Qi Tea
Product & App Design (2021)
Role
Product Designer (UX/UI, Industrial Design)
Type
Speculative Concept Project
Tools
Figma / Adobe XD, Blender, Illustrator, Photoshop
Overview
Qi Tea is a speculative product and mobile app designed to support mental well-being through mindful ritual. The concept reimagines tea-making as a daily self-care practice, combining holistic health principles with calm, low-disruption technology. The physical tea maker pairs with a mobile app that tracks users' moods, suggests personalised drink recipes, and plays guided meditation during the brewing process—encouraging presence, reflection, and emotional regulation.
The project explores how technology can be designed to reduce stress rather than amplify it, by shifting interaction away from constant screen engagement and toward a slower, sensory experience.
Problem
As technology becomes increasingly embedded in everyday life, many users experience digital overload, anxiety, and burnout caused by constant connectivity and screen exposure.
Design Challenge
How might we integrate technology into daily routines in a way that supports mental health, promotes mindfulness, and feels calm, intentional, and non-disruptive?
Research & Insights
I conducted precedent and literature research across digital well-being, behavioural psychology, and mental health–focused products. This included analysing minimalist devices, notification-limiting interfaces, and assistive calming technologies.
01
Ritual-based interventions
Users respond better to gentle, ritual-based interventions than rigid controls or 'digital detox' restrictions
02
Personalisation drives engagement
Long-term engagement improves when solutions feel personalised and emotionally relevant
03
Reduce cognitive load
Reducing visual noise and interface complexity can meaningfully lower cognitive load
These insights informed a design direction focused on analogue-first interaction, minimal UI, and emotionally responsive features.
Design Approach
Rather than centring the experience on a smartphone, I designed a physical product that integrates seamlessly into an existing habit: making tea.
Key design decisions:
•
A calm, minimalist tea maker inspired by traditional teapots
•
No digital screen on the device to avoid unnecessary stimulation
•
Use of natural materials (bamboo, matte ceramic) to enhance sensory grounding
•
A companion app that supports the experience without dominating it
Physical product design emphasizing calm materiality and minimal controls
The mobile app:
📊
Mood Tracking
Tracks mood and emotional patterns over time
🍵
Smart Recommendations
Recommends tea ingredients aligned with mental states (e.g. chamomile for stress, ginseng for fatigue)
🧘
Guided Meditation
Plays guided meditation during brewing to encourage mindfulness
UX & UI Design
I iterated from low-fidelity wireframes to high-fidelity flows, focusing on emotional tone as much as usability.
UI principles:
•
Soft colour palette and gentle contrast
•
Neumorphic elements to create a tactile, calming feel
•
Clear, low-effort interactions that prioritise emotional clarity over efficiency
The interface was intentionally designed to feel slow, supportive, and restorative, reinforcing the product's mental health goals.
Early wireframes and user flow sketches
High-fidelity mobile app mockups
Product Design
I translated early sketches into technical drawings and a fully rendered 3D product in Blender. The final form preserves the elegance of a traditional teapot while subtly integrating modern functionality.
The design emphasises:
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Organic curves and balanced proportions
•
Minimal physical controls
•
A strong connection between form, ritual, and emotional calm
3D product rendering created in Blender
Outcome
Qi Tea demonstrates how digital experiences can be designed as supportive companions rather than attention-demanding tools. The project showcases a holistic approach to UX—bridging product design, interaction design, and emotional well-being—while exploring how ritual and materiality can play a meaningful role in modern technology.
Key Skills Demonstrated
UX research & problem framing
Concept development & speculative design
Interaction design & user flows
Visual UI design for emotional impact
Industrial design & 3D rendering
End-to-end product thinking
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