POLI-vitae

Conceptual design / Circularity / Product emotional connection with user

Throughout our lives, we seek support from friends and family to persevere. Yet, what if certain objects could also evoke that comforting sensation?

Year

2020

Expertise

User and Society
Technology and Realization
Creativity and Aesthetics

Institution

Design Academy Eindhoven

Throughout our lives, we seek support from friends and family to persevere. Yet, what if certain objects could also evoke that comforting sensation? In doing so, not only could our lives undergo transformation, but the emotional bonds products forge with users could also contribute to environmental well-being. 

Enter POLI, a product designed to forge an emotional connection with the user by embodying the concept of support. This bond between the individual and the product seeks to enhance the circular system of the product itself. POLI transcends being a disposable item and instead evolves into a lifelong companion. 

The lifecycle of POLI unfolds in three distinct stages. Firstly, in childhood, the product serves as both an educational aid and a source of joy, fostering fond memories through play. In the second stage, during the teenage and adult years, POLI transforms into a mental support system, contributing to a serene and relaxing environment. Lastly, in the user’s later years, POLI transitions into a physical support, offering assistance to those with movement difficulties. Ultimately, POLI is designed to be inherited, initiating a new cycle and forming a fresh emotional connection with a different user, thus completing the circular lifecycle. 

In essence, this project delves into the concept of a closed circular cycle of life, wherein a product sustains its utility through the enduring emotional bond between itself and the user.