This document outlines Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino's approach to designing for the Internet of Things (IoT). It discusses three approaches: 1) design to extend existing devices, 2) design to comfort users by augmenting objects invisibly, and 3) design to disrupt through new product languages. It provides examples for each approach, such as Nike+ and Ambient Umbrella. The document also covers considerations for IoT design like hardware, connectivity, standards, and privacy.

1. Soft,
not
slow.
Defining a design process for
the internet of things
Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino
@iotwatch
alex@designswarm.com

2. Tinker London
2007-2010
Homesense project
Autumn 2011
First UK distributor
of the Arduino
R&D projects for
BT, BBC, Nokia, BFI, Arup…
Bottom-up smart homes
Now part of MoMa’s
permanent collection
IDII
2004-2006

3. Good Night Lamp
March 2012

4. #iot
The internet of things can be loosely
defined as:
1. what happens when we
embed connectivity in everyday objects.
2. what happens when those objects
are designed with an understanding
of the affordances of the web.

5. the
shape
of
the
conversation
Hardware
(open/closed)
Connectivity
(wifi, zigbee/radio,
GSM)
Battery life
Standards
Privacy
Security
What things?

6. What things?
Smart cities
Smart cars
Home automation
Products
as
part
of
an
ecology.

7. 3
approaches.
1. Design to extend.
2. Design to comfort.
3. Design to disrupt.

8. Your product extends the
capabilities of an existing device.
It’s tethered to a screen.
If connectivity is lost, the object
becomes unusable because
its control interface is inaccessible.
Non-objects, more like accessories.
Design
to
extend.

9. Nike +

10. Green Goose

11. CubeSensors

12. Olly & Molly

13. Piggy-back on an existing product
and augment it with connectivity.
Technology is invisible so everything
looks normal.
This is Big Brother territory.
You may be redefining a user’s
assumptions about a product.
Design
to
comfort
(or
trouble).

14. Ambiant Umbrella

15. Calypso Key

16. Develop a design language that is
unique to users’ interaction with
a new technology.
Developing a new visual
language consumers.
Develop a new space in retail.
Design
to
disrupt.

17. Google Glass

18. Nabaztag

19. Fitbit

20. Good Night Lamp

21. BleepBleeps

22. Little Printer

23. Uncanny
valley
of
products.
gadget
object
iot

24. An #iot pop-up shop
August 2013-Christmas
In collaboration with

25. Cyprus
Mallorca
China
Cyprus

26. Cyprus

27. Thanks.
@iotwatch
@GNLteam
@CFretail
Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino
alex@designswarm.com