Observed friends and colleagues working remotely, noting patterns of frustration.
Conducted informal interviews to understand their needs for connection and collaboration.
Immersed myself in the remote work experience, testing existing tools and noting where they fell short emotionally.
What people missed most about pre-pandemic work wasn’t meetings, but rather the quiet, ambient reassurance of working alongside others.
I used a modified Design Sprint process to brainstorm solutions across four areas: time tracking, collaboration, task management, and team connection.
After analysis based on the discovery phase, I selected team connection as the core opportunity for emotional impact.
I sketched multiple pod shapes and interaction models based on initial ideation, and built quick low-fidelity mockups to explore scale, form, and interface placement.
After gathering preliminary feedback on the sketches through interviews with potential users, I chose a compact, friendly desk pod with a circular LED ring and a minimal interactive display for mode switching.
The key challenge was tackling user concerns — how was this different from a regular call, and how would it avoid distraction or protect privacy? To address this, I introduced three distinct audio modes: Mute for complete silence, Distort for garbled, human-like background chatter, and Live for unfiltered sound. I also designed an LED ring that gradually fills in as teammates come online, giving a clear, non-intrusive visual cue of team presence.
A desk-friendly smart companion designed to bring the feeling of a shared workspace back to remote teams. Compact, friendly, and built for everyday use, it keeps you connected in a calm, ambient way.
Reco streams subtle sounds like typing, mouse clicks, and soft background chatter between teammates. These gentle cues recreate the atmosphere of working side-by-side, without the pressure of constant calls.
For those moments when you want presence without clarity, Distort mode garbles real audio into soft, human-like murmurs. You can sense your teammates nearby without sharing exact words or details.
A simple swipe on the display lets you move between your whole team or smaller breakout groups. Whether you need the reassurance of everyone’s presence or a focused moment with a few colleagues, switching is effortless.
Available in black, white, mango yellow, and blueberry blue, Reco can blend seamlessly into your setup or stand out as a bright, cheerful addition to your desk.
Early testers said it felt more “human” than chat or video, offering quiet reassurance without the constant pressure of being on camera.
Emotional connection is a design outcome. Subtle social cues can be just as important as productivity features.
Privacy and control matter. Clear modes and visible presence indicators build trust.
Prototype early, test often. Even rough mockups revealed key usability and adoption barriers.
Ambient design works. Gentle, background signals can foster belonging without demanding constant attention.
