Positivi-tea
Life is hard, and many things make us anxious, but located in Dundee Slessor Gardens is a shining Pod of Positivi-tea. With its soft light working as a beacon, inviting anyone who needs it, to enjoy a calming cuppa with some good news. The routine of preparing and drinking a cuppa has been shown to decrease anxiety. The pod has been designed to feel like a familiar yet interesting space, to achieve that almost everything has been made from paper. The mundane materiality and familiar textures emphasise the already soothing surroundings.
Working Video
Using Arduino as the technology behind this project, two main functions were carried out. Firstly, as a cup was taken from the dispenser, a microswitch would be activated, triggering the thermal printer to print out a 'positivi-tea receipt'. The information printed is sourced from the Instagram page @the_happy_broadcast and is printed with a QR code for the user to scan if they desired further reading on the subject matter. As the thermal printer is unable to print on higher quality paper and unable to print complex imagery, a concept design was made for the printer when technology allows to do so.
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The internal lighting was also coded using Adruino. Due to its location in Scotland, the pod needed to emit light at all times as darkness falls early during the winter months. Using a proximity sensor, the light is altered when the pod is occupied. A cool-toned light shows when the pod is vacant, still acting as a beacon of light drawing users to the space. But when occupied and the proximity sensor is triggered, the light turns warm-toned allowing a cosy and intimate feel.
Concept Receipt
Concept Cup
Storyboard
Throughout the project, we were in discussion with a local mental health charity, 'Feeling Strong'. They were able to provide us with statistics and information about the people of Dundee and how we are affected by stress. Very kindly, the charity let us have some of their new self-help guides that we have integrated into our project. Working with this charity has been really beneficial and given validation to the aims of the project.
This project was created in collaboration with Interior Designer Megan Hutchison, Interior Designer Olivia Haddow & Product Designer Anne Valbak Christiansen