Unseen Objects
A play-based system that helps parents and children build emotional connection through shared interaction.
CATEGORIES
CATEGORIES
WebAR
Interactive
TOOLS
TOOLS
Figma
TEAM
TEAM
Xiaojie Wu Xiaoya Sun Nicole Lucero-Huerta
Xiaojie Wu Xiaoya Sun Nicole Lucero-Huerta
CLIENT
CLIENT
School Project
TEAM
Xiaojie Wu Xiaoya Sun Nicole Lucero-Huerta
CLIENT
School Project
TIME
TIME
2025
MENTOR
MENTOR
Pinar Guvenc Roxanne Ravago
Problem
In China, children’s emotional struggles are deeply shaped by academic pressure, yet remain largely unseen within families.
Parents and children share this pressure, but lack ways to truly understand each other. Conversations stay on the surface, while emotions remain unspoken.
This project begins in China — where this gap is most visible — and explores how emotional connection within families can be strengthened through design.
Solution
Nurtured is a set of play-based interaction tools that create low-pressure, shared moments for emotional connection between parents and children.
Instead of teaching or diagnosing, it uses simple rules, prompts, and physical interactions to make listening visible and understanding possible. It shifts interaction from “talking” to “being heard.”
Yinyin Zhou
Unseen Objects
A play-based system that helps parents and children build emotional connection through shared interaction.
CATEGORIES
CATEGORIES
WebAR
Interactive
TOOLS
TOOLS
Figma
TEAM
TEAM
Xiaojie Wu Xiaoya Sun Nicole Lucero-Huerta
Xiaojie Wu Xiaoya Sun Nicole Lucero-Huerta
CLIENT
CLIENT
School Project
TEAM
Xiaojie Wu Xiaoya Sun Nicole Lucero-Huerta
CLIENT
School Project
TIME
TIME
2025
MENTOR
MENTOR
Pinar Guvenc Roxanne Ravago
Problem
In China, children’s emotional struggles are deeply shaped by academic pressure, yet remain largely unseen within families.
Parents and children share this pressure, but lack ways to truly understand each other. Conversations stay on the surface, while emotions remain unspoken.
This project begins in China — where this gap is most visible — and explores how emotional connection within families can be strengthened through design.
Solution
Nurtured is a set of play-based interaction tools that create low-pressure, shared moments for emotional connection between parents and children.
Instead of teaching or diagnosing, it uses simple rules, prompts, and physical interactions to make listening visible and understanding possible. It shifts interaction from “talking” to “being heard.”
Yinyin Zhou
Unseen Objects
A play-based system that helps parents and children build emotional connection through shared interaction.
CATEGORIES
CATEGORIES
WebAR
Interactive
TOOLS
TOOLS
Figma
TEAM
TEAM
Xiaojie Wu Xiaoya Sun Nicole Lucero-Huerta
Xiaojie Wu Xiaoya Sun Nicole Lucero-Huerta
CLIENT
CLIENT
School Project
TEAM
Xiaojie Wu Xiaoya Sun Nicole Lucero-Huerta
CLIENT
School Project
TIME
TIME
2025
MENTOR
MENTOR
Pinar Guvenc Roxanne Ravago
Problem
In China, children’s emotional struggles are deeply shaped by academic pressure, yet remain largely unseen within families.
Parents and children share this pressure, but lack ways to truly understand each other. Conversations stay on the surface, while emotions remain unspoken.
This project begins in China — where this gap is most visible — and explores how emotional connection within families can be strengthened through design.
Solution
Nurtured is a set of play-based interaction tools that create low-pressure, shared moments for emotional connection between parents and children.
Instead of teaching or diagnosing, it uses simple rules, prompts, and physical interactions to make listening visible and understanding possible. It shifts interaction from “talking” to “being heard.”
