Wavelet: Take a Deep Breath

A breath-activated diffuser designed by Yuancong Jing ’25 and Nymph Yang ’25 to support focus and reduce procrastination-related thoughts.

The Problem

For 20 to 27-year-old students and professionals, stress and procrastination are deeply connected, hindering focus and affecting motivation and well-being. With 77% of this demographic coping with stress and up to 90% of students procrastinating on a daily basis, this problem has widespread impact.

However, no product can truly solve procrastination, as its root cause lies in the desire to escape the problem itself. This insight helped to clarify Jing and Yang’s mission: To inspire individuals to confront avoidance with calm and confidence, transforming moments of hesitation into opportunities for inner focus and growth.

The Opportunity

Given the challenges at play, Jing and Yang looked towards an emotional design; by leading with a sense of understanding, they hoped to create an improved experience.

Their exploration of stress relief led them to ask: How might we design a desktop tool that encourages mindful moments of focus and calm, helping users break through procrastination and find clarity in short, effective intervals?

Their research and exploration led them into the realm of breathwork and diffusers. They decided to design a breath-activated tool that combines calming feedback with aesthetics, helping users manage stress and beat procrastination.

“Their Wavelet diffuser activates with a blowing action, prompting users to take a deep breath as they blow to start it, helping people focus and interrupt procrastination-related thoughts.”

Market Landscape

Jing and Yang conducted a market landscape study, examining the current diffusers, as well as a variety of time management and stress-reduction devices on the market. They ranked these products by effectiveness and satisfaction and looked for new opportunities to address the needs of their target demographic.

Product Development

Jing and Yang began their prototyping and product development with affordance testing. They explored what physical forms and interactions would prompt users to blow air.

They then looked into aromas associated with increased focus, such as peppermint, sage, and cedar root. From there, they began to explore designs that would combine the breathing element with the scent diffusion.

Product Details

The Wavelet diffuser activates with a blowing action, prompting users to take a deep breath as they blow to start it, helping people focus and interrupt procrastination-related thoughts.

The device is powered by an Adafruit Feather Esp8266 and microphone sensor. It can be outfitted with one of three aromas: Lavender, Sage, or Peppermint. A magnetic system allows for easy attachment and removal of the aromatic component.

There is a power button, as well as a second button that allows the user to set the amount of time they’d like to dedicate to breathwork. Once the Wavelet is turned on, breath activation will trigger the scent diffusion, enhanced by an internal fan.

Branding

Jing and Yang designed Wavelet’s logo, colorway, and typography.

The circular logo is meant to reflect the product’s ripple textures, while the concentric circles represent moments of pause. The completed loop embodies the journey to balance and equanimity. All elements of the visual identity were chosen to deliver a sense of softness and calm.