Bachelor of Design Double major in Industrial Design and Psychology
Student Bio
Hey I'm Matt and I'm an Industrial Design and Psychology Student. I'm interested in how people interact with their environments including products, technology and other people. Studying Industrial Design has allowed me to be creative and problem solve in a practical way. I really enjoy being in the workshop and creating something you can hold. Studying Psychology has given me a much greater appreciation of how the mind works and this has had a big influence on the way I approach design.
Project Description
Hourbloom is a family of products that aims to help parents and kids keep on time a little easier. It stemmed from the realisation that young children (aged 3-6) simply don't understand time and its quantities as we do. Five minutes of playtime feels like 30 seconds and an hour at the dentist feels like a lifetime. Blocking time to form schedules and plan our day is something adults take for granted but even once kids have learned to tell the time, they still struggle to understand this concept. This inherent discrepancy in understanding often leads to confusion and frustration from both parent and child when it's time to clean up or to go and have a nap. Hourbloom aims to reduce this problem by representing blocks of time in a more tangible way.
What began as a product aimed at children has evolved into a family of desirable objects to be placed around the home that appeal just as much to parents. Inspired by flowers and nature, each product uses light and form to represent different quantities of time. Placed in different locations such as the bedroom, living room or dining room, Hourbloom products can assist with common activities such as playtime, screen time, homework or meals. Any activity that seems to begin or end too soon or too quickly can be made a little easier by Hourbloom.
