An IoT Device to Ease Tensions with Roommates

OVERVIEW

CONTEXT
MFA Products of Design, School of Visual Arts

Timeline
8 Weeks

CATEGORY
Product Strategy, Interaction Design, Business Design,
Service Design, Product Design

COLLABORATORS
Rhea Bhandari (Video)

A Social Roommate Experience and Ecosystem

Peachee is a product/app combination that is on a mission to better your living environment by creating a social roommate experience and system for rewarding good behavior. Using a physical treat-dispensing device, interactive mobile app, and in-app integration of political action, Peachee will keep your apartment (and the world) peachy keen.

STRATEGY

Rooted in Behavioral Learning Theory

The development of a reward system for good behavior is central to Peachee's design. The system is based on operant conditioning; good roommate behavior is rewarded with positive reinforcement in the form of cookies and praise.

BUSINESS DESIGN

Competitive Analysis and Business Model Canvas

A comprehensive competitive analysis was conducted to learn more about the existing market. While there are countless roommate and task management apps, few harness the power of smart home technology and Internet of Things.

Additionally, to thoroughly think through Peachee's business model, I worked through a business model canvas to examine the value propositions, customer segments, and revenue streams.

DIGITAL PRODUCT DESIGN

Development of Mobile Apps

Next came the creation of two mobile apps: one good, one evil. The good app illuminated the user flow within the Peachee app and interaction between roommates.

The evil app, Crave, flipped Peachee’s main methodology on its head; instead of rewarding good behavior, Crave rewarded bad behavior. The main objective here was to fuel addiction; it even had a slot machine built into the app.

STRATEGY EXPANSION

Scaling Peachee’s Impact with Social Accountability

Given my background in psychology and social justice, it was difficult for me to create a product that only had an impact in a single apartment. To bring it into the larger world, I explored how Peachee’s built-in social accountability could also be transformed into a way to encourage political action.

How could we make the larger world more "peachee"?
While political action can take many forms, one of the most effective methods is calling your representative. In the U.S. political representatives are required to tally the number of people that call in about any given issue and their stance on it.

CAMPAIGN DESIGN

Public Campaigns

When bringing Peachee out into the real world, how would we convey the terrifying state of the world within Peachee’s lighthearted brand? A campaign was created that was honest, yet approachable with slight humor.