Process book

Dasein
with
Leon Liu
Thesis project process book

This book is dedicated to those who have a
sense of humor to themselves.

3
Forward
Our world is moving towards to more and more digital and virtual reality
period. The need and popularity of digital technology has made people in-
creasingly dependent on digital products. But does our future have to move
towards more artificial intelligence or more digitization?
Does our future have to be built on virtual reality?
Figure 1.
Photo “Illuminati” by Benoit Lapray

4
Even now lots of people believe that artificial intelli-
gence and digital future is the trends at least in next
five years. But I think it might have another possibil-
ity or choice. My own speculation is addiction and
frequent use of the smartphone are making humans
less intelligent.
People in now days is over rely on digital device and
we are not able to live without them.Because people
can get so much information from their smartphones
in such a short period of time which lead to the lack
of patience and narrow skills instead of time and
interest traditionally used to acquire broad and in-
depth knowledge. Lots of problem is coming up with
the frequency of using digital and living in big city,
one of them is loneliness problem.

5
Chapter 1:
“We shape our tools and our tools shape us.”
Discovery
Key issues
Opportunity
Project proposal
Chapter 2:
“The sense of anonymous”
Design research
Research analysis
Direction
Chapter 3:
“The process of shape yourself”
Ideation
User testing
Concept development
Chapter 4:
“Tell me how you read and I’ll tell you who you are.”
Final concept
Branding
Specification
Cost breakdown
Fabrication
Final Product

7
November
December
January
February
March
April

9
Chapter 1
“We shape our tools and our tools shape us.”

10
Discovery
While it is undeniable that digital
technology has brought a lot of
convenience to our work and we
got a lot of benefits from digital
technology at work.
However, digital products still oc-
cupy our lives when we stop work-
ing and take a break, most people
in now days would play video
games, watch online TV and play
smart phone as their entertain-
ment.
As majority’s standard of living
is gradually improving and it is
much easier to keep in touch with
each other in digital times than
before, there are more and more
applications and devices that try
to bring people closer and satis-
fy our desire. (online dating, social
media, consumerism, etc.)
But there is an emotion become
more intense in such a circum-
stance.
Figure 2.
movie “Her”

11
“Equally concerning is that social media use may contribute to so-
cial isolation, loneliness, and decreased well-being. Research on
nearly 1800 young adults aged 18 to 32 years indicates that
high rates of social media use (more than 2 hours per day) are as-
sociated with a significantly higher likelihood of perceived social
isolation than low levels of social media use (0-30 min/d).”
-Closing Commentary: Is Technology Making Us More Disconnected?
Figure 3.
Illustration by Sonya Korshenboym

13
Key Issues
Loneliness
In today’s era, the impact of digital technology is
the proliferation of information and the satisfaction
that people can easily get brought us endless con-
fusion and loneliness.
High rates of social media use lead more loneliness
problem among young adult group.
Figure 4.
photo “solitude place” by Lucas Zimmermann

14
Opportunity
More and more applications and
devices to satisfy young adult’s
desire is not the correct solutions.
What if there is an object that fo-
cus on young professional can in-
teract with them in order to help
them to overcome this “modern
epidemic”.
Figure 5.
photo “Manhattan Ground” by Skander Khlif

15
Project Proposal
This project aims to guide the
user’s ideology through design.
This can subtly change the user’s
lifestyle and daily habits. To edu-
cate users to treat digital device
in correct ways to face the rela-
tionship with the right attitude,
try not to use electronic products
to enrich their free time, but to
embrace nature and discover the
real world instead.
Even we can not 100% pre-
vent loneliness problem for ev-
ery young people, but there are
possibilities that to guide them
to learn how to get along with
themselves.
To transfer from loneliness to
“oneliness” and independence.
Increasing the abilities of
self-thinking and self-satisfac-
tion.
Because solitude also could be
important.

17
Chapter 2
“The sense of anonymous”

18
Design research
Before we start to design for our users,we need to understand
how young professional think about modern loneliness, why
they feel lonely sometimes and how they usually cope with
this emotions.
I used multiply design tools in order to understand our us-
ers: Interviews,Observations, Literatures, Experience journey,
Surveys.

19
Figure 6.7.8.9
User interview by Leon Liu
Interviewer: Madeleine Bailey, Samuel Kwan,Dan-
iel Noel, Friedrich Wing

20
Userresearch-Interview
Busy lifestyle
Busy itself could be the reason. It creates contrast
between works and free time.-The sense of wasting
times
“I think a big piece of loneliness in a city would be
busy schedules. People are really busy in big cities.”
The sense of anonymous
Seeking for attention in society, the desire of in-
creasing visibility -One of the millions of people in
big cities
“I think so. (Feeling lonely in the big city) That’s
called Anonymous.”
Digital Culture disturbs emotions
-The phenomenon of contrast and comparison
-Overuse increase loneliness emotions
“ You go to the popular pages. And that’s the one let
you know that “I’m bored”. You need to get out now.”

