Story Process

The story team’s goal was to create a provocation that would invite response from viewers about the implications of mood augmentation and AI-generated music in society. Additionally, we wanted to comment on the increasing influence of social media on consumer behavior. The team decided to create a short film, based on the journey of one Hone user, Chris. He learns about the company through social media and begins to share his experience online. After listening to an interview with Hone’s CEO and observing an interaction in a cafe, he starts to realize that Hone might not be so great after all. After writing and revising several editions of the script, the story team was lucky enough to recruit actors from OSU’s theater department. Over the course of a week, we filmed at several locations around Columbus, and the following week and a half was spent editing and creating the short film.

Brand Process

The brand exploration began with a mood board. We decided that the brand needed to be approachable, organic, fashionable, honest, and personable. From there, we explored a variety of potential brand names and logos. As a team, we decided on Hone and the motif of a colorful gradient of five colors.

Interface Process

Once we established our brand language and the technology capabilities, we were able to explore how a user would interact with the interface — both physically and emotionally. We created user journeys for a few different personas, as well as an initial sitemap for the app. From there, we sketched low-fidelity wireframes of a variety of directions and refined the sitemap to be more comprehensive. We settled on a basic concept and began to add in brand elements like color and type. We then went through a series of revisions while we prototyped using Adobe XD. After the final wireframes had been approved by the team, we used a combination of Adobe XD and AfterEffects to animate the screens that are seen in the final video.

Sketches

Initial Sitemap

Initial Wireframes

Final Sitemap

Refined Wireframes

Final Wireframes

Device & Charging Case Process

From the beginning of concept development, we focused on new and emerging technologies which would support and push the mission of our device. One of these technologies was bone-conduction audio playback. The key merit of this type of audio playback device is that it leaves the user’s hearing unobstructed, thus allowing them to remain immersed in their environment during use. We explored various methods of wear, and assessed the risks associated with direct skin adhesion— ultimately, we decided that a slim, detachable, custom-moldable ear hook would be the safest and most beneficial solution. We conducted market research on existing headphone and storage solutions, and iterated on the basis of rising technologies such as NFC charging, computer-on-modules, and synthetic spider-silk material. We then honed in on a final, sleek device design, along with a carrying case and store packaging in alignment with the brand’s visual language.

Device

Charging Case

Retail Process

The interior team’s main goal was to bring Hone’s brand identity into a physical space and experience. We created a floor plan and concepts for interactive elements for the store’s interior. We wanted the store to focus less on being a retail space and more on being a way for Prefacient to highlight it’s mood-sensing and audio-generating technology. Hone’s brand strives to be honest and approachable, and this translated to design features like large panes of curved glass and bamboo accents.