After creating a mind map for ideas to improve wellbeing, I decided to solve the problem of children using screens too much by encouraging reading. According to an article by Common Sense Media (2022), children aged 8 to 12 spend an average of 4-6 hours a day on screens, with adolescents spending even more. Prolonged screen usage has been related to a variety of health and developmental issues, including difficulty sleeping, shorter attention spans, and an increased risk of mental health problems like anxiety and depression (Twenge & Campbell, 2018). In addition, excessive screen time often replaces activities like reading, which promotes critical thinking, language skills, and creativity. This replacement may result in long-term difficulties in academic performance and social involvement, as well as lower quality of relationships between friends and family. (...) Students aged 10-13 are my target audience since they are in a transitional stage of growth where they begin to form habits. This age group often spends a significant amount of time on screens, caused by entertainment, social media, and peer pressure, which may hinder cognitive and emotional development. Parents play an important role in creating routines, but they often find it difficult to properly enforce screen limits, especially as children gain independence and negotiate for more access to devices. Many parents are unclear how to make non-digital activities, such as reading, interesting compared to screens. This stage is particularly important in developing lifelong reading habits in children, as those who read for enjoyment tend to perform better academically and have better language skills. Addressing this issue by promoting reading as an engaging alternative can help balance screen usage, benefiting both children and parents by encouraging creativity, improving literacy, and strengthening bonds between family and friends. (...) The statement of inquiry about creating a product that can improve wellbeing for students has been beneficial for me as a designer since it targets a relatable real-life issue that currently affected many students in recent years. The excessive use of screens is an issue that many students face, and this ends up pushing them away from physical books and the introduction of apps such as TikTok is proven to shorten your attention spans (ReNu). The popularity of online entertainment and education means that students are constantly surrounded by screens at a young age, making it increasingly difficult for them to concentrate on non-digital work or activities. By incorporating scientific and technological advancements like aromatherapy, the bookend offers a one-of-a-kind and effective solution that not only promotes reading but also stimulates a longer attention span. The combination of relaxing pastel colors, a flower-inspired theme, and pleasant scents combine to offer a more immersive reading experience.
Extract
[...] Copy the shapes in the image and make sure that the details are touching the base of the petal. - Sketch on face tool - Spline tool 20 minutes 20 minute s I did attempt using the spline tool again and I did use it for the first few petals until I switched back to the arc tool again. 21 When all of the petals of the pink hibiscus are sketched, use the trim tool to remove the parts of the 10mm that are not touching the petals. [...]
[...] Then use the arc tool and circle tool to create the details according to the image - Sketch on face tool - Circle tool - Arc tool 10 minute 15 minute s Since I had learnt from earlier, I used the arc tool instead of the spline tool and found it easier. However adding the circles on the end was a bit troublesome as sometimes the lines were not connected fully with the circles. 26 2 minute s I did have to zoom in quite far and, again, the trim tool was easy to use. 5 minutes 60 minute s This step took 60 minutes to complete because when I was trying to export the file there was an error message. [...]
[...] The project promotes mindfulness, attention, and balance, which helps to improve people's wellbeing while creating habits that are consistent with global efforts to encourage screen-free activities. 8 Criterion Developing Ideas Develop Design Specifications Justification relating to Research The aesthetics I will use will include pastel colours as according to a survey I conducted (Appendix the children (10-13) shows that they think that cool colours and pastel colours are more relaxing than hot and vibrant colours. An article by Mrignayi Pandey, “Pastel colors have a softer look that is easier on the eyes because they are less saturated than traditional colors.” I have chosen cool colours because “Pastel colors and particularly cool toned pastels like baby blue, lilac and mint have a calming and relaxing effect.” (Pinots Palette). [...]
[...] I worked with the teacher, finding a solution for this which was that all the sketches on a certain sketch plane was not valid. It took me three lessons to resketch each invalid sketch and export it. 20 minutes 10 minute s This step went smoothly and I ended up using a hair dryer to dry the paint on one side to paint the other to speed up the process. 30 Make sure that the arcs are connected to the circle drawn and the circles on the tips of the arcs are also connected. [...]
[...] User trial and observation I will conduct a survey for my target audience asking whether they find the aesthetics of the bookend link to the theme of flowers. This will include the colours, the shapes, and the scents. Observation I will test the product by checking for any sharp points by running my finger along the edges to test is any are sharp Observation I will weigh the bookend to ensure that it is under 100g. Field test I will apply a drop of lavender essential oil to one cork diffuser and time how long it will take for the scent to be unnoticeable. [...]
