OPENIDEO Challenge :
Breathing Point
A digital service supporting people in need of social interaction or personal space, aiming to improve mental well-being through balanced access to both. I partnered on this service design challenge, co-leading the research and focusing on the digital spatial design to translate user insights into meaningful, interactive environments.
Open IDEO Challenge
Mental Wellbeing & Social Connection
Accessibility, Empathy, Balance, Safety
Challenge
Cited from the GAVI Alliance website, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Covid-19 pandemic drove people to seek crisis mental health services. The feelings of loneliness, isolation, restlessness, and anxiety were increased during lockdown.
As we are transitioning to the new normal, from the pandemic we learned that balanced access to both personal spaces and social environments are necessary for people’s mental health. Many of us overlooked those as privileges but now we have known better that not all people can access that easily.
Results
Breathing Point is a digital service that supports mental well-being by offering two simple paths: time for yourself or social connection.
Users can reflect through an AI-guided tool, relax in a calming virtual space, or hear supportive stories. Those wanting to connect can join safe, moderated communities or access expert advice. It’s designed to help people find balance and support as they adjust to post-pandemic life.
The Services
Personal Feeling’s Validation
User will be asked to type in their condition at the moment. By transforming that into words, we are trying to trigger self acknowledgement of their feelings. The AI will generate the words used in the entry to create the report.Virtual Space
User can experience the virtual spaces using their own device (mobile or PC).Virtual Communities
User can choose to join —diverse but grouped by interest— virtual communities. For the user who come to the service with ‘problem’ along with the intention to find solution, the service will recommend certain communities with expert contribution.
The three key features include: an AI that responds to users' current feelings, a calming virtual space for personal time, and moderated community spaces with future plans for gamified interaction.
Conclusion
Its a simple, supportive space to either recharge alone or connect with others—based on what you need most.