Improving social connections between remote workers.
A strategic design project aimed at defining a new product direction for Logitech — addressing the growing problem of isolation among remote workers by creating an ambient sense of presence and enabling lighthearted social interaction between colleagues.
Type
Team Project
Logitech Collaboration
Focus
Strategic design,
interaction, form
Awards
iF Design Talent 2019
Red Dot 2020
Core77 Notable
Background
Remote work is rising.
So is isolation.
The number of remote workers is rising — and so are the negative effects of isolation. Loneliness affects motivation and happiness, which can ultimately decrease work quality and lead to health issues. This strategic design project aimed at defining a new direction for Logitech and creating a product that starts off that journey.
The brief
An ambient feeling
of presence.
We want to give remote workers an ambient feeling of the presence of their coworkers, and the opportunity to have lighthearted and easy social interactions that increase a sense of belonging. By creating abstract visualisations of colleagues and the ability to interact visually and verbally — as if they are in the same room — Hej facilitates exchange and bonding between coworkers.
User Testing
Testing what kinds of
presence feel natural.
Early concepts were tested with remote workers to understand what kinds of social signals feel natural and which feel intrusive. The insights directly shaped the interaction model — abstract enough to feel ambient, expressive enough to feel human.
"It calls out to you - Come work with us!"
Form Development
Friendly, inviting,
not demanding.
The form development explored how to make the device feel friendly and inviting — something you want to have on your desk, not a piece of office hardware. The final form is soft and sculptural, encouraging interaction rather than demanding attention.
The product
Hej - you're
not alone.
Hej gives you an abstract visualisation of colleagues and the ability to interact with them visually and verbally as if they are in the same room. Combined with a friendly, inviting design this facilitates exchange and bonding between coworkers — making the social environment of an office available wherever you are.
Concept Film
A day with Hej.
A short film following a remote worker through a typical day — showing how Hej creates the small spontaneous moments that make a shared office feel alive. The ambient presence of colleagues in the morning, a quick visual exchange in the afternoon, winding down together at the end of the day.
Benefit
Bringing back social connections
to your home office
Hej gives you all the benefits of the social environment of an office no matter where you are, while taking away the negative effects of isolation and loneliness.It gives you the sense that you are part of something, even when you're working alone.
Team project completed in 2019 in collaboration with Logitech as part of the Advanced Product Design Programme at Umeå Institute of Design.