Serenitea

Young people from all over Pittsburgh stop at Dobra Tea for a cup to chitchat over. Whether it be a group of friends or a first date, sipping tea together is often a social and/or cultural activity. How can interpersonal experiences in a tea shop setting spark introspection and social engagement?

Serenitea is the table top that reacts to realtime movements of tea cups. Whether you are here for 10 minutes or 2 hours, watch as your behavior affects your experience.

We extensively prototyped the height, area, and surface material for the table in order to provide the most effective proof of concept. Additionally, we went through many rounds of iterations for the visuals of the graphics and animations. The mosaic water lily became the centerpoint for our visual language, as it matches the mosaic artwork found in Dobra Tea, while also referencing tea leaves floating in water.

As this project was a physical product, it required numerous rounds of iteration and user testing. There were countless considerations, as well as various modes of research that led to the finished result. Interviews, lo-fi models, roleplays, material tests, technological limits, etc. are a few examples things I found key to solidifying each and every design decision. Thus, I've come to view projects practically and consider every detail when drafting an experience. Thanks to my team members, Helen and Juhi, for being delightful collaborators with skills that I lacked and hardworking attitudes throughout the whole duration of the project. And to Dina, for advising us when we needed direction.