HP TRIBE

Client: HP
Year: 2017

Team: Nish Gupta (ID)
Nicolas Ramirez (ID)
Ophelia Chiu (Graphic Design)
Matt Lee (UI Design)

View on Spark Design Awards - Gold Winner

The Problem

Humans in the 2010s are used to interacting digitally and losing physical connection with their environment and others.

Objective

Bringing digital culture to the physical world. Enhancing human connection and improving the quality of an in-person conversation without the influence of a mobile device.

Our Solution

Tribe is a system of adaptable jewelry devices, designed for self-expression and enhanced human connectivity. We imagined a future of computing with seamless exchanges of information between people based on natural gestures and interactions. We observed that current devices are used for personal use, often interrupting interpersonal interactions. Tribe removes mobile screens that are utilized for private personal use and introduces an outward-facing display that communicates information about the user to the world.

The Tribe system is based on insights gathered from ethnographic research with Generation-Z. Tribe’s components are designed to adapt to be worn as different types of jewelry and can be used as an identification device, pager, keycard, and wearable camera. Tribe’s two devices, Beacon and Halo, help people share contact information through handshakes and record and view their daily interactions with others. Tribe badges allow wearers to signify membership in communities, encouraging the initiation of exciting conversations.

Beacon collects interactions then connects to smart devices to show daily recaps and highlights of the day. Our proposed app presents a summary of the user’s interactions that can be reviewed at the end of the day, silencing the stream of constant notifications throughout the day.

Halo is a unique ring that masquerades as jewelry when idle and issues reminders when necessary. Our research revealed that the quality of an in-person conversation is influenced if one person has a mobile device out, even if they are not using it. There is anxiety over the pressure to establish an engaging conversation before the person chooses to pick up and engage with their phone instead. Halo allows limited access to information, which means that people aren’t on their phone constantly, susceptible to being inadvertently distracted by other apps they have installed. Halo prevents you from being engaged with everything that’s available, freeing up your attention to the people and experiences in front of you.