Haocheng (Herk) Zhao
Hush X Headspace
How might we engage with sensitive emotions, in order to create an opportunity to better understand ourselves?
The high volume of stress and an increasing sense of loneliness has become a norm for individuals in both learning and working environments. Adults often collapse emotionally in a mere instant, and rather than benefiting them through the release of emotions, loneliness more likely will have many negative effects on the human body. How might we engage with sensitive emotions, creating a better opportunity to understand ourselves? Hush is a new way of caring for our emotions with a small physical add-on in Headspace. It provides calibrated suggestions to Headspace users, reduces distractions when they meditate, and helps the user enjoy the moments in which they are alone and know the value that loneliness can provide.
Insight
Loneliness is a universal human emotion that is both complex and unique to each. Loneliness and study/work under high stress has become an inextricable part of our day to day lives. With increasing pressure, the boundary between work and life becomes unclear. However, long-term loneliness can have a profound impact on personal mental and physical health.
Idea
Hush is a new way of caring for our emotions with a small physical add-on in Headspace. It provides calibrated suggestions to Headspace users, reduces distraction when they meditate, and helps users to know the value of loneliness and via creating a great opportunity to understand one’s emotions and one’s own life.
Impact
Headspace x Hush provides a new perspective on loneliness. Understanding that loneliness may also be a great opportunity to understand your emotions and your own life is very important. Knowing the value of loneliness and helping users enjoy the moments they are alone provides them with value. Rebuilding relationships with digital devices and helping users build a meditation routine and improving quality sleep are other examples of benficial outcomes. Finally, the product will also reduce the pressure of work and life and increase overall productivity by building a healthy, mindful routine.
Biography
Herk is an international student from China, and came to Toronto alone at 17. He used to be passionate about sports equipment design and photography. However, throughout his study at OCAD, he realized there are so many more things in the world that can not be measured simply by scientific data. The connection and relationship between the physical body and the spiritual mind are much more fascinating to him to explore. He started to develop an interest in constantly changing his view of the world, exploring things he never thought of, learning and listening to the experiences he had never had. Herk believes that design should be realized as a combination of various media, and considered with a basis in scientific knowledge.