Anja Assejev
Industrial Design
Final year project
NADA - A Portable Alerting Device for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing [Read more]
Meet NADA, Night and Day Alerts
There are 11 million people in the UK who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (gov.uk, 2017). Many of these people choose to put measures in place at home to alert them to alarms or other sounds. Smart devices and assistive alarms can provide some protection for those who can afford them but are less practical when travelling away from home.
NADA is a discreet, portable and adaptable all-in-one system for silent alerting while in the home or away. Detachable, Bluetooth-connected audio receivers are used to detect the sounds around them. Using AI (Artificial Intelligence), NADA recognises and distinguishes between sounds so that the user can be alerted to specific sounds using a variety of output methods.
Advanced Fire Safety
Three powerful uni-directional microphones within NADA continuously listen for fire alarms and will alert to any sound above 75dB for >20 seconds. If fire alarm decibel level regulations are different in a given location, NADA’s settings will be automatically adjusted. Even when offline, NADA will deliver an emergency alert using the wireless vibrating pad and a strobe screen on the display.
IoT Connectivity
For an enhanced experience using NADA, the user can pair their device with other "smart" IoT (Internet of Things) devices such as watches, doorbells/intercoms and home security systems. This allows the user to receive alerts to sounds through a wearable device of their choice. Each NADA System can pair with multiple devices so that other household members can receive alerts and save their own preferences.
Portable and Compact
The detachable receivers and vibrating pad can be docked into NADA’s main hub for charging and storage. USB-C connectors charge them when they are docked in the hub or via cable when in situ. Cut-outs at the corners of the detachable components allow them to be attached to clips, straps, or hooks for easy transportation.
Considered User Experience
Users of the NADA System depend on it to alert them to emergencies as well as day-to-day sounds around the home. So, NADA must be a system and brand that people can trust. Cohesive branding across the product, UX (User Experience) and packaging design elements provide a unified and consistent experience with the NADA brand. The product is sold in a sturdy box that can be used to transport NADA during use.
Sketch Ideation
Prototype Development
Anja Assejev
I am passionate about designing forward-thinking products and services, arranging things in rainbow order and separating my recycling.
When asked at my interview for Loughborough University five years ago why I was interested in becoming a designer, I replied, "because I love stuff." At the time, I thought that nerves had got the better of me. Today, I understand that it is my love of "stuff" that drives me to develop meaningful design solutions that enrich people's lives.
The brief for my final year project was to “design and develop a portable alerting device that reliably alerts to a range of audible triggers using visual outputs and/or physical sensation. The device should protect users and provide them with an increased sense of security and awareness of the sounds around them.”
The solution, NADA, brings assistive design for the deaf and hard-of-hearing into the twenty-first century. By re-thinking outdated assistive devices and integrating modern IoT (Internet of Things) and Bluetooth technology, NADA's functionality and usability could be maximised. NADA’s main unique selling point is that its additional sound receivers enable the user to receive alerts to sounds that cannot be detected from the main hub. NADA can adapt its settings to a changing environment while displaying simple, familiar controls to the user.
Design for Manufacture & Assembly (DfMA) was at the forefront of this project, particularly during prototyping. This allowed my technical skills in DfMA, CAD modelling and 3D printing to advance significantly. While on placement at a product design and development consultancy, I developed my skills in graphic design, UX (User Experience) design and branding. I put this knowledge into practice to create a professional, unified brand for my product.
If you would like to hear more about me or my work, please email me or contact me via LinkedIn.
Final year project
NADA - A Portable Alerting Device for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
Awards
2020 Diploma in Professional Studies
Work Experience
September 2019 - July 2020
Design and Marketing Intern, Bang Creations