Nova
Nova is a smart device for the home. It is designed to improve wellness by serving as a reminder of the tranquility of nature and eliminating the reliance of using a phone for an alarm and checking the weather at home.
year
2022
timeline
10 weeks
discipline
Industrial Design
Model Making
Rendering
Nova is ambient smart weather alarm designed to improve wellness by serving as a healthful reminder of natures beauty.
Being surrounded by nature is in our DNA.
Yet, we have managed to further and further distance ourselves from the natural world.
On average, we are spending almost 90% of our lives indoors.
Using a phone as an alarm and checking the days weather leads to unhealthy phone habits and distraction throughout the day.
leaving only 7.6% of our time spent outdoors & 68% of our life inside our homes.
Connecting with nature is proven to help increase mental heath levels, particularly lower depression and anxiety.
Research shows that people who are more connected to nature are happier and have a better sense of:
self worth
calmness
creativity
joy
User Quotes
“the first thing I do in the morning is check the weather on my phone”
“waking up to my phone alarm always leads to me opening social media”
“I find myself picking up my phone countless times throughout the day”
Design Goals
Friendly
giving an inviting comforting aura
Organic
nature inspired form and material
Adaptable
portable and usable within home
Symbiotic
harmonizes with living environment
Sketch Ideation
Physical ideation confirmed concept direction through testing interface and usability.

Solidworks ideation refined selected concept form and provided a visualization of material breakup.
Printing selected models helped to confirm direction, ensure seamless ergonomic interaction with device, and ideal interface usability.
Both portable throughout the home and adaptable in usage. Nova provides ambient mood boosting stimuli that reminds users of the wonder of nature.
Nova inspires connection with the outdoors and informs user with an intuitive weather report.
Nova inspires connection with the outdoors and informs user with an intuitive weather report.
control layout
intuitive touch sensor
home button
long hold to power on & off
volume control
slide to adjust
brightness control
slide to adjust
A better morning
Wake up to the tranquil sounds and light of your local outdoors with an intuitive weather report that gives you information needed to start your day.
A friendly reminder
Nova is an ever changing connection that inspires users to step outside by informing them of current weather conditions.
A new routine
Go to bed a calming sensory connection to the outdoors and peace of mind knowing the mornings expected weather.
nova, a new start to the day.