Emotional Design: An Interactive Pot "Melant"

1. Mêlant
Rojin Moghadam
- 5088135-
Project Exploring Interactions
Design for Interaction
Industrial Design Engineering
- Jan 2022 -

2. Content
word count: 3127
o Research and design goal
o Research and design activities | explorations from Cycle 1, 2 and 3
Results | including evaluations and tests on design ideas
Conclusions | evaluate design intentions, reflect on interactions, additional learnings
o Final Design
Interaction
Experience
Appearance
(Aesthetic) expression
Technology
Materials
o Challenges and Recommendations

3. Design Goal
Problem Driven
miscommunication
and not being able to
understand the plants'
language
Possibility Driven
tangled emotions with
nature, sharing feelings,
enhance responsibility
state in human
I want to create a more tangible interaction and
emotional connection [intended interaction]
between an apartment [where] plants [what] and its
owner [who] when they can not understand the
plant's problems and needs [when].

4. Interaction Vision
Interaction with my design concept should be like
flying a kite on a mildly windy day.
Interaction Qualities:
1. Reactive
Little nudges from the wind's reflection force, transmitted via
string.
2. Adaptive
Allows humans to adjust the position of the kite based on
environmental forces.
3. In Control
Human control is granted by the string and handle.
4. Delicate feedbacks
String nudges are subtle, but they provide a clear indication of
what's going on in the sky.
5. Accomplished
Attainable and manageable activity that brings joy to people of
all ages.

5. Research and Design Overview
Ideate
Research:
Observation
Question
Interview
Persona
Design:
Design Direction
Demonstrate
Research:
Evaluate
Concept Decision
Technology Prototype
Validate
Design:
Final Concept
Iterate
Research:
Brainstorm
Dirty Prototype
Wizard of Oz
User Test
Design:
Concept Direction

6. Research and Explorations
The story of my research began with a series of observations of people. When I first started, I asked people
to send me photos and videos of how they cared for their plants, what kinds of plants they had, and where
they kept them.
Images were insufficient to convey the true nature of their predicament. Interactions are not always visible in
the images they contain. I made the decision to observe people from the outside like a fly on the wall! How? I
went to my friends' houses for reasons that were not related to the project! in which I, without revealing my
intentions, provoked the participants to inspect their plants. I was able to observe their actual actions,
interactions, and problems as a result.
Following the identification of some pain points in the journey of the majority of the observations, I created
an Instagram questionnaire to which people could easily respond in real time. Over 39 responses revealed
that the following main clusters are where users have difficulty with plants:
o Knowledge ("they randomly die")
o Forget watering
o Watering to much
o Not having time
o Get board of the responsibility
With the help of two interviews, I was able to dig deeper into those clusters and develop a persona.

7. What did users say?
I notice them when they are getting
stressed, it is just in my nature.
When I see them getting stressed, I
sigh resignedly, scratch my butt, go
get some water, and dump it on
them.
I think it has to do with attention. I can
keep plants, not bother to water them,
neglect them, and they thrive. I have a
Christmas Cactus that I left outside under
e Sugar Maple all summer, under mostly
drought conditions. I also have a number
of plants in my dining room window that
are mostly neglected… but….
I’m not completely unskilled at caring
for things. I have two children who
are fed and clothed and (usually)
bathed. I walk the dog and do the
dishes and meet deadlines. But I
can’t keep up with greenery, despite
my good intentions.
Sometimes it’s the weather you plant them
matters, the humid and also from you got
the plant. Over caring can also kill. I have
also killed many rose plants. After few
cycles I got a hang of growing them
correctly. Just keep experimenting and
learn what could have killed those plants.
Next time you will know what not to do.
One of the things that we find difficult to
do is tasks that need to be performed
infrequently that don’t provide
reminders to perform them.” But with
plants, there’s no reminder that you’ve
forgotten to water them until the leaves
turn brown — by which point, as I’ve
learned, it’s too late.
I wondered if it’s my ADHD,
my Type B personality or
some fundamental gene I
happen to lack. The plant
gene.

8. Conclusion
It was the following question that drew me in the direction of these investigations:
What if plants had the ability to
communicate their requirements?
What would it be like if they were
able to communicate?
By talking? Showing colors or
signs? Sending Messages?
As a result, the design direction for
the first cycle has therefore been
designated as "chatty plants”.

9. Iterative Tests
The "chatty plants" direction was used to start the second cycle. Ideas were grouped into three categories
after I brainstormed them: realistic ideas, critical ideas, and dreamy ideas.

10. Iterative Tests
When it came to evaluating the ideas, I started by asking people what if questions, and then I used their
imagination during a role-play activity to eliminate ideas that didn't seem relevant or appropriate for the
situation. Three ideas that made it through the first round of evaluation were put through a second round of
user testing, which included dirty prototypes that demonstrated the underlying concept, as well as some
wizard of ozing to bring the intended interactions of the concepts to life.
o The colorful sensor stick: that indicated the situation of the plant by showing a gradient of colors from
green to red. The indication was abstract and not defining the exact problem to allow user only
understand something is wrong, but also let them to figure out the problem themselves. this brings the
opportunity to connect with the plant.
o The metaphor of phoenix feather: that stems out of an old persian story, when a hero was stuck in
problems, and a phoenix gave him his feather and told him to set it into fire if he needs help so that the
phoenix comes to the rescue! Thus, for this concept, user will be the phoenix to rescue the plant if the
feather changes color to fire!
o The entangled strings: as an installation in the house that connects the plant leaves to you or other
object in the house. Therefore, slight movements of the plant will be exaggerated by the stings to let you
know the plant is there and it grabs your attention more.

