SONA - A neck wearable reducing everyday stress

Three questions to the project team

What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
The main UX challenge was designing a stress-relief wearable that works completely passively, without demanding user interaction, cognitive attention, or creating sensory overload, common problems of current digital wellness tools. To achieve this seamless 'set-it-and-forget-it' experience, careful attention was required in selecting biosensors, interpreting subtle physiological signals, and generating effective rhythmic haptic feedback that felt natural and comforting rather than intrusive or distracting. Balancing invisibility of technology with tangible, visceral was the goal. The result was creating an entirely new form of interaction, one driven by rhythm and touch rather than screens or sounds.

What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
My personal highlight occurred during initial user testing, where early prototypes were evaluated to assess stress levels. Observing measurable reductions in anxiety levels 30% within minutes was impactful, but hearing the participants say “ah wow this actually works” was the main “aha” moment.
The biggest challenge came earlier, when integrating the biosensors and vibration motors into a form factor that remained comfortable, discreet, and wearable for everyday life. Early versions were bulky and awkward. Overcoming this required extensive iterative prototyping, ergonomic testing, and collaboration with experts in CMF, neurology, and psychophysiology.

Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
In the next five years, I would like to bring Sona from its current prototype stage to a fully working consumer wellness product, available broadly to individuals and organizations. On a personal level, I see myself actively involved in furthering research and development of intuitive, inclusive technologies that genuinely improve mental health and well-being. I would love to establish a dedicated project that continues to innovate within this intersection of neuroscience, design, and user experience, helping make meaningful stress-relief universally available, destigmatized, and effortlessly integrated into daily life.