Project Brief
About the Capstone Studio Project
The Senior Capstone Studio course in Industrial Design challenges students to create innovative, user-centered design solutions through trend-based research and creative exploration. The goal is to develop impactful projects that enhance portfolios, win awards, and demonstrate professional readiness. By intersecting multiple trends and infusing personal perspectives, students push creative boundaries to produce ambitious, portfolio-worthy designs that address real-world problems.
My goal with ORCA is revolutionizing the scuba diving and snorkeling experience with a smart diving mask that integrates AI technology to provide real-time safety alerts, marine life identification, and environmental insights to foster a deeper connection between people and our oceans. By enhancing diver safety and engagement, Orca aims to empower divers to explore confidently while contributing to marine conservation efforts to not only alleviate fear and uncertainty but also create a place of understanding and appreciation for new divers and snorkelers as they are exploring the oceans.
Tools & Techniques
Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Firefly and Premiere Pro; Arduino Circuit; 3D Modeling on Fusion 360
Role
Trend Analysis and Market Research, User-Centered Design, UX Design, Brand Design, AI Integration, Underwater Videography, Prototyping
Timeline
February 2024 - May 2024
Project Parts
Trend and market research
Micro brand workbook
Prototyping to final looks-like model
Pitch commercial
Launchpad setup
01 Quick Overview: Video Commercial
What is ORCA all about?
Before getting into all the contents of my project and the steps I took to create the final product, I want to display my pitch commercial: a snorkeler entering the waters excited to discover the mysteries of what is beneath.
02 Research: Trend Mashups
What are the current trends going on globally?
Now that you know more about Orca and its features, let's dive into the steps that shaped its development.
This Capstone Project focused on identifying and leveraging emerging global trends. By intersecting multiple trends and finding common ground, we were expected to develop a groundbreaking solution to the problem within our selected field, mine being ocean research & development and scuba diving & snorkeling safety.
The 3 Trends & Research Areas
The rise of AI
AI is rapidly expanding, with a significant number of users already experienced in utilizing it as a daily tool. Education has emerged as one of the top areas for AI applications, with 77% of people using some form of AI. By 2023, the AI market reached a remarkable $1.8 trillion in revenue, highlighting its widespread adoption and transformative impact across industries.
The Health Wearable Market
Smartwatches are leading the health wearable market, driven by the growing interest in at-home health and wellness monitoring. With 219.43 million people owning smartwatches, the market is expected to reach $47.94 billion in revenue by 2024 and achieve a user penetration rate of 2.89% by 2028.
The Scuba/Snorkeling Industry
Scuba diving is a niche activity with approximately 6 million participants worldwide. Despite its appeal, it involves significant risks, with around 200 fatal diving injuries each year, and 32% of all yearly diving injuries are from decompression sickness. This highlights a need for enhanced safety measures and greater awareness among divers. In contrast, snorkeling—being unregulated and not requiring certification—is more challenging to quantify but is estimated to have three times the number of participants compared to scuba diving, reflecting its broader appeal and accessibility.
The Problem
70% of our planet is covered by oceans, yet only 5% has been explored and documented. Why?
The stigma surrounding the water.
People fear the ocean.
Many fear the ocean's vastness and unpredictability, leading to limited exploration and understanding. Yet, the ocean is crucial, supporting 3 billion people’s diets and providing over half of the world’s oxygen. As plastic waste threatens to surpass fish by 2050, there’s an urgent need for awareness and conservation. To protect this vital ecosystem, advancing research and sharing knowledge with the public is essential. But how can we achieve this?
Qualtrics Survey
I surveyed 50 experienced snorkelers and scuba divers to gain insights into their experiences. The survey covered safety risks (e.g., breathing, stress, visibility), communication issues, challenges identifying marine animals, remembering experiences, equipment problems, ear pressure issues, instructor safety precautions, and illnesses (e.g., motion sickness, decompression sickness).
of divers/snorkelers have encounter safety issues during their experiences
of divers/snorkelers encounter difficulties identifying marine wildlife while underwater
I concluded that divers and snorkelers are often at risk and feel disconnected from the underwater environment they are exploring. This means that users are facing safety concerns and the disconnect hinders their ability to have an immersive experience and develop a deeper connection with the ocean.
03 Improving the Experience
Using the rising global trends, how can we enhance the scuba diving and snorkeling experience?
To enhance scuba diving and snorkeling experiences using rising global trends, we can leverage AI photo analysis and smart technology. By integrating AI into diving masks to provide real-time feedback on a smartwatch, divers can identify their surroundings, gain insights into marine life, and monitor their health during and after dives.
Additionally, establishing an online community to share diver experiences and findings can help shift perceptions of the underwater world. This platform would not only raise public awareness but also contribute to ongoing ocean research, fostering a deeper connection to marine ecosystems.
Introducing: ORCA
Orca is redefining scuba diving with its AI-integrated mask, offering real-time safety feedback, marine life insights, and support for ocean conservation.
Design Goals and Musts
01 Design a looks like model of the mask
Must be functional and wearable as well as light up using an Arduino board
02 Design a app on Figma
Must be functional and user-friendly, logs the entire ocean experience, enables sharing of diving experiences online, facilitates easy data sharing with marine biologists
03 Create a captivation pitch commercial
Must be filmed under water with an actor who can enjoy wearing the mask and easily use the apple smartwatch underwater
04 Branding
The reasons behind my designs
Before beginning the branding phase, we were asked to describe our brand in 3 words. I chose
Future
Bold
Technology
Doing this allowed me to go into the next phase of my project: finding a font and the brand colors.
Colors
Primary: Black (#00000) and white(#FFFFFF), to represent the ORCA
Secondary: Color Trend 2024, Cyber Green (#C7CC1A)
This color is described as a "hyper-bright green that signifies the powerful connection between nature and technology" which I thought was perfect for my brand.
Logo
To stay on theme with the futuristic and bold brand characteristics of ORCA, I selected the font Organetto Variable, a bold, sleek and modern type.
Icon
Using the iconic Cyber Green color, I used the "O" of the brand name as my icon, which is ultimately translated into the iconic buttons that start the diving/snorkeling experience with my product.
05 UX Design
From the wireframe to the finished product
My final goal before finishing school at Georgia Tech was to build a functional app prototype using Figma's prototyping features. This capstone project provided my first opportunity to learn how to become proficient in using component and prototype features to bring my app to life.
Wireframes
Final Route
06 Product Design
What does the ORCA mask look like?
Ultimately, I reflected on the brand name when I designed my mask. I wanted the user to look like and feel like an orca as they are experiencing their habitat.
Sketches
Final Route, Sketches
Prototype to Final Development
To prototype, I used old, thrifted masks and built on top of them to create the form. My final prototype integrated an Arduino with LEDs to mimic the light function on the mask as its turned on.
Launchpad Setup
07 Conclusion
Putting it all together
Finally, I showcased the app prototype I bought to life and tested with peers and other users to make sure my final deliverable was as intuitive and clear as possible.
Getting Started
To begin your journey and connect the devices can all be found on the home screen. The logbook is now transferred online and signatures can be signed manually by the instructor or through their QR code to collect your hours. Before beginning your dive, press the button on your watch to begin recording your journey.
Sharing the Fun
Post diving means you can choose to share the data the ORCA mask analyzed and contribute yourself to helping the oceans.
What's Next?
With diving and snorkeling being such a niche hobby, ORCA gives you the opportunity to connect and meet others with similar interests. You can view all the logbook information and read about the data they have collected on their adventures, making a small community feel larger.
The Overall Storyboard
The journey a user follows when using ORCA
Final Rendered Model
I created the final model on Fusion 360 using the sculpt tool.
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