11. User Tests
Scan to watch the video

12. What did users say?
I feel this emotional
belonging with my plants,
that it really breaks my
heart if they get damaged
or dry out.
Ever since I am feeling
better psychologically,
the plants are feeling and
looking better as well!

13. Conclusion
The abstract indication of the colors
was favorable by users because that
made a difference from all those
rough statistics and charts that
current plant sensors have.
Phoenix idea increased feeling of
belonging and connection.
Even though entangled strings was
literally connecting plants and
human, but it did not evoke any
positive emotions.
These ideas where still far from the
design goal:
Tangible interaction
Emotional connection
The spark in users eyes was missing,
until I saw them touching the plants’
leaves.
I started playing harmonica for them
as if it is made by the plant while
being touched. And YES! Spark is
there.
This is where the idea of Mêlant was born!

14. Mêlant
Experience your plants singing
their feelings for you

15. Evaluation I
User indicates their
current emotion by
using PrEmo tool and
Emotion wheel
Users start touching
the plant leaves, while I
played harmonica
based on how they
touched the plant (to
be reflective on their
touch)
User draws or explains
their understanding of
the interaction vision
qualities to let their
minds become
engaged with the
meanings before
evaluating them
User indicates their
emotion after
interacting with the
plant by using PrEmo
tool and Emotion
wheel
Three participants

17. Evaluation I
In Control
Human control is granted by the string
and handle.
Delicate
String nudges are subtle, but they
provide a clear indication of what's
going on in the sky.
Adaptive
Allows humans to adjust the position
of the kite based on environmental
forces.
Reactive
Little nudges from the wind's reflection
force, transmitted via string.
Accomplished
Attainable and manageable activity
that brings joy to people of all ages.

18. After
Before
PrEmo I

19. What did users say?
When I hear it playing
sad, I immediately want to
do something. The first
thing I will do is watering it.
It feels like a romantic date
with my plant at a cozy
café!
I was afraid to touch it at
first, and some of my
negative emotions are still
there, but I relly feel
connected to it

20. Conclusion
Emotional engagement has
definitely increased! The emotions
afterwards are mostly more positive.
However, it is not a force to create
only positive emotions, the fact that
emotional connection is build
between user and plant, is a good
sign of moving towards my design
goal.
Addictiveness of the concept is not
clearly represented yet.
The first instinct of all participants
taking action to what they hear from
the plant, is watering that.
Since I can not implement all sensors for
this project, I chose moisture sensor
because of this user feedback.

21. Mêlant
French adjectif
Difficile à comprendre.
English Verb · (transitive) to mix ·
(reflexive, followed by the
preposition de) to meddle in, to
interfere in, to get mixed up in ·
(card games) to shuffle.

22. Final Concept
When you touch the plant,
It starts to play music.
The melody is a reflection on the
moisture level of the soil.
This way, the plant communicates
its needs to you with a more tangible
interaction using multisensory
stimuli: Touch and Sound
What
Many people enjoy keeping plants
in their homes. There might be
various intentions behind this
decision; however, no matter why
people are keeping plants, they
might face difficulties taking care
of them. When there is something
wrong with a plant, they can not
intuitively understand what it
needs by only looking at it.
Why How
The conductive touch board enables
all the conductive materials to be
considered as a signal to the code
while being touched. Plant and
human skin is also conductive. If the
board is connected to a little part of
a plant with conductive strings or
cooper tape, by touching any part of
the plant, board is activated and
plays a set of music that has been
recorded.

23. Scenario
Imagine coming back home after a tough day. You feel emotional and tired.
You see your plants sitting quietly in the corner of the house. They need you to take care of them,
but you are tired and they do not really show how they feel by you, and what they need.
Now, if you walk towards them. start touching the leaves slowly,
they will talk to you with the language of music!
If they need more water, they will speak in minor scale to you, expressing their sadness,
and if they are ok and ned no more water, major scale will be spoken!
Now, you feel the interaction with your plant, as if it is your little pet,
that can communicate their needs.
You feel more in control of the situation,
and the emotional connection fades all your tiredness away!
Scan to watch the video

24. Interaction
The interaction with this concept is two-way,
touching the leaves by the human,
and hearing music from the plant.
Indication of the plant's needs are abstract and not too literal and direct.
This makes it more poetic, and a metaphor of interacting with pets or new-borns.

25. Experience
The Experience with this concept is
emotion evoking and moving as described by the users.

26. Appearance
The appearance of the concept should be as subtle as possible,
to avoid the feeling that technology is interacting with the user
instead of the plant itself. Therefore, it should not be an extra object
attached to the plant,but a tiny hidden sensor in the soil.