21
Figure10.11.12
Interviewer: Tamara,Daniel Noel, Briar Grill

22
Userresearch-Interview
The sense of belongings
-Frequency of transition
-The cultural differences
“During that time when I didn’t have a house or a
spot. I did feel it was lonely.”
Digital Culture disturbs emotions
-The phenomenon of contrast and comparison
-Overuse increase loneliness emotions
“If you play a game for really long time. Cause you
are so coop up in this game and you kind of lose
what society is like outside.”
Core: Contrast between outside and inside
-Busy and non-busy
-Outside world and your own life: information over-
load, comparison in social media, cultural differenc-
es

23
Figure13.14.15
Interviewer: Madeleine Bailey, Samuel Kwan, Timmy

24
User Research -
Journey Mapping
In order to proof and experience how
digital devices and modern city life-
style affect my personalities. I stim-
ulate an experience that living in a
modern condo located in the most
popular district and remove any dig-
ital device that can be used to kill my
time.
When I done my work and back
home at end of the day. I used to
watch some YouTube videos before
sleep.
However, this habit affects my
sleep quality. I will get more excit-
ed after watching these videos and
I supposed to get relax and help
sleep by doing this action.
Figure 16.
Modern city life style
Figure 17.
Modern city life style

25
When I stopped watching YouTube, I
would feel boring due to the influence
to previse routine. I felt uncomfortable
and strange I am getting used to get re-
lax, entertain and killing my time before
sleep.
I decide to read books. Even it was not as
fun as watching videos, it helps the situ-
ation somehow. However, If I read some
topic that I was interested in, I would
keep thinking about it during my sleep
time.
In the next days,when I am free.I cleaned
by house meticulously for three hours.
I decided to go for a walk because I
stayed indoors for too long time.
Actually, I went shopping and visited
some Eaton center and some stories sur-
round it.
After that, I bought a pair of socks and
a black cotton sweater from Uniqlo that
are not necessary because I already have
exactly the same things before.

26
Research analysis
Core
The differences between outside and inside
User needs
Better transition experience, sense of participation,
high qualities’ interactions, sense of company, and
to understand the differences.
Potential solutions
Form hobbies and join activities, build communi-
cation and support
Based on all these research above, we need to un-
derstand the difference between our inner think-
ing and our surroundings.
Figure 18.
“Rosas; Fase, Four Movements to the Music of
Steve Reich” by Stephanie Berger

27
“Think about all of that beautiful universe
that we are living in. Loneliness is an exis-
tential condition. It is the way that we are
being in the world.”
- Brendan Myers
Figure 19.
The Space.

28
Design brief
Based on the research, I create the struc-
ture for my further ideation:
Encourage users to Recognize lonely
feelings, then help users to Understand
these emotions, and lead them to Re-
spond loneliness in proper ways.
Intentional Solitude is the method to fol-
lowing this structure. This is a positive
cycle that helping users to get used to
and understand the loneliness emotions.
There are lots of ways to approach in-
tentional solitudes such as form hobbies,
meditation is one of a good and direct
way as a hobby to approach intentional
solitude.
There is a survey that form by me shows
that 87% of people agree that being
alone sometimes have positive effect to
us. Intentional solitude not only can ex-
plore our inner world and outside world,
but also to helps us to learn how to be
alone in a proper way.

29
“When I alone sometimes. I can do
better work. And do certain things
that I wouldn’t. Notice things
could have a lot of values.”
-Daniel Noel
Is about switch the passive to active at-
titude, is about the ability of controlling
our emotions, to understand how is our
life actually works and actively exploring
our physical world and our inner world,
rather than “waiting” and looking for a
comfort zone.
Figure 20.
Daniel Noel. Interviewed by Leon Liu

30
Business Analysis
Nendo is looking for special and unique
solutions.
They believe that our world could be in
different ways.
The outcome can be in any form that
contributes to society Giving people a
small “! “ moment.
“ ! “ moments are what make our days so
interesting, so rich.
Intentional Solitude + Nendo
Creating special experiences by any
forms that can interact with users to ed-
ucate the ability of controlling their emo-
tions by unique design concept.

