Nelle : a smart, endearing work companion promoting relaxation in offices

• Main Author: Ng, Qin Yu
• Other Authors: Chalit Kongsuwan
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: DRNTU::Visual arts and music::Design::Product
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/78056
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Office work is a fundamental and ever present element in the society. In today’s fast paced world, workplace stress has escalated to a point of 'Karoshi', a term coined by the Japanese to describe 'death from overworking'. Targeting young desk-bound office employees working in high stress society, this project looks into design solutions that incorporates coping techniques to alleviate workplace stress and reinvigorate office workers. Inspired by our interactions with cute comfort objects or animals and how it affects us psychological, the project aims to introduce an endearing work companion that can create snippets of relaxing and happy intervals at work, temporarily distracting and relieving workers from mental strains. The aim of this project is not to entirely eliminate workplace stress but to help in empowering the audience to cope with stress.The final product outcome, Nelle, consist of a series of table top products and an application linked to the products. The visual, sound and tactile experience are carefully curated, inspired from the power of cuteness, to stimulate the happiness centre of our mind.