Focus Safe
In a 5-week integrated design course, we were tasked with exploring the future of learning. Through interviews with students, we discovered that although some classes had returned to in-person formats, many students were still conducting their studies in their apartments. However, we observed that these workspaces were frequently cluttered and full of distractions. As a result of our research, we shifted our attention to the question: “How might we encourage students to stay actively engaged and focused during online classes and independent study?”
Ideation Sketches
As we honed in on the issue of distractions and maintaining focus during class and study time, we sketched out a few concepts. We decided on the lockbox because it was simple to operate and was the favorite of our test subjects.
Final Prototype
Our team constructed the final prototype of our product by using a toy lockbox and masking tape. Unlike other lock boxes, our focus on safe prioritizes productivity over security. It is easy to use - simply open the box, place your distractions inside, set the desired time, and start working. The device has a charging port to keep your devices charged during your focused work session. The emergency key lock feature had mixed reviews, but it was included as a backup option. When your session is over, the box will pop open and play a celebratory jingle to acknowledge your hard work.
