gondry
A project investigating the aesthetics and ethics of AI for homecare; after investigating market value, we designed and prototyped Gondry, an AI-guided device that adapts clinical EMDR therapy into a playful tool for daily stress reprocessing targeted to young adults.
AI
Human-Centered
Product Design
Interaction Aesthetics
B2B Strategy
Project Overview
Project: Gondry, an AI-powered wellness device
Context: Academic project, ARTIFICE Squad - "AI for Homecare"
Industry: Digital Therapeutics, Mental Wellness Tech
Timeline: 4 months (2024)
My Role: Lead Designer & Researcher
A project investigating the aesthetics and ethics of AI for homecare. After investigating the efficacy of existing solutions, we designed and prototyped 'gondry': an AI-guided device that adapts clinical EMDR therapy into a playful tool for daily stress reprocessing targeted to young adults.
Design Solution
We developed a tangible AI tool that makes clinical stress-reprocessing techniques accessible at home. The solution combines:
Clinical Foundation: 8-step EMDR therapy protocol adapted into guided AI conversations
Tactile Interaction: Handheld pulsators with bilateral stimulation (visual LED tracking + haptic feedback)
Ethical AI: Locally-hosted LLMs for privacy with fail-safes for high-stress situations
Playful Aesthetics: A whimsical, non-medical form factor using 3D printed parts.
The final prototype was validated through user testing with 13 participants, showing statistically significant stress reduction while maintaining approachability through its playful, non-clinical design language.
After the semester design project, I revisited gondry to reassess its value as a D2C product, and found that there was even more potential in it becoming a B2B. Expert feedback from a clinical psychologist, as well as my own desktop research and market analysis, showed it would be even more valuable, ethical and effective as a tool prescribed by clinicians; this would enable continuity between therapy sessions, and reduce (some of) the load on an already overwhelmed healthcare system.
