frictions - Future Interactions with Personal Data
We empower EU citizens to own, access, and control their personal data — through physical AI for the home.
Our concept envisions a future where people can fully understand and manage their data, protect their privacy, and consciously support data-driven innovation. Today, fragmented cookie banners and complex regulations hinder personal data control. We combine transparency and usability to make data management simple and secure. With physical AI, personal data becomes tangible, accessible and interactive.
Team:
Philipp Roser, Me
Time:
16 weeks | winter 24/25
My Role:
we tried to cooperate as much as possible along the whole project | later focus on industrial design
frictions - Future Interactions with Personal Data
We empower EU citizens to own, access, and control their personal data — through physical AI for the home.
Our concept envisions a future where people can fully understand and manage their data, protect their privacy, and consciously support data-driven innovation. Today, fragmented cookie banners and complex regulations hinder personal data control. We combine transparency and usability to make data management simple and secure. With physical AI, personal data becomes tangible, accessible and interactive.
Team:
Philipp Roser, Me
Time:
16 weeks | winter 24/25
My Role:
we tried to cooperate as much as possible along the whole project | later focus on industrial design
The Problem
The Problem
EU citizens at home are losing track of their digital footprints. Current Human-Data touchpoints like cookie banner are not designed to inform. Additionally consumers need to invest interest, knowledge, time, and attention to make informed decisions about their data privacy.
The pause needed to address data inquiries and understand terms of service is not taken, preventing conscious decision-making.
EU citizens at home are losing track of their digital footprints. Current Human-Data touchpoints like cookie banner are not designed to inform. Additionally consumers need to invest interest, knowledge, time, and attention to make informed decisions about their data privacy.
The pause needed to address data inquiries and understand terms of service is not taken, preventing conscious decision-making.
Conceptionalising a Product System
Conceptionalising a Product System
Flowchart of the working mechanics from our concept containing 3 components:
Background Service
App
Physical Interface.
Flowchart of the working mechanics from our concept containing 3 components:
Background Service
App
Physical Interface.
Methodology
Methodology
Using a speculative design approach, we researched the present and explored future scenarios to design a concept for tomorrow so we could reach a preferred future.
Through interviews with EU citizens, developers, data ethic professors and policymakers in European politics, we identified key challenges in privacy, technology and society. This process helped us understand human-data interactions and design responsibly for a complex and political topic.
Using a speculative design approach, we researched the present and explored future scenarios to design a concept for tomorrow so we could reach a preferred future.
Through interviews with EU citizens, developers, data ethic professors and policymakers in European politics, we identified key challenges in privacy, technology and society. This process helped us understand human-data interactions and design responsibly for a complex and political topic.
Background
Background
Managing personal data is a growing challenge. While EU regulations aim to protect consumer rights, inconsistent and complex cookie banners create digital friction. Transparency and usability often conflict, while rapid tech developments outpace legislation. Privacy is personal and subjective. Our project explores the balance between clarity and ease of use—empowering people to consciously and securely manage their data.
Managing personal data is a growing challenge. While EU regulations aim to protect consumer rights, inconsistent and complex cookie banners create digital friction. Transparency and usability often conflict, while rapid tech developments outpace legislation. Privacy is personal and subjective. Our project explores the balance between clarity and ease of use—empowering people to consciously and securely manage their data.
Our target group is broad. Aside from experts, most people are unaware of how much data they share and how to manage personal data privacy in their daily lives.
Our target group is broad. Aside from experts, most people are unaware of how much data they share and how to manage personal data privacy in their daily lives.
Goals, Wishes & Thoughts
Goals, Wishes & Thoughts
Providing EU citizens with tools to meet their privacy rights can lead to economic challenges due to the need for personal data sharing, economic growth and innovation. In the EU, especially in Germany, people have the right to decide on their data usage. However, current interactions lack balance of friction and usability, to enable true decision-making. Emerging technology requires more data than ever. Smart home devices collect data non-transparently, and AI functions through its intransparency. These challenges are both social and political, questioning our values as technology evolves. While most designs in society and economics prioritize speed and ease of use, in short: usability, this approach cannot be applied to data privacy due to its complexity in order to meet user needs.
Starting our project, we decide to address all stalkeholders, however the topic faces several challenges that can not only be answered by design. As upcoming designers, our goal is to collaborate on solving wicked problems. For that we design a medium for personal data, in a human-centred way. A speculative design project to adress the topic of data privacy and explore future interactions. In the future, we wish for people to decide what they want to share without leading to complete non-sharing. As data becomes a currency, we need tools that encourage citizens engagement. All-in-all, we want to design a product that raises awareness and provides a strategic design solution to provide a bottom-up design solution, focusing on the human-data interaction. Decentralized data infrastructure through blockchain, conscious decisions without annoyance, and a way for companies to obtain data that people are willing to share might strengthen the previously described future.
A product that enables EU citizens to manage data privacy. Its primary objective is to create a moment to consciously interact with personal data. Engagement is raised through focusing on the medium and rich interaction rather than an abstract description of personal data. Users are able to manage their previous decisions and update data usage permissions for devices, apps, and websites.
Providing EU citizens with tools to meet their privacy rights can lead to economic challenges due to the need for personal data sharing, economic growth and innovation. In the EU, especially in Germany, people have the right to decide on their data usage. However, current interactions lack balance of friction and usability, to enable true decision-making. Emerging technology requires more data than ever. Smart home devices collect data non-transparently, and AI functions through its intransparency. These challenges are both social and political, questioning our values as technology evolves. While most designs in society and economics prioritize speed and ease of use, in short: usability, this approach cannot be applied to data privacy due to its complexity in order to meet user needs.
Starting our project, we decide to address all stalkeholders, however the topic faces several challenges that can not only be answered by design. As upcoming designers, our goal is to collaborate on solving wicked problems. For that we design a medium for personal data, in a human-centred way. A speculative design project to adress the topic of data privacy and explore future interactions. In the future, we wish for people to decide what they want to share without leading to complete non-sharing. As data becomes a currency, we need tools that encourage citizens engagement. All-in-all, we want to design a product that raises awareness and provides a strategic design solution to provide a bottom-up design solution, focusing on the human-data interaction. Decentralized data infrastructure through blockchain, conscious decisions without annoyance, and a way for companies to obtain data that people are willing to share might strengthen the previously described future.
A product that enables EU citizens to manage data privacy. Its primary objective is to create a moment to consciously interact with personal data. Engagement is raised through focusing on the medium and rich interaction rather than an abstract description of personal data. Users are able to manage their previous decisions and update data usage permissions for devices, apps, and websites.
Keychallenges
Keychallenges
Focus on conscious Decisions.
Shift focus between goal and data privacy and back.
Communicate complex, unstructured content.
Create individual time period to make a decision.
Feeling of ownership about personal data.
Remind on past decisions.
Interactions
Interactions
Pick up the device when a new data request appears. Then place it to your left, center, or right—depending on how sensitive the request feels to you.
Pick up the device when a new data request appears. Then place it to your left, center, or right—depending on how sensitive the request feels to you.
For more information, open the device to view a summary of the current data request on the screen. This supports more informed and conscious decision-making.
For more information, open the device to view a summary of the current data request on the screen. This supports more informed and conscious decision-making.
Slide the top in any direction to choose between three settings for timing of when you want to be reminded while the device rests on the table.
Slide the top in any direction to choose between three settings for timing of when you want to be reminded while the device rests on the table.
User-Flows
User-Flows
Get visual guidance from the App
Pairing and get to know the interface
integrate and track your devices
change and revoke decisions
keep track about all your data inquiry
Get visual guidance from the App
Pairing and get to know the interface
integrate and track your devices
change and revoke decisions
keep track about all your data inquiry
Get visual guidance from the App
Pairing and get to know the interface
integrate and track your devices
change and revoke decisions
keep track about all your data inquiry
Get visual guidance from the App
Pairing and get to know the interface
integrate and track your devices
change and revoke decisions
keep track about all your data inquiry
Get visual guidance from the App
Pairing and get to know the interface
integrate and track your devices
change and revoke decisions
keep track about all your data inquiry
Get visual guidance from the App
Pairing and get to know the interface
integrate and track your devices
change and revoke decisions
keep track about all your data inquiry
Get visual guidance from the App
Pairing and get to know the interface
integrate and track your devices
change and revoke decisions
keep track about all your data inquiry
Get visual guidance from the App
Pairing and get to know the interface
integrate and track your devices
change and revoke decisions
keep track about all your data inquiry
User Testings
User Testings
The purpose of the user testing was to conduct an unbiased qualitative study to determine which size and shape would best suit different hand types. Additionally, it was fascinating to observe how participants naturally interacted with and picked up various shapes in different ways.
The insights gained from these observations played a crucial role in shaping our final design.
The purpose of the user testing was to conduct an unbiased qualitative study to determine which size and shape would best suit different hand types. Additionally, it was fascinating to observe how participants naturally interacted with and picked up various shapes in different ways.
The insights gained from these observations played a crucial role in shaping our final design.
Prototyping
Prototyping
In the prototype, we have embedded magnets to test interactions and mimic feedback. In the final version, these would be replaced with elctronic magnets. The prototype incorporates several technical components, including an Arduino for RFID functionality and a gyroscope. Later the device would be charged through induction charging. We have also designed a custom charger for this purpose.
To achieve the desired functionality with minimal sensors, the system uses an accelerometer to detect when the device is picked up and proximity sensors to determine its placement relative to the initial position.
In the prototype, we have embedded magnets to test interactions and mimic feedback. In the final version, these would be replaced with elctronic magnets. The prototype incorporates several technical components, including an Arduino for RFID functionality and a gyroscope. Later the device would be charged through induction charging. We have also designed a custom charger for this purpose.
To achieve the desired functionality with minimal sensors, the system uses an accelerometer to detect when the device is picked up and proximity sensors to determine its placement relative to the initial position.
programming an arduino with a RFID-reader to usertest the 3 zone placement
programming an arduino with a RFID-reader to usertest the 3 zone placement
prototype of the charger
prototype of the charger
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
Throughout the process, we worked closely across disciplines—from early Figma prototypes to physical models. While one of us led the interaction design, I focused more on the physical concept and prototyping. This close collaboration allowed us to constantly learn from each other’s expertise and perspectives, bridging the gap between digital and tangible experiences.
Throughout the process, we worked closely across disciplines—from early Figma prototypes to physical models. While one of us led the interaction design, I focused more on the physical concept and prototyping. This close collaboration allowed us to constantly learn from each other’s expertise and perspectives, bridging the gap between digital and tangible experiences.
turning the final shape out of Ureol
turning the final shape out of Ureol
casting a silicone mould for the lid and the base
casting a silicone mould for the lid and the base
embedding magnets in the top to mimic feedback
all parts prepared for assembly
all parts prepared for assembly
Outcome
Outcome
