Reflcs
Reflcs
Role
Role
Product Conceptualizer and Designer, Creative Direction
Product Conceptualizer and Designer, Creative Direction
Tools
Tools
Figma, Procreate, Davinci Resolve, Sony cameras
Figma, Procreate, Davinci Resolve, Sony cameras
Skills
Skills
Product conceptualization, software-interface design, video production, copywriting
Product conceptualization, software-interface design, video production, copywriting
CONTEXT
CONTEXT
Reflcs is a speculative journaling device I conceived and designed for Visual Thinking, an introductory design course at Stanford. Over three weeks of rapid prototyping, I independently developed the concept, software interface, and a produced advertisement, making my product idea feel actualized and tangible.
Reflcs is a speculative journaling device I conceived and designed for Visual Thinking, an introductory design course at Stanford. Over three weeks of rapid prototyping, I independently developed the concept, software interface, and a produced advertisement, making my product idea feel actualized and tangible.
PROBLEM SPACE
Journaling is effective, but it’s one of the hardest habits to implement.
The practice reduces stress, makes space for new ideas, and improves the way you think. Despite this, few people journal, not because they don’t want to, but because no existing tool makes it easy enough to implement.
Paper journals can’t keep up with thoughts. Phone apps solve access, but introduce the exact contradiction they're supposed to escape — sustaining thought inside a device built for distraction. Tools exist, but none are equipped to facilitate reflection in the context of competing attentions.
Paper journals can’t keep up with thoughts. Phone apps solve access, but introduce the exact contradiction they're supposed to escape — sustaining thought inside a device built for distraction. Tools exist, but none are equipped to facilitate reflection in the context of competing attentions.
PROBLEM SPACE
Wellness media has a consumption problem. Women are targeted more as consumers than they are users.
Journaling is effective, but it’s one of the hardest habits to implement.
Magazines that dominate the lifestyle space treat wellness as a vertical for product lists, luxury recommendations, and mercurial standards. Most addresses of wellbeing circle back to spending, with readers are left fatigued by trend-driven narratives, and no constructive information on how to better their lives without buying a new product.
The practice reduces stress, makes space for new ideas, and improves the way you think. Despite this, few people journal, not because they don’t want to, but because no existing tool makes it easy enough to implement.
The practice reduces stress, makes space for new ideas, and improves the way you think. Despite this, few people journal, not because they don’t want to, but because no existing tool makes it easy enough to implement.
Paper journals can’t keep up with thoughts. Phone apps solve access, but introduce the exact contradiction they're supposed to escape — sustaining thought inside a device built for distraction. Tools exist, but none are equipped to facilitate reflection in the context of competing attentions.
Paper journals can’t keep up with thoughts. Phone apps solve access, but introduce the exact contradiction they're supposed to escape — sustaining thought inside a device built for distraction. Tools exist, but none are equipped to facilitate reflection in the context of competing attentions.
How might we design a journaling tool that works for people who are always doing something else?
OPPURTUNITY
OPPURTUNITY
Journaling succeeds when you lower the point of entry. Recording is faster than writing, leaving your hands free from a pen and paper, and capturing something more honest by working through ideas and problems out loud rather than on a page.
Journaling succeeds when you lower the point of entry. Recording is faster than writing, leaving your hands free from a pen and paper, and capturing something more honest by working through ideas and problems out loud rather than on a page.
IDEATION
IDEATION
Reflcs needed to feel like a journal before it felt like a device. The form involved a compact tablet with a fabric cover, paper-like screen, and a single application, analog enough to foster intentionality. With audio fast to record but slow to revisit, focus shifted to retrieval.
Reflcs needed to feel like a journal before it felt like a device. The form involved a compact tablet with a fabric cover, paper-like screen, and a single application, analog enough to foster intentionality. With audio fast to record but slow to revisit, focus shifted to retrieval.
Reflcs addresses retrieval through three mechanisms:
Reflcs addresses retrieval through three mechanisms:
RECORD
RECORD
Moving around or working away from a desk, an external mic captures audio in any environment, and through any action.
Moving around or working away from a desk, an external mic captures audio in any environment, and through any action.
TRANSCRIBE
TRANSCRIBE
Every recording converts to searchable text, stripping filler words and organizing entries by content.
Every recording converts to searchable text, stripping filler words and organizing entries by content.
ANNOTATE
ANNOTATE
ANNOTATE
A stylus allows users to engage with their entries, physically drawing connections between their thoughts.
A stylus allows users to engage with their entries, physically drawing connections between their thoughts.
A stylus allows users to engage with their entries, physically drawing connections between their thoughts.
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
Journaling is a relevant space, both in my own life and in the lives of anyone who thinks frequently without time for reflection. Rapid prototyping and video production taught me how to make my speculative solutions feel real before they exist.
Journaling is a relevant space, both in my own life and in the lives of anyone who thinks frequently without time for reflection. Rapid prototyping and video production taught me how to make my speculative solutions feel real before they exist.
+ NEXT STEPS
Hardware prototyping
Hardware prototyping
A Kindle or similar e-reader could serve as a stand-in for Reflcs's physical form. Rapid prototyping the hardware would ground the concept in something holdable and testable.
A Kindle or similar e-reader could serve as a stand-in for Reflcs's physical form. Rapid prototyping the hardware would ground the concept in something holdable and testable.
Interface development
Interface development
The app mockups built for the video were directional, not functional. Developing the actual interface would clarify how entries should be organized, filtered, and surfaced in practice.
The app mockups built for the video were directional, not functional. Developing the actual interface would clarify how entries should be organized, filtered, and surfaced in practice.