Yinyin Zhou
User Research
User Research
Academic Pressure
Chinese students spend 2.82 hours/day on homework
ranked #1 globally, nearly 3× the global averageUp to 80% of parents report feeling burdened by supervising homework
Mental Health Impact
Rising suicide risk among adolescents
17.7% of middle school students reported suicidal ideation (2000–2013)
Recent studies show an increase to 23.5%–31.3%
Physical Consequences
36% of elementary students experience myopia
Nearly 60% of students suffer from insufficient sleep
Barriers to Support
Low utilization of psychological services
Strong cultural stigma around mental health
User Research
Stakeholder Map
Stakeholder Map
Stakeholder Map Analysis
User Research
Tools Comparison Matrix
Expressiveness × Learning
Expressiveness × Learning
Expressiveness × Learning
Speed × Learning
User Research
Design Strategy
Hardware
Portable & Tactile-Friendly Design
Hardware
Portable & Tactile-Friendly Design
• Hand Stability Aid: Soft strap or pressure band to guide hand movement without restriction
• Tactile Cues: Stickers or raised bumps for faster key recognition
• Integrated Device: 3D-printed housing combining keyboard and rotatable phone mount
• Soft Base: Cushioned underlay for use on lap, table, or floor
• Carrying Options: Wearable design—shoulder bag or front harness for mobility
Hardware
Portable & Tactile-Friendly Design
• Hand Stability Aid: Soft strap or pressure band to guide hand movement without restriction
• Tactile Cues: Stickers or raised bumps for faster key recognition
• Integrated Device: 3D-printed housing combining keyboard and rotatable phone mount
• Soft Base: Cushioned underlay for use on lap, table, or floor
• Carrying Options: Wearable design—shoulder bag or front harness for mobility
Software
Emotionally Expressive & Easy to Use
Software
Emotionally Expressive & Easy to Use
• Auto Start: Instantly accessible interface
• Customizable AAC Shortcuts: Personalize phrase buttons for one-tap speak
• Typing Support: Auto-correction + word suggestions
• Custom Voice: Personalized tone settings
• Offline Ready: Works without internet
• Message History: Browse and replay past messages with arrow keys; delete with one click
Software
Emotionally Expressive & Easy to Use
• Auto Start: Instantly accessible interface
• Customizable AAC Shortcuts: Personalize phrase buttons for one-tap speak
• Typing Support: Auto-correction + word suggestions
• Custom Voice: Personalized tone settings
• Offline Ready: Works without internet
• Message History: Browse and replay past messages with arrow keys; delete with one click
User Testing
User Testing
NeuroSync is a healthcare mobile app that helps individuals monitor and manage neurological health. The challenge was to design an interface that simplifies complex medical data while ensuring accessibility for all users, including patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
The solution focused on a patient-centered design approach, featuring clear data visualizations, symptom tracking, and AI-driven insights. By prioritizing accessibility, the app integrates intuitive navigation, large touchpoints, and a calming color scheme to enhance the user experience. NeuroSync empowers users with real-time health insights, bridging the gap between patients and medical professionals.
User Testing
Feedback
Positive
• Ronan really likes the device
The screen part works very well and helps people communicate with Ronan more effectively
The current frame design is almost perfect
• The device's orientation design is
good, preventing flipping and
ensuring ease of use
• Ronan really likes the device
The screen part works very well and helps people communicate with Ronan more effectively
The current frame design is almost perfect
The device's orientation design is good, preventing flipping and ensuring ease of use
Negative
• The device is too bulky for
outdoor/mobile use.
Backspace is mute and hard to use.
Repeated key presses sometimes register multiple times.
Hand fixation and wearing method should be simpler.
Hard to reach the delete key.
Ronan Morrison
After three days of testing, I took the prototype back
—and Ronan kept asking
More works
Thank you for viewing my work
Let’s build something meaningful
©Yinyin Zhou 2026. All rights reserved.
Created by Yinyin Zhou
Thank you for viewing my work
Let’s build something meaningful
©Yinyin Zhou 2026. All rights reserved.
Created by Yinyin Zhou
Thank you for viewing my work
Let’s build something meaningful
©Yinyin Zhou 2026. All rights reserved.
Created by Yinyin Zhou