/MY STORY

As a designer, I have always wished that I could shut down my brain after getting into bed and fall asleep immediately. However, for a variety of reasons, the reality is that I have trouble falling asleep most nights, which negatively affects my behavior the next day.
Sometimes I take pills to help me fall asleep at night. Although I’m aware of the side effects that these medicines can have, sometimes I cannot fall asleep without taking a pill. Moreover, I built up a resistance to these medicines so that they are no longer useful, leaving me awake the whole night.

/Stories From Friends

Many of my friends also have insomnia. Most of them are architects, game designers, copywriters, and designers - essentially, people who need to maintain strong cognitive focus and concentration for long periods at work.

DEFINITION

Insomnia is a common sleep problem faced by many adults. According to guidelines from physicians, insomnia's definition is "difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, even when a person has the chance to do so." People with insomnia can feel dissatisfied with their sleep and usually experience one or more of the following symptoms: fatigue, low energy, difficulty concentrating, mood disturbances, and decreased performance in work or at school.

SELECTED USER

The targeted users are people who
need to maintain strong cognitive focus or concentration during the day, and who suffer
from onset insomnia or comorbid insomnia
(not typically caused by physical conditions or
other diseases).

Examples: Architects, Designers, Copywriters, Accountants, Students, etc.

INTERVIEWs &
INSIGHTS

I interviewed 13 people, listening to their confusion and stories about insomnia. One thing I learned is that many people have insomnia without even realizing it. It is impressive to have the chance to work with them and help them figure out a solution to their problem.
Below are 4 highlights from the interview pool. 

TARGET USER

White-collar workers who have insomnia caused by stress from their work or personal life.

DEFINITION

Lulla is a personal device that helps the user to improve the quality of sleep through physical treatments. Lulla is a light-weight dome that hangs above the user’s head, creating a better environment to get ready to sleep. Inside the dome, there is a Single Localizer focused speaker that provides surround-sound. It can play brainwave sounds, soft music, and audiobooks. The device also contains an LED light and essential oil diffuser for optional additional support.

Lulla connects to a mobile app. The app adjusts all of Lulla’s functions and settings. The app also discourages users from playing with their phones at night by putting the phone in night mode, which only allows for receiving calls — white-collar workers who have insomnia caused by stress from their work or personal life.

INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

Lulla is a dome-shaped device that attaches to the wall above the headboard. When the user is ready to sleep, the device can be turned on through the mobile app, and the dome should be flipped down to cover the area just above the user’s head. The device can release scent from the nozzle, play soundtracks through the speaker, and turn on the blue light. When the user falls asleep, the dome will automatically flip back into its upright position, so that the user does not hit her head on the device when getting up in the morning. 

A lullaby is a soothing song or piece of music that is typically played for children as a sleep aid. Since this device shares the same purpose, its name is derived from the word “lullaby,” with a playful abbreviation and anthropomorphic character. As such, “she” is called Lulla.