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Umie
Separation Anxiety support
University project
Separation Anxiety is the most prevalent anxiety disorder amongst children under
Separation Anxiety is defined as “the overwhelming sensation of fear and panic felt by a child at the departure of their primary attachment figure”.
One of the first times children experience prolonged separation from their caregiver is when they start attending nursery, where are they are left in an unfamiliar environment with unfamiliar people.
The experience of first settling in your child into care is widely known as emotionally and physically strenuous for both caregivers and children. This can be amplified by the stress of full-time work, particularly when returning to employment after childbirth.
One of the first times children experience prolonged separation from their caregiver is when they start attending nursery, where are they are left in an unfamiliar environment with unfamiliar people.
The experience of first settling in your child into care is widely known as emotionally and physically strenuous for both caregivers and children. This can be amplified by the stress of full-time work, particularly when returning to employment after childbirth.
Umie is a solution that allows children to create comfort toys from their caregiver’s clothing or a piece of material that holds a familar smell. The concept harnesses the power of maternal odours to facilitate self-soothing and transition into childcare.
Conducting user research on full-time working parents with children in formal care, I was able to gather insights and opportunities. Remote ethnography, alongside other primary research methods suitable for limited user interaction, were applied.
Pain points in the caregiver’s experience of settling their child into nursery were used to determine opportunities and ideate concepts. I presented low-fidelity prototypes for user feedback and development of the concept.
Pain points in the caregiver’s experience of settling their child into nursery were used to determine opportunities and ideate concepts. I presented low-fidelity prototypes for user feedback and development of the concept.
In 2019, 63% of households consisted of parents who both worked full-time.
1.
sentimental objects can be unsuitable for nurseries (dirt or damage)
sentimental objects can be unsuitable for nurseries (dirt or damage)
2.
caregivers working full-time struggle to develop attachment to their child
caregivers working full-time struggle to develop attachment to their child
3.
eco-conscious purchasing habits are growing amongst parents
eco-conscious purchasing habits are growing amongst parents
Paper Prototypes of Web UI
Process ‘Comfort Material’ is collected from user to manufacture toy from child’s draw
Sustainable StrategiesOriginal Umie characters can be customised with stock fabric collected from recycled toys
Secondary Touchpoint Packaging is provided to collect material and deliver toy to user
Experience Prototyping the user journey
High-fidelity UI Visuals
Skills applied:
• User & Market Research (primary & secondary)
• Research on Technology & Materials
• Sustainable Design Strategies
• Prototyping
• Branding
• Service Design
• Software proficiencies in Sketch, Adobe XD & Adobe Suite
• User & Market Research (primary & secondary)
• Research on Technology & Materials
• Sustainable Design Strategies
• Prototyping
• Branding
• Service Design
• Software proficiencies in Sketch, Adobe XD & Adobe Suite