Your digital, emotional support companion.
In the 2023 SCAD Start-up challenge, participants were tasked with creating an unconventional design solution within a week. Our team responded to this challenge by conceptualizing Happika, a digital support animal that interfaces with smartwatches. This innovative solution is intended to guide users towards a state of calm and reduce anxiety through a series of breathing exercises.
Fields and topics of interest
Illustrator
Miro
Business model canvas
AI
Modelling
Hypothesis
Illustrator
According to research, 26.9 million members of the American Gen Z population are currently living with mental health disorders. Despite their awareness of their traumas and triggers, they seem to struggle with achieving happiness. Various unconventional solutions have been suggested for their anxiety, including aromatherapy, chanting, and yoga. Interestingly, emotional support in the form of a pet was cited as a highly effective solution by many members of this demographic and experts alike.
Project Layout
Ideation and exploration
With users and experts
Business
model generation
Business proposal
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Feasibility of the idea
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Psychologist
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Gen Z people with anxiety
Tools & methodologies
Interviews
Co-creation
Business model
canvas
Desk
research
Process
Illustrator
Exploration and ideation
After conducting surveys and speaking with individuals from different cultures and mental health experts, we sought to delve deeper into the commonalities we observed. We found that Gen Z struggles with the overwhelming stimulation of navigating both a social media persona and a personal life, leading to a distorted view of reality. This is exacerbated by having lived through a pandemic during their formative years.
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To address this, Happika was developed as a digital support animal that pairs with smartwatches to detect elevated heart rates indicative of anxiety. Happika encourages positive habits, such as walking or engaging in a sport, to boost serotonin levels and track emotions. Her soft and fluffy design, coupled with a gentle voice, provides comfort and warmth. She also reminds users to prioritize self-care, including hydration, eating, and sleeping. Happika can even make an SOS call to a trusted contact on challenging days.
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Several steps were taken to test the idea of making a mental health support toy for adults. Firstly, a thorough literature review and research were conducted to gather insights into mental health needs and effective coping mechanisms. Next, focus groups were organized with individuals who have experienced mental health challenges to gather feedback on the concept and potential features of the toy. Prototypes were then developed and tested with a small group of individuals to assess usability and effectiveness. Finally, a larger-scale user testing was conducted with a diverse group of participants to gather more feedback and identify areas for improvement. ​
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Business model generation
We aimed to ensure that Happika would be an affordable solution for Gen Z. To achieve this goal, we carefully considered pricing strategies. The Happika device is priced at $49.99, making it accessible to a wider audience. However, what truly sets Happika apart is its value-added subscription service, priced at $9.99 monthly or $99 annually, which provides users with personalized reminders, voice messages from loved ones, prompts to encourage movement, a mood-customized playlist, and access to the Happika community.
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Taking Happika out for a walk presents an opportunity to connect with others in the community, providing real-life social interaction to counteract the social media-driven dissonance that affects Gen Z.
Looking ahead, we envision a future in which custom Happikas are co-branded with major enterprises such as Marvel, and where users can earn rewards such as custom collar tags, shoes, and clothes for reaching milestones in their emotional well-being journey.
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In terms of market potential, the mental health app market was valued at USD 5.19B in 2022, while Canada-based tech-enabled toy manufacturer Spinmaster Corp reported earning USD 2042M. Happika seeks to tap into both these markets and become a significant player in each.
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