to go wrong? 

PROCESS

My team and I approached this brief using Design Thinking methods and structuring our design process through the double diamond. We used Design Thinking to empathise with the people of Manchester and understand the needs of the people. As the initial problem was vague and hard to understand. My team used Design Thinking through the Double Diamond.

Intial Problem:

How might we create a support tool for a Manchester night out? A night out that helps you consider with what the city has to offer in a safe and enjoyable way, and what to do if things start to go wrong?

Discover

What do people do at night?

What makes people feel vulnerable at night?

How can keep people staying out?

Define

Insights point to phones, people feel safe when they are online.

Problem Redefined

How might we keep phones charged during a night out in Manchester, in order to enable communication and navigation, and keep people safe?

Develop

Create prototypes and explore concepts. Concepts included charging phones through modern charging stations/ charging stations/ urban spaces. Furniture that could charge phones. Key-chain accessories, etc.

Deliver

We analysed and discussed each concept throughly. Upon choosing one, we rapidly iterated to polish the solution. 

Proposed Solution

A phone case that harnesses sound waves into battery life. This is done through Piezo energy. The case is designed with transformers mounted on the back in order to harness maximum power.

Role: Team Leader/ Concept Artist

The equaliser in teams discussions
As a leader, I facilitated discussion and made sure everyone was heard. Furthermore, it was my job to manage conflicts and help the team come to a consensus. Along with conducting quantitive and qualitative research with the team, I was also the concept Artist, I designed and drew the mock-ups and prototypes.