The Brief

How far can Human Centred Design go? Can design do more than improve user’s short term experiences of and interactions with objects, can it be used to truly enrich their lives in the long run?

My Approach

In Bonnie Ware’s book ‘The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departed’ the fourth most common regret is:

“I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.”

Further research and discussions all pointed to a principle catalyst: distraction. As our lives become more complex the requirements of life distract us from the fading of once cherished friendships.

The friendship bracelet is a time honoured symbol and harkens back to the bonds we form in childhood. This design elevates the concept to fit the adult world, whilst retaining & expanding its core meaning. The bracelet takes the 5 most important friendships (as defined by Robin Dunbar) and represents them as unfinished brass links on a black chain.

Over the course of months & years the uncoated brass tarnishes towards the same black as the other ‘generic’ links in the bracelet. Capturing the wearers attention in the need to maintain the piece, and in doing so re-orientating their attention towards the fading relationships.