Cradle

Sleep is a vital part of our daily routine, yet transitioning to it has become challenging in the digital age. Cradle helps ease that transition through audio journaling.

Cradle is an audio journaling device that lets you record and replay thoughts, helping bridge the transition to rest.

Duration:
7 Weeks, Spring 2024

Course:
Junior Product Studio II

Problem Framing
User Research
Prototyping

Cradle helps you record and replay thoughts before sleep

Record. Keep. Replay.
Cradle is a platform for users to record and reflect before sleep. It features a bowl for recording and a base for charging and storage.

An Invitation to Reflect
The warm, wooden bowl fits naturally in the palm—inviting the user to pause, hold, and turn their attention inward.

Turn to record/replay

To record or play back, rotate the top handle in a circular motion. Recording or playback pauses when the handle stops rotating, giving the user time to pause and think before continuing.

Background

Sleep is a vital activity we all engage in, but we decide when, where, and how it happens. Yet, many college students, even those considered normal sleepers, struggle with insufficient rest.

Having personally faced the challenge of resisting screen time before bed, I became intrigued by the sleep routines of college students. This curiosity led me to explore ways to design a product that encourages healthier pre-sleep routine.

Research

Through in-person interviews, I realized many see the time before sleep as a calm, transitional moment. After spending the entire day working and thinking for others, this moment becomes a rare opportunity for personal time.

“...I've committed all my day to doing these things that other people want me to do. And now I'm gonna do what I want me to do. Which is nothing. It's like a way to do something relaxing for yourself without having to do anything other than sit in bed on your phone.”

Participant #7, 21, Male

“It's sometimes hard to turn everything off and go to bed. Um, like, it's just a stark difference, and so it's a nice, like, in between. There's a transition.

Participant #2, 20, Female

“I feel like I need something fun. Just not work for a bit...I guess it is it's just that I just don't want to ever experience like in the times where I have had to like work and immediately sleep 'cause ... I’d feel like s***.

Participant #1, 20, Male

Design Goal

From these insights, I determined that the product should provide:

A transitional period before sleep.

Calmness for unwinding
Fostering a personal time for self care

Ideation

Traditional journaling is a commonly suggested method for pre-sleep routine. However, it can feel too demanding and structured at the end of a long day. Many participants preferred low-effort ways to unwind, often turning to passive audio like music or podcasts as part of their nighttime routine.

Audio journaling meets users where they are, making reflection feel more like a release than a task. It offers a natural, low-friction way to express thoughts—faster, more emotionally intuitive, and less structured than writing.

Direction A

A palm-sized object dedicated for
fidgeting, offering a non-intrusive
way to capture audio.

Direction B

A pocket-shaped object for both hands,
establishing a ritualized and
intimate recording experience.

Direction C

A “grinder” focused on the circular
motion of your hand, spinning to
record and stopping to pause.

I chose direction C for its ability to provide a focus and calmness on your body movement. Inspired by the Tibetan singing bowl, it fosters a deeper sense of intimacy and control during the recording process.

Form Development

Design decision

Rationale

Bowl shape

Feels warm and inviting
Requires both hands to interact (with the handle)
Symbolizes containment—holding space for thoughts and emotions

The “grinding” motion
to record / replay

Enables recording, pausing, and rewinding through one continuous, intuitive gesture
It mimics calming behaviors like fidgeting, kneading, or drawing circles—actions often associated with soothing or self-regulation
Unlike tapping or swiping, the motion requires sustained attention and rhythm, slowing down the pace of interaction

A base for the bowl
to rest on

Acts as a subtle piece of furniture—blending into the space while defining its own area - grounding it within the home

Elevates the object physically and symbolically, creating a more ritualistic interaction

Wirelessly charging the bowl, making the charging process invisible

I wanted a form that feels inviting and warm to hold, capturing the essence of collecting and emitting sound. Hence, I shaped it like a bowl, transitioning from angular to smooth, rounded contours.

Refinement

I handed out 3D-printed prototypes to participants, who described the motion as rigid and mechanical. In response, I added springs to the crank for softer resistance and made the handle spinable, creating a smoother, more meditative interaction.

Recording.

Push and turn
Push the center knob down to begin recording,
LEDs beneath the wood panels subtly indicating
the recording status.

Replaying.

Pull and turn
Pull the center knob up to enter replay mode. Turn the dial to browse recordings by date, and press the button on the top handle to confirm your selection.

Volume.

Pull and Trace
While in replay mode, trace a circular path on the top of the handle with your thumb to adjust the volume.

Calming yet precise

Walnut + aluminum complements to afford
warmness and precision