Designing Serenity: MELO Bubble Ring’s Evolution

Initial Concept Design

The initial concept focused on creating a smart stress-relief ring that could help users alleviate daily anxiety and pressure. Inspired by common stress-relief toys such as squeeze balls and fidget spinners, the goal was to integrate these functionalities into a portable, subtle accessory. A ring was chosen as the ideal format due to its low-profile nature and the ability to interact with it discreetly throughout daily routines. Early designs considered a fully silicone-covered ring to provide enhanced grip and durability.

The initial sketches depict a complete silicone-encased ring, prioritizing tactile interaction and a comfortable grip. While this structure could offer a robust stress-relief experience, it posed challenges in embedding sensors to track user interactions, leading to a need for further refinement.

Material and Structure Optimization

After evaluating the initial concept, it became clear that a fully silicone design limited the ability to house smart components. To address this issue, the design transitioned to a hybrid model featuring a metal core with a localized silicone component. By focusing on a replaceable silicone top, the design retained the stress-relief function while providing adequate space for sensor integration and improved durability.

The sketches show multiple variations of the localized silicone components and their connection methods with the ring base. This design approach allows easy replacement of silicone parts, improving both functionality and maintenance while maintaining a clean aesthetic.

Visual Identity and Component Shape Design

With the localized silicone structure established, the next step was to develop a visual identity and refine the shape of the fidget components. The goal was to offer various tactile experiences through different silicone shapes while ensuring each design was ergonomic and visually appealing. The distinct shapes of the silicone fidget components also aimed to enhance the product’s playful aesthetic and unique identity.

Three different shapes for the silicone components were explored: a wave pattern, a smooth dome, and a pointed top. Each shape offers a distinct tactile experience and can be swapped easily through a screw mechanism, allowing users to customize the ring based on their preferences.

3D Modeling and Proportional Adjustments

Once the structural design was defined, the project moved into the 3D modeling and prototyping phase. The focus was on refining the ring’s overall proportions to ensure it provides adequate stress-relief functionality without appearing bulky or obtrusive.

Initial models featured an oversized silicone top, which affected daily wearability and comfort. Multiple iterations of 3D models were developed, from an initial oversized silicone component to a more balanced and compact design. Reducing the silicone size by 50% maintained the tactile experience while making the ring more suitable for everyday wear. Adjustments to the overall ring thickness and inner diameter ensured enough space for essential components, such as heart rate monitoring and pressure sensors.

Internal Structure and Sensor Integration

With the exterior finalized, the focus shifted to internal structural optimization and sensor integration.

The core functionality relies on a Force-Sensitive Resistor (FSR) to capture user interactions. A metal pin inside the fidget top transmits pressure variations to the FSR, enabling precise tracking of each press, squeeze, or fidget action. The FSR sensor is connected to the fidget top through a metal pin, which transfers pressure directly to the sensor, allowing for accurate multi-angle pressure tracking. This design captures different levels of force and directionality, providing reliable data for advanced analytics and user behavior tracking.

Exterior Aesthetics and Color Scheme

The exterior design adopted a calm and sophisticated color palette, including silver, muted gold, and deep gray. These combinations were chosen to reflect the product’s calming nature. Meanwhile, the silicone fidget components were colored in lighter tones, such as pastel green and soft blue, to convey a sense of playfulness and lightness, avoiding the heaviness associated with dark colors.

Various color combinations and material finishes were tested, highlighting the effects of different palettes on the product’s appearance. The metal components use a deep gray and soft gold finish, while the fidget tops are available in light hues to create a balanced, appealing visual.

Functional Prototyping and Sample Development

The final design includes three distinct fidget top variations: a wave shape for repetitive squeezing, a pointed shape for precise pressing, and a smooth dome for gentle tapping. These variations allow users to switch between different tactile experiences based on their preferences, offering a customized stress-relief tool. The different fidget tops attach to the ring base through an internal screw mechanism, ensuring a stable connection while allowing easy swaps. The modular design improves usability and maintenance, enhancing the overall user experience.

Finalization and Comprehensive Evaluation

After multiple rounds of testing and user feedback, the current design achieved a balanced integration of stress-relief functionality, data tracking, wearing comfort, and aesthetic appeal. The next steps will focus on optimizing the sensor layout and exploring more sustainable materials to improve the product’s overall performance and durability. The final Melo Ring successfully combines stress-relief functionality with advanced data tracking, creating an all-around wearable that integrates seamlessly into everyday life. This design journey, from initial sketches to the final product, resulted in a versatile and aesthetically pleasing smart ring that provides users with a discreet and effective stress relief tool, blending technology and comfort into a harmonious design.