Sonim Impact Initiative

The Rundown

Sonim is a company that makes rugged phones; phones used by firefighters, coast guards, etc. Our project was to look at where they could go next with their product range.

❋ Group Specification

We needed to choose who we were designing for, a specific group that is a representative of the wider rugged bandwidth. We chose marine biologists.

❋ Interview

Interviews included open questions so we could better understand the lives of these people, hear what mattered to them and what problems they may face.

❋ Synthesis

Dissecting the stories allowed us to piece together commonalities, connect the dots within the group, and work out what’s most important.

❋ Concept Development

After finding what this group needed, it was developing a concept of a product that would work to solve the problem.

A girl in a wetsuit with a snorkel mask sitting on a boat, holding a small underwater camera, with clear teal water and green foliage in the background.

Our Rugged Group

Group of four people sitting on a boat with twin Honda engines, surrounded by green trees and water, with one woman in the foreground smiling and resting her chin on her hand.

We chose marine biologists as our rugged group as they had added complexities to their roles, working underwater added extra elements to think about in the design process, but also had the potential for a larger problem space. We also had connections to this group which helped in getting interviews. 

The Finding

Research divers often swim away from their research sites to interact with marine life, which usually causes them to get lