Filo
Private messaging in a public space
Project Overview
FILO is an innovative add-on that transforms an everyday object into a platform for sharing messages in a public space while maintaining a private touch, precisely where they can be most impactful.
Our goal with FILO was to create a solution that allows users to place and share messages in or around their wardrobes, harnessing the unique opportunity to communicate at the moment when the message is most relevant.
Recognizing that the wardrobe is a common fixture in every home, we prioritized the element of privacy, ensuring that the messages retain a distinctly personal character.
Initial Design Concepts
When we started with our work on the different furniture, we started also to think about the concepts which are already in the furniture. In case of the wardrobe, the concept behind it is very simple.
It is never placed in a closed nor private room. It is a piece of furniture that is placed in your hallway, shared and seen by every visitor, yourself and everyone living with you day in and day out.
But the exciting aspect of the wardrobe lies more in the situations you are using it - before you leave your home and right after you come back.
Prototyping
With FILO, we designed a solution for users to leave and share messages in or near the wardrobe, delivering communications when most relevant. As the wardrobe is a staple in every home, we emphasized privacy while keeping a personal touch. We used individual hangers with unique designs that can attach to your keychain. Each hanger has a button for your flatmate or partner to leave you a message. A blinking light signals new messages, allowing you to listen at your convenience. If you'd rather delay the message, simply return the hanger to the key holder, which will then act as the trigger to play it later.
To give the messages a more private character, the loudspeaker is very quiet and you have to listen very carefully to not miss the message when you bend a little bit down to the wardrobe as if someone is whispering it right into your ear.
We chose an old telephone as a basic starting point of our design. Not only because we wanted that the wardrobe should imply the functionality by its looks, but also because the speaking and the hearing part where separated in a way they would also be when you use FILO.
FILO is an add-on to an everyday object to share messages in a very public space in a very private way, right where they are supposed to be heard.
