Simon LutterSenior UX Designer
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Impulse: a smart-home object that changes behaviour

Invention Design · HfG · 2016/17

A screenless cube that shows household water use through colour in real time, designed around motivation instead of comfort.

White Impulse cube on a shelf
Role
Research, concept, visualisation (team of three).
Team
Tebeya Leicht, Florian Deitermann, Simon Lutter · Prof. Jörg Beck
Key insight
People know what's good. They lack motivation, and don't know how much they use.
Context
Invention Design, 3rd semester, winter 2016/17

Challenge

Most smart-home devices build a comfort zone around the user. We wanted the opposite: a system that motivates more attentive consumption of water, electricity and other resources.

Research: motivation models and behaviour change

What we did

  1. Research motivationIntrinsic and extrinsic motivation, gamification and reward models, Maslow's pyramid.
  2. Find the gapFamilies don't know how much water they use when showering, washing or cooking.
  3. Layer 1: colourThe cube shows current water behaviour through colour, in real time.
  4. Layer 2: pick it upLift the cube and its sides reveal detailed usage information.
Concept film
Second-layer states

Design principles

VisualisationThe translation from measured values to an understandable visual mattered more than the technology.
IntegrationAesthetic, blends into the living space, and only steps forward when feedback is needed.
Human designNo screen, no visible tech. Tangible interactions feel intuitive.