Aurora JiangA connected product ecosystem for people and pets
ECHO
02
Context
ECHO connects pet owners with their animals across distance—turning live health and activity data into a calm, ambient sense of presence.
Separation anxiety does not only affect pets. In a 2022 YouGov survey, 40% of American pet owners said they felt anxious leaving their pets at home alone all day.
The project asks how a connected product could provide reassurance beyond a camera feed, while remaining gentle enough to become part of everyday domestic life.
Design aim
Ease loneliness and uncertainty by creating a reciprocal, expressive connection between pet and owner.
Research
Understanding separation across distance
Research focused on what reassurance means to people who live away from their pets—and what a connected product should communicate beyond a camera feed.
I conducted 11 interviews and 45 surveys with university students and young professionals living away from their pets. Participants described pets as an important source of emotional support.
Images and video calls were not enough: people wanted signs of activity, wellbeing and response. Interviewees with multiple pets also worried about how the animals were getting along at home.
responses
interviews
pets home alone
Reassurance
Make wellbeing legible without encouraging constant checking.
Presence
Create an emotional response that feels more tangible than a screen.
Community
Let people share experiences and advice with others in similar situations.
03
System
Three connected touchpoints translate the pet’s condition into information, light and vibration.
Pet Tracker
A soft collar module captures heart rate, blood oxygen, activity and location.
Night Light
An ambient object mirrors the pet’s rhythm through colour, pulse and vibration.
Mobile App
A central place for profiles, live status, device settings and community support.
04
Application
A soft, character-led interface makes live status understandable at a glance while keeping the experience emotionally reassuring.
04.1
Information Architecture
The application prioritises the pet profile and connected devices, with community and notification settings supporting—not interrupting—the core relationship.
04.2
User Testing
Prototype testing focused on onboarding, notification control, navigation hierarchy and the clarity of device management.
Testing with the original interview group showed that users needed more control over notification type and frequency, plus clearer explanations during setup.
The revised structure removed chat, moved device management to the same level as pet profiles and standardised vertical gestures across the interface.
Personalise
Let new users choose notification type and frequency during setup.
Explain
Add short tutorials for core functions and allow enough reading time.
Prioritise
Strengthen pet profiles and device management through scale and hierarchy.
04.3
Final Application
The final interface brings live status, pet profiles, devices and community into one consistent interaction system.
05
Physical Product
The collar sensor and night light move pet data off the screen and into a tactile, domestic interaction.
The collar is designed to remain lightweight and comfortable while gathering live health and activity data.
The night light uses a soft silicone shell and 3D-printed structure. Its breathing pulse gives owners a subtle, continuous sense that their pet is present and connected.
06
Outcome
A connected ecosystem that turns remote monitoring into a warmer, more reciprocal form of companionship.
