Project Overview

The MELO Bubble Ring, inspired by fidget toys, is a smart ring designed to discreetly manage anxiety through tactile interaction. Paired with the MELO app, it uses interactive characters to visualize five mood states—Joyful, Chill, Melo, Tense, and Overwhelmed—based on real-time emotional tracking.

The combination of mood tracking, personalized recommendations, and intuitive app features fosters mindfulness and relaxation. With its playful design and seamless integration, the MELO Bubble Ring offers a unique, user-friendly approach to understanding and enhancing mental well-being.

Organisation

QIMU Design

Team

Shuting Jiang - Senior Product Designer
Tianyue Wu - Senior Product Designer
Xuanchen Li - 3D Artist & Product Designer

Project Brief

The MELO Bubble Ring is a discreet wearable designed to help users manage stress with a playful, fidget-inspired design. Using tactile interaction provides an accessible way to track emotional well-being in real time.

Unlike traditional wearables, the MELO Bubble Ring measures unique metrics like ring usage clicks and usage time, in addition to heart rate variability (HRV). Through its seamless integration with the MELO app, the detailed data allows users to understand their stress triggers and coping mechanisms, guiding them to engage in mindfulness exercises and activities tailored to their needs.

Project Innovation/Need

The MELO Bubble Ring offers a fresh approach to stress relief by combining tactile engagement with data-driven insights. It stands out by tracking not only physiological indicators like HRV but also unique metrics such as ring clicks and usage patterns, providing a comprehensive view of user habits.

Integrated with interactive characters in the MELO app, it creates a holistic experience that encourages mindful engagement and stress management through personalized recommendations.

Design Challenge

The primary design challenge of the Bubble Ring project is to create a wearable device that effectively manages stress while seamlessly integrating into users’ daily lives. Our goal is to develop a product that not only provides real-time insights into emotional well-being but also encourages proactive engagement without adding to users’ stress.

We face the challenge of balancing advanced technology—such as heart rate variability monitoring and user interaction tracking—with a user-friendly design that feels comfortable and stylish. Additionally, addressing the stigma around mental health and ensuring that the product resonates with a diverse audience—including students, professionals, and parents—requires thoughtful consideration of their unique needs and preferences.

Moreover, we aim to make the Bubble Ring accessible and relatable, transforming how users interact with their mental health. This involves leveraging user feedback to refine features and ensuring that the accompanying MELO app offers personalized recommendations that enhance the overall experience. By tackling these challenges, we aspire to empower individuals to manage their stress and cultivate emotional balance.

Future Impact

The MELO Bubble Ring fosters a proactive approach to mental health by integrating stress management seamlessly into everyday life. Encouraging self-awareness and early intervention, it envisions a future where individuals openly address mental wellness using intuitive tools.

By redefining stress management with data-driven insights, MELO aims to set new standards in wearable technology, driving innovation toward solutions that are both empathetic and effective, ultimately contributing to a future where well-being is a natural part of daily living.