Calm creators.1

Pilot Test by Elyse MarrStanford University

Design Challenge:To make people self aware of their

stress levels by having them try new stress reducing techniques through

group SMS

Time Limit: 3 days

Pass

The

Calm

Problem

• Often stress builds up internally. It’s noticeable only when it’s intense, and you don’t how your stress load got so high.

• It’s hard for people to regulate or be mindful of their stress levels. When stress is on the rise, it is hard to intervene it and take control.

• We don’t have built in rituals to help us relax in our everyday lives.

Solution: Pass the Calm!

Purpose: – to help remind people to

take small actions of relaxation in their day.

– To generate calming techniques in a group forum on SMS

– To create mindfulness about individual’s calm through out their day by giving other people’s calming techniques in comparison

Pass

The

Calm

Target Users

Over regimented people, solidified in their ways, who need constant nudges to break out of their stress cycles.

Results

• 10 people • 3 days• 21 calming techniques shared

Pass the Calm! Storyboard

Alex Get a text with Calming Technique #1: go breath deeply three times outside, facing the sun

Alex goes outside and takes three deep breaths.

Alex texts the texts back “pass it on! And his technique: Go outside and find a beautiful flower. Smell it!”

Alex’s Technique #2 gets sent to Britni, saying “ Alex is passing on technique #2 to you: Go outside, and find a beautiful flower. Smell it! Let me know when you’re ready to pass it on!

Britni goes outside, and finds a flower. She texts back, “found it! Pass it on!” and her text is then forwarded on to the next calm creator.

These techniques keep getting tweaked, and passed along through out the circle of calm creators.

Samples of the Pilot’s Chain of Calm

Good morning! Calm Technique # 1 go out side, look at the sky,

wait for a bird to pass by

Yes! Saw a bird fly by standing from a SF

balcony! Feels good! Now close your eyes

toward the sun and take a deep breathe of fresh

air! Pass it on!

Initial text Calm Creator #1

More personal text chain

I just had a great day in Napa. Pass it one! Go outside and look at the

wonders of nature and the different ways humans fill this

world. I am going to do it as well as I drive back with great music!

Just took my dog to the beach. My technique is to try to do something worth remembering each day, if

only for a moment. It helps me feel a sense of

accomplishment and satisfaction.

Calm Creator #2: Calm Creator #3

Simple text chain

Pass it on! Talk with a friend.

Did it sweet. Pass. It. On. Go stare at the sky for a full

minute.

Mission accomplished. Pass on the same thing.

Tested and approved.

Calm Creator #4 Calm Creator #5 Calm Creator #6

Does this calm me?

Text with Suggested Technique 1 is a trigger to ask the question…

Wow, that’s really worked for me! I

am going to suggest it just as is!

Yes, but I think I could make it better by adding

or switching this…

No, Technique 1 sucks, my

technique #2 is better, it works for

me.

Comparing and Assessing the iterations of the Calming Techniquescreated mindfulness of personal level of calm.

Thought Process of Calm Creator When then Receive Text

Simple Passing

Complex Passing

Sometimes the previous technique was…- Inspiring for the next Calm Creator to build on it more.- Awful, so the Calm Creator completely changed it. - So good and simple, it just got sent along!

Morning Text

Evening Text

Patrick got to know Chris. He sent 2 Techniques in one day

Surprising Insights

Desired Behavior: have a Calm Creator do something relaxing.

Feedback: “I didn’t always do the thing someone texted me to do, but I often did the thing that I suggested them to do”

Insight: The suggested calm technique your suggestion BOTH were opportunities for the calm creator to and theComparison with someone else’s suggestion created the most fitting calming technique for the person.

Feedback

“It was cool to see how my ideas measured up against everyone else's.”

Feedback

• “It’s hard to get awareness about calm. This helped me bring new ideas to my life that

were easy and implementable”

Feedback

“Each day was a Small batch evolution of calming techniques. It was fun to see the

adaptation by the group feedback”