Human Centred Design Studio pushed design thinking while putting the user first. We took a look at users that we were able to have a connection with and would be able to prioritize their needs in our designs. We were given a persona and a challenge, and I chose students struggling with school with the challenge of staying active indoors.

Aura is focused on generating connections between users through exercise in a world where we can't always be together. Exercise is tied to so much of our motivation, mental health, self-esteem, and more. I wanted to create an exercise mat that would offer an engaging experience that gives the user motivation to continue to exercise weekly. Aura reflects the movement of a partner's connected mat through the use of LEDs and pressure sensors, to give both users an aura of their partner's presence.