What it does
Solace supports the wellbeing of parents and newborns during the perinatal period. Featuring two connected, portable modules, it synchronises the circadian rhythms of parents and newborns to improve sleep, reduce stress, and foster connection.
Your inspiration
Anxiety and depression affect one in five mothers and one in 10 fathers in the perinatal period, and can be exacerbated by poor sleep. Sleep disruptions, including perinatal insomnia, affect one in two pregnancies and lead to negative health outcomes. Restful sleep is a crucial, often unmet need for new parents. Many existing mental health products are app-based and rely on phone use, adding distraction in moments meant for rest. The challenge was to design a tangible, calming solution that supports sleep and relaxation without becoming another task in the already busy, overwhelmed lives of new parents. This led to the design of Solace.
How it works
Solace consists of two interconnected, portable modules - one that can be positioned near the parents and one by the baby’s crib. Key features: Sleep Mode: The lights fade to dark at the same time to sync the circadian rhythms of parent and child, and improve their sleep quality. This helps to address perinatal sleep issues, such as onset insomnia, while encouraging a soothing nighttime routine. Breathe Mode: Guides calming breathing exercises through gentle, repetitive light fades. Monitoring Function: The top module includes a motion sensor that reflects the baby’s movements, offering a subtle, motion-based reflection of the baby’s activity. Solace is touch-activated, dimmable, detachable, and charges wirelessly via a base dock. The design focuses on sustainability. The light modules are portable and rechargeable, using energy-efficient LEDs. Solace's detachable parts allow for easy repair or replacement, supporting a longer product lifespan.
Design process
My design process began with qualitative and quantitative research. User research through surveys and interviews with mothers revealed sleep disruption as a major stressor for new mothers, prompting the design question: how might we promote quality sleep by integrating relaxation into the existing routines of new parents? This insight led to Solace, a portable, dual-module night light supporting sleep, connection, and calm. The design process included early sketch ideation, prototyping, CAD modelling in Fusion 360, and DFMA considerations. Many low-fidelity prototypes were made to test form, size and textures and improve the design based on user feedback. A high-fidelity prototype was developed using 3D printed resin. The final prototype was pitched to my peers and academics with a video and slideshow presentation.
How it is different
Solace supports perinatal wellbeing by improving sleep, reducing stress, and fostering connection between parent and infant. Commercially, Solace fills a market gap by providing an elegant, organic and unobtrusive, screen-free, tech-enabled wellness solution. Solace is easily disassembled for repair, supporting product longevity and sustainability. By amplifying the impact of a necessary, everyday object, Solace offers long-term value by remaining useful as a family grows. Socially, Solace improves connection and contentment within a family and, as a consequence, within the wider community. Solace’s features, such as the dual fading Sleep Mode, create a quiet, supportive connection between parent and baby - something that’s not currently available in the market. This approach makes Solace a unique solution for early parenthood.
Future plans
By improving the quality of sleep and mental wellbeing, as well as the connection of parents and babies during the perinatal period, Solace also offers the potential to contribute positively to communities, improve productivity in workplaces, and reduce the burden on healthcare systems.
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