Tiernan Dowd
Brief: To design a more effective form of healthy and natural form of communication over long distances to facilitate deeper connections and ease isolation.
HELLO
is an interactive monitor designed to be left in place, offering a simple and natural way to communicate. In today’s world, most conversations happen through mobile devices. While convenient, these exchanges are often framed by the limitations of text—delayed, fragmented, and lacking the sense of presence that real-time conversation brings. For those who struggle with reading or prefer spoken interaction, this reliance on text can feel isolating rather than connecting.
During COVID, this issue became especially visible. I experienced it myself while trying to maintain long-term conversations with peers and family from the isolation of my home. Texting suited some, but for others it only deepened the feeling of being left out. Even now, in a post-COVID context, conversations around isolation remain urgent. We have the tools to connect, yet many avoid them, as video calls and online chats can feel fatiguing compared to an effortless phone call.
HELLO explores how technology might better support natural, everyday conversation. Video calls are often most comfortable when paired with another activity—cooking, working, or simply relaxing. This monitor is designed solely for video calling, creating the impression that the other person is directly present in the room. Unlike handheld devices, which can feel intrusive or disorienting, HELLO is stationary—more like a piece of home furniture than a gadget. Its form is crafted to be ornamental, blending into the interior rather than standing out as an eyesore.
User interaction
Individuals HELLO uses a set of five cameras, discreetly hidden behind the screen, to track the user’s eye level and distance. This information is used to generate and project a perception of depth, creating a more natural sense of presence through the display.
Product Design
From concept to market, engineering innovation and manufacturability.
Hands on
Hands on experience, bringing physical prototypes to final models to market with ease.