27. (Aesthetic) expression
Subtleness is the key in this concept.
Hence, the less this concept expresses itself as an
external object, the more "emotional connection“
(design goal) will be build within
the actors (human and plant).
3 melodies, indicating 3 situations for the plant:
1. Underwatered plant: Sad
The Pure Minor scale (official name: Aeolian mode),
e.g. C Sharp Minor Melodic → known as the saddest scale in music
2. Adequately watered plant: Happy
The happiest key is the F Major which is associated with victory,
triumph over difficulty, relief, and struggle finally conquered
3. Overwatered plant: Frightening
Tritone scale → is known as the devil's interval - Broken Chords C to E Flat

28. Materials
The intended final prototype should be different with the
functional technical prototype. Therefore, the most fitting
material for the product should be adaptive to the nature.
Wooden case and textile speaker to cover the plant pot is
chosen based on the mentioned argument.
After evaluation, crafted materials were favorable by users,
therefore, the final material was set to be “crochet”.

29. Technology
Technology involved in the concept include a bare conductive touch board, and a
moisture sensor. Together with this technology, it becomes posible to play music by
touching the plant leaves and make conditions for the melody based on the moisture
level of the soil.
- Soil moisture sensor → sensitivity in 3 levels of dryness, medium, and too much water
“I can barely spot the difference between these two melodies, both sound kind of sad.”
Speaker is hidden in the pot → textile speaker

30. Evaluation II
User indicates their
current emotion by
using PrEmo tool and
Emotion wheel
User starts touching
the plant leaves, and
the prototype starts
playing the melodies.
Then, user is asked to
take an action based
on the melody that
they here (like watering
or changing the
location of the plant)
User draws or explains
their understanding of
the interaction vision
qualities to let their
minds become
engaged with the
meanings before
evaluating them
User indicates their
emotion after
interacting with the
plant by using PrEmo
tool and Emotion
wheel
Three participants

32. Evaluation I
In Control
Human control is granted by the string
and handle.
Delicate
String nudges are subtle, but they
provide a clear indication of what's
going on in the sky.
Adaptive
Allows humans to adjust the position
of the kite based on environmental
forces.
Reactive
Little nudges from the wind's reflection
force, transmitted via string.
Accomplished
Attainable and manageable activity
that brings joy to people of all ages.

33. Evaluation II
In Control
Human control is granted by the string
and handle.
Delicate
String nudges are subtle, but they
provide a clear indication of what's
going on in the sky.
Adaptive
Allows humans to adjust the position
of the kite based on environmental
forces.
Reactive
Little nudges from the wind's reflection
force, transmitted via string.
Accomplished
Attainable and manageable activity
that brings joy to people of all ages.

34. After
Before
PrEmo I

35. After
Before
PrEmo II

36. What did users say?
I can barely spot the
difference between these
two melodies, both sound
kind of sad.
What if I could have
chosen my own taste of
music instead of piano
scales?
I wish I could choose an
Iranian instrument like
“Sitar” for my “Buntnessel”,
I think it really fits her!

37. Conclusion
Comparing to the previous
evaluation, some of the interaction
vision qualities have improved, such
as being “adaptive”.
This is made possible by the
technology, while in the last test I
was playing the role of technology.
Users mentioned they would like to
hear a specific music or melody
instead of the default melody.
Each of them had their own
preferences and I did not find a
common ground.
Therefore, I added a webshop service to the
concept in order for the users not only to
choose their preferred color and size of plant
pot, but also to download a pack of 3track
music (sad, happy, frightened) based on their
taste of music or preferred instrument.

38. Buy one Melant hand-crafted crochet pot that comes with a
fabric speaker for once; add music packages as long as you
want to change the melody of your plants singing! You can
choose what type of music fits more to your plant.This music
will be the communicating language between you and the plant.
How?
Start touching the leaves softly, and the plant starts the music.
If it needs more water, the melody will feel more sad. But if the
water is adequate, it will sing happier.
Scan to visit the webshop

39. Last Feedback
In my final presentation, I asked my fellow classmates to reflect on my design after hearing and viewing my
concept, and they did so with enthusiasm
It would be preferable if they could try out my final prototype in person rather than online. However, because
the majority of them have already seen my process and prototypes, I am confident in this final piece of
feedback.
It can be seen that my design goal is relatively close to being achieved by the final concept, and that the
qualities of interaction vision are more or less present in the final concept.
Please find the results in the following pages.
Scan to answer Mentimeter!

42. Challenges and Recommendations
Emotions are
dependent on many
aspects, we are not
able to make a big
change by only one
product, but the
influence,
engagement and
connection is there
now.
Prototype is too
delicate and
fragile to move!
Like hoe I burned
the speaker’s
amplifier board…
Does the added
webshop actually
solve the feeling
of “in control”? Moisture sensor was
used because of the
first instanced of users
watering the plant. But
more sensors and need
indicators could be
explored like luminosity
and humidity.

43. Mêlant
Rojin Moghadam
- 5088135-
Project Exploring Interactions
Design for Interaction
Industrial Design Engineering
- Jan 2022 -