31
Figure 20.21.22
Nendo’s products. Designed by Sato Oki.

33
Chapter 3
“The process of shape yourself”

34
Ideation
Creating an object by the process of stimulation, interac-
tion and motivation can guide the users into the practice
of intentional solitude. I create three different directions
in the first ideation step which is experience with senso-
ry and imagination, experience with space and light, and
experience with float. All these concepts are based on a
structure: first, be aware of loneliness emotions, then un-
derstand loneliness, finally response to this emotion by
intentional solitude.
Figure 23.
Movie “Beginners”
Figure 24.
Sketching and brainstorming

36
Experience with sensory
and imagination
Using the elements of sensory and imagination to
bring users into different scenario. Based on these
scenarios, they can inspire users to experience the dif-
ferences between reality and their imagination.Which
has the similar effect of experience loneliness. Then
letting them to learn from these feelings.
Figure 25.
Concept rendering.
Figure 26.
User scene with concept.

37
“I like the sounds of the forest be-
cause I like nature. It is good and
powerful that create a comparison
between city life and nature. Which
could make me relax and calm
during my busy city life.”
-Daniel Noel
“It feels like I am actually walking
in the forest. Lots of things sur-
round me always disturb me but
when I closed my eyes, I feel noth-
ing now. Only heard the sounds of
nature.”
-Elva Zhang
“Is kind of hard for me to match the
scene to that sound. I can have an
image and try to place myself in
that situation but I just get out of
it really fast so I need to keep it in
mind and think back.”
-Joyce
Figure 27.28.29
User testing.

38
E x p e r i e n c e w i t h
Space and light
Using the elements of spcae and light to bring users
into the contrast of light and dark. When users sitting
into a dark environment. The shadow of surroundings
can be projector onto the fabric.Which bring a feeling
that living in a familiar place but actually belong to
you. These contrast can helping users to understand-
ing the feeling of loneliness.
Figure 30.
Concept rendering.
Figure 31.

39
“I think you have to go the places
that you have already go to as the
first step and try to get away from
the craziness.”
-Daniel Noel
“I really want to get out and escape.
And I feel boring and don’t know
what to do.”
-Elva Zhang
“I want this concept locate in for-
est, or a park. I can experience the
textile of the grass; it feels like you
are in your own little space but also
connect to the outside world.”
-Joyce
Figure32.33.34
User testing.

40
Experience with float
Using the elements of float to bring users into the-
feeling of floating. The feeling of float can help users
to concentrate and empty their mind. In order to pro-
vide a good environment for them to meditation.
Figure 35.
Concept rendering.
Figure 36.

41
“I like the 36 inches the most. 20
inch is the height that you are fa-
miliar. Is what you used to do, sit-
ting on a chair.
-Daniel Noel
“I don’t want it too stable other-
wise I don’t feel I’m floating. Is nice
to make it have a little bit sense of
shaking.”
-Elva Zhang
“I can feel stable by the four pillars
at the edge.”
“What if there is a mirror in front
of me and I can see myself but not
the table and legs. That makes me
feel floating.”
-Joyce
Figure37.38.39
User testing.

42
User testing and feedbacks
Experience with
sensory and imagination
1.People agree that this concept can some-
how make them relax and take a break. The
types of scenario decide the user experience.
2.The idea of boundaries is powerful. If I can
make it stronger it would be better.
3.It somehow provides the contrast of their
imagination and reality. But how to lead them
to learn about the concept of loneliness?
Experience with
Space and light
1.It really depends on personality.The experi-
ences could be very different based on differ-
ent personalities.
2.Should pay attention on the sense of boring
and wasting time.
3.It doesn’t build a clear connection between
the form and my topic.
4.Most users prefer this concept.

43
Experience with float
1.Most users think this concept is fun, but the
least contact to my topic.
2.They feel confused about the values of this
conceptto learn about the concept of loneli-
ness?
What should I do?
How to make my concepts more in line with
my topic? How to add values to these form,
not just a tent, four speaker or floating chair?
Having negative emotions during the experi-
ence sometimes doesn’t mean the influences
are also negative. As long as it could reflect
positive outcome.
So thinking about how to motivate these
group of people to make time for getting
along with themselves or thinking about how
to insert this concept into their daily activi-
ties.

44
Concept Development
Based on all these feedbacks, I summarize into
some major point that I need to focus on in the
next step.
1. The concepts of calmness and mindfulness
could help them to relax and provide a space
for them to meditate.
2. User prefer a good interaction with concepts.
3. Need to consider more about how to moti-
vate them to maintain this hobby through in-
teractions.
During the user testing, I found that the ideas
of previous structure actually made users con-
fused about the meaning of the concepts. It is
not easy to let people experience with loneli-
ness by such a short term stimulation. Lone-
liness itself is such an abstract and elusive
feeling. It looks like the form of water that
can transform into different feelings such as
anxiety and stress. On the other hand, different
individuals have their different thinking about
loneliness. If loneliness emotion is water, users
are the shape of the glass. They shape loneli-
ness by their experience.

45
After noticing this, I started to pay more atten-
tion to my concept itself – the idea of being
alone. I learns that I should emphasize the
most of the values of my concepts and the pos-
itive effect of solitude in my interactions. Then
letting the users to treat at this interaction by
their own perspective. Eventually, I change my
structure to:
First, experience the interaction of concepts,
then understand this interaction, and final-
ly, when my users feel lonely, this experience
could remind to them that loneliness is exactly
not that scary, it is how we live everyday.
Figure 40.
“Sensory” by Wentian Zhang.

47
Chapter 4
“Tell me how you read and I’ll tell you who you are.”

48
Developed Concept
®
Dasein is home system that provide inter-
actions with users through breathing, light
and sound to inspire young professional to
spend time with themselves in daily lives.
This interaction divide into two parts. First,
it will racking user’s breathing rate, then
bring the users into a scenario that can
helps them stay calm.

49
Figure 41.
Concept rendering.
Figure 42.
Concept’s system
graphical description .

52
Product Personality
Materials
The material of this form would be some
frost material such as Channel glass or
Crystal ice acrylic. Frost material can dif-
fuse the lighting to a soft and smooth ef-
fect. Also, frosted form can represent the
theme of this concept.
Not only having the effect of calmness.
Frost material also can represent the
concept of loneliness which is blurred
and elusive. The process of define loneli-
ness is like the lighting in the blur.
The frosted effects also can create a
sense of new dimension in visual which
have a contrast with reality. This effects
can represent that there are difference
between your inner world and your sur-
rounding.
Figure 43.
The contrast between mind and reality
Figure 44.
“Cactus II” by Kristina Dam
Figure 45.
“Still motion”by Britney Kidd

54
Product Personality
Shape
After multiply experiments, the shape of
concept is designed in this form because
it can perfectly diffuse the light from in-
side. Also the least distraction to the users
during the interaction.
The Scenario
In the second part of the interaction, this
system would bring users into multiply
artificial nature scenarios that helps users
to imagine and communicate with it. This
is process of interact with the objects but
also interact with themselves.
When the user is sitting in the seat, the
lighting system will automatically turn on
and follow the user’s breathing. Through-
out the interaction, if the user sits longer,
the light will become brighter and bright-
er. Once they leave the seat, the lights will
slowly turn off.

55
Figure 46.
The shape of the concept.

56
Brand Values
Why “Dasein”
“Dasein” means the being in the world. But the
concept of being itself is so abstract, so intan-
gible and so invisible that can it is embodied
by different individuals.
The being is so intangible that we always ig-
nore it in daily life. Like we always ignore we
are living and we will die. We only notice it in
some odd moments, perhaps at night or be
alone all day or through the walk in the coun-
tryside. “Dasein” could be a metaphor of lone-
liness. It always be there, and different have
their on different understanding of loneliness.
It likes the water we drink, or the food that we
eat. It is being there with us. So it is necessary
to live with this emotions, is not about avoid-
ing it but get used to it.
Figure 47.48.
Branding poster.

58
Specification
44.75
16.00
14.88
ø2.00
16.4
7
5.16
5.29
3.50
14.95
44.75
These orthogonal graphs show the final form and
structure of my concept. The whole concept con-
sists of a lamp system and a small seat. Once the
user is sitting in the seat. The light will automat-
ically turn on due to the pressure sensor. Seating
is a response to user needs, and lighting is a re-
sponse to this concept.
Figure 49.
Lighting system orthographic drawings.

59
2.00
20.00
1.00
23.00
20.00
0.50
19.74
Figure 50.
Seating system orthographic drawings.

60
FINAL PROTOTYPE
PROCESS
All the experience in my process has accumulat-
ed in my final design. In my entire project, I have
learned to work with plastic bending techniques,
build wood jigs,vacuum forming, electrical wiring
to arduino coding, and audio editing for sound
and light. The following image records my build
process
Figure 51.52.
Bending arylic sheet.
Half Scale prototyping.

61
Figure 53.54.55.
Heat arylic in oven process.

62
Figure 56.57.58
Building cycle jig for the
seat.

63
Figure 56.57.58
Arylic vacumm forming
process.

68
Special thanks
Sony Chen Andrew Atkin
Peter Parker Anna Peng
Job Rugters Tony Zhao
Daniel Rossi Kyle Duffield

69
About Leon Liu
I am Leon (zhuojun) Liu. I focus on
product design,tangible experience,
and furniture.
Currently living in Toronto and
working on Industrial design. Also
had a six months exchange study
experience in Gothenburg, Sweden
in 2018.
I like to observe our society, under-
stand humans, and use unique and
reasonable perspectives to find new
possibilities.Thereby promoting the
quality of life and the perfect bal-
ance between us and nature.

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