A conceptual collaboration tool that visualizes voice-based interaction data to foster empathy and active listening in group conversations.
Overview
Lighthouse is a conceptual collaboration tool designed to improve group communication during meetings and group projects.
By capturing and analyzing voice data, Lighthouse visualizes how team members interact—encouraging empathy, active listening, and self-awareness.
Rather than focusing solely on productivity, this project explores how emotional tone, participation, and communication patterns influence collaboration outcomes.
Background
This project began with a simple but common problem: many students struggle to communicate effectively during group projects.
Misunderstandings, uneven participation, and emotional tension often interrupt collaboration and negatively affect group outcomes.
Our team aimed to explore how design could support healthier group conversations—not by controlling behavior, but by making communication patterns visible and easier to reflect on.
Recognition
Red Dot Award 2020 — Brands & Communication Design
European Product Design Award 2020 — Top Design Winner (Product UI Design)
IDEA Awards 2020 — Finalist
Indigo Awards 2021 — 4 Gold · 8 Silver · 1 Bronze
The Challenge
Group projects often struggle not because of a lack of skill, but because of poor communication.
Participants find it difficult to actively listen, express opinions without fear of judgment, and remain aware of how their tone and behavior affect others.
Without feedback, these communication issues remain invisible—leading to frustration, disengagement, and unresolved conflict within teams.
PROJECT TYPE
Academic Project
ROLE
Visual Lead
Product Designer
User Research
SERVICE
Mobile App & Device
DURATION
10 weeks (2020)
RESEARCH & INSIGHTS
Research at a Glance
Survey: 92 college students
Interviews : 14 participants
Diary Studies: 8 students currently involved in group projects
Our research focused on understanding real communication challenges experienced during collaborative academic work.
Key Research Insights
Many students avoid group projects despite believing they are good communicators.
1. Lack of empathy and active listening is a major source of conflict in group discussions.
2. Fear of negative reactions prevents open participation and honest communication.
These findings suggested that communication problems are often emotional and behavioral rather than technical.
CONCEPT & DESIGN DIRECTION
Design Focus
To better define our approach, we focused on two core concepts:
Empathy : the ability to understand and share the feelings of others
Active Listening : fully engaging with what is being said rather than passively hearing
Design Question
How might we foster active listening and empathy in group conversations to improve collaboration and productivity?
TESTING & ITERATION
We conducted 13 participants across multiple rounds of user testing using lo-fi app prototypes and device concepts.
Lo-fi testing of data visualization
Key Learnings
First-time users needed clearer guidance for device connection
Icons and terminology required simplification
Data visualizations needed to be more intuitive and readable
Based on these insights, we refined interaction flows, labeling, and visual hierarchy to improve clarity and usability.
Gathering qualitative feedback through hands-on user testing sessions.
FINAL SOLUTION
The Final Design — Lighthouse
Lighthouse is a system composed of a physical device and a companion app.
During meetings, the device captures voice-based interaction data in real time, while the app visualizes this information to support reflection during and after conversations.
The goal is not to judge performance, but to help users become more aware of how they communicate within a group.
Core Design Principles
Make communication visible: Abstract emotional tone and participation into clear visual signals
Support reflection, not control: Encourage awareness rather than enforcement
Maintain a professional tone: Avoid excessive gamification in serious group settings
Feature Overview
Real-Time Feedback
A physical device placed at the center of the group provides immediate visual cues based on tone and participation.
Communication Visualization
Voice data is translated into three metrics:
Energy — how actively a participant engages
Attitude — positive or negative tone
Frequency — how often a participant speaks
Post-Meeting Insights
The app provides summaries, visual analytics, and personalized tips to help users reflect and improve over time.
Final Design Overview
Device
The Lighthouse device features four directional microphones for 360-degree voice detection and is placed at the center of the group during meetings.
A white light indicates the active speaker, while changes in tone—such as raised volume or emotionally charged speech—trigger a red visual signal to prompt awareness.
App
The app connects to the device and analyzes meeting data to provide insights into both group and individual communication.
By visualizing Energy, Attitude, and Frequency, users can better understand their communication style, participation level, and emotional impact within a group.
The app also offers reflection tools and personalized tips to support long-term improvement.
1. Simply Tap to Connect
Connect your phone to the Lighthouse device with a single tap using NFC. Instantly access your team and group projects.
2. Access Meeting Insights
View real-time data across three key metrics:
Energy — How actively you participate
Attitude — The sentiment of your tone
Frequency — How often you speak
3. Learn and Improve
Receive personalized insights after each meeting. Understand your communication patterns and discover actionable tips for growth.
4. Track Your Overall Progress
View your overall communication trends across group projects and track how your energy, attitude, and participation evolve over time.
REFLECTION & IMPACT
Reflection
This project taught me that effective communication design is not about controlling conversations, but about creating moments of awareness.
By making invisible communication patterns visible, Lighthouse encourages empathy, self-reflection, and more intentional collaboration.
Results & Impact
Lighthouse demonstrated how visualizing emotional and behavioral data can positively influence group dynamics.
As my first UX-focused project, it shaped my approach to interaction design—prioritizing research, empathy, and thoughtful feedback over feature-driven solutions.
