Context

Created for a 2025 design studio class, this project explored how an existing object could be manipulated to represent an emotion. My assigned emotion was relief, which I chose to communicate by adding wings to a backpack, symbolizing the feeling of taking weight off your shoulders. The project required the development of both low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes, as well as a marketing video that showcased the product and communicated its emotional concept.

Role

I was the product designer, director, and editor. I worked alongside an actor and a voice actor for the production of this project.

Tools

Adobe Premiere Pro

Creative Approach

Before developing the product, I created a mockup to explore how the backpack could visually communicate relief. The wings incorporated calming elements such as beach imagery, sand-coloured fabric, and shells, which I personally associate with physical relief and relaxation. I also used wind imagery to suggest a breath of fresh air, symbolizing the emotional relief of releasing something that feels heavy. Since this was an individual project, I considered including Bible verses that bring me relief, while recognizing that relief is interpreted differently from person to person and that Bible verses may not resonate with everyone as a source of comfort.

During product development, I created a low-fidelity mockup using spare fabric, wood, hot glue, and markers. This helped me build a frame and visualize how the backpack would be manipulated for the final prototype.

When creating the final prototype, I ran into challenges with sewing and constructing the wing frame, as physical prototyping required a very different skill set from digital design. I also realized that the wings were not large enough to include the verses on the back, so I chose to omit them. However, I felt confident in that decision because the beach imagery, wind imagery, and symbolism of the wings still conveyed relief.

When ideating for the film, I wanted to emphasize the physicality of the product: the heaviness of a backpack weighing on your shoulders contrasted with the lightness and relief of the winged backpack. My creative intention was to present the product in the style of a TV infomercial or medication advertisement aimed at students, dramatizing the everyday struggle of carrying a heavy backpack.

During post-production, I leaned into this contrast visually. Scenes featuring the heavy backpack used sadder black-and-white colouring, while the relief backpack was shown with brighter, more colourful lighting to highlight the fun, light feeling it brings. I also included a voiceover, guiding my friend’s performance to advertise the product and lead the viewer through the story of relief. The video ended like a traditional infomercial, presenting the product as an appealing solution with a promotional-style offer.

What I Learned

This project taught me that emotions such as relief are deeply personal and can be interpreted differently from person to person. Because of this, clear visual language became essential in communicating my intention to the audience. I learned that when designing a product or experience meant to evoke a specific emotion, each design choice needs to be intentional and easily understood. This helped me better understand how visual storytelling can influence the way an audience emotionally responds to an object and perceives its purpose.