Elle’s Portfolio Site
Product Strategist and Immersive Experiencesacross Design, Technology, and Business
Elle’s Portfolio Site
Product Strategist and Immersive Experiencesacross Design, Technology, and Business
Sen:
A Zen Garden inspired speaker for mindfulness.
Team: Elle Zhou, Laila LaDuke, Clarance Keith, Mina Sun
Brief
Sen. is a health-focused sound therapy speaker designed to support better sleep, deeper focus, and calmer daily routines through professionally calibrated binaural beats.
Combining auditory stimulation, ambient lighting, tactile controls, and a small kinetic zen garden, Sen. transforms sound therapy from a passive audio experience into a calming multisensory ritual.
The product is designed for people who struggle with sleep disorders, difficulty focusing, anxiety, irregular routines, or overstimulating environments, with college students as a key early audience. Its core promise is simple:
better sleep. better focus. better life.
Combining auditory stimulation, ambient lighting, tactile controls, and a small kinetic zen garden, Sen. transforms sound therapy from a passive audio experience into a calming multisensory ritual.
The product is designed for people who struggle with sleep disorders, difficulty focusing, anxiety, irregular routines, or overstimulating environments, with college students as a key early audience. Its core promise is simple:
better sleep. better focus. better life.
Sen.
Research Insight
Binaural beats are a form of sound therapy where two slightly different tones are played in each ear, leading the brain to perceive a third tone. Different brainwave frequencies are associated with different mental states, such as deep sleep, relaxation, concentration, and flow.
However, the current experience of binaural beats is often fragmented. Many users rely on YouTube videos, amateur audio tracks, or poorly balanced sound overlays. These can be ineffective, uncomfortable, or even nauseating when frequencies are not accurately produced or mixed.
The insight behind Sen. is:
If people already seek out sound frequencies for sleep and focus, the opportunity is not only to provide sound, but to make that sound
more reliable, intentional, accessible, and emotionally calming.
However, the current experience of binaural beats is often fragmented. Many users rely on YouTube videos, amateur audio tracks, or poorly balanced sound overlays. These can be ineffective, uncomfortable, or even nauseating when frequencies are not accurately produced or mixed.
The insight behind Sen. is:
If people already seek out sound frequencies for sleep and focus, the opportunity is not only to provide sound, but to make that sound
more reliable, intentional, accessible, and emotionally calming.
Ideation & Texture Board
Key Features
Sen. offers preset binaural beat tracks designed to help users relax and fall asleep more easily. These can be scheduled as part of a consistent bedtime routine.
Users can transform the music they are already listening to into a beat pattern that supports focus, study, work, or creative flow. This makes the product useful beyond bedtime.
Sen. uses soothing natural audio and gradual sound transitions to wake users more gently. This helps reduce the irritation and stress response caused by abrupt alarms.
Users can schedule recurring sleep, focus, or wake-up sessions, helping build healthier daily rhythms.
Each physical button features a raised sound-wave graphic representing a different mode or frequency. This allows users to identify settings through touch, which is especially useful in the dark or for visually impaired users.
Voice commands allow users to control the speaker without needing to see or physically interact with the interface.
Soft lighting illuminates the sound-wave graphics and creates a calming visual environment that supports relaxation without overwhelming the user.
The sand garden provides a visual and tactile metaphor for mental regulation. It reinforces calm through slow, subtle movement generated by speaker vibration.
Design Language
The visual design of sen. is calm, soft, and approachable.
Sen. uses:
- A rounded cylindrical form
- Warm wood texture
- Neutral colors such as off-white, light brown, and natural tones
- Soft ambient lighting
- Minimal engraved branding
- A compact tabletop scale, approximately 8 inches in diameter
The design takes inspiration from humidifiers, zen gardens, and soft home objects. Its form language avoids medical-device coldness and instead feels like a quiet companion for a bedroom, dorm, studio, or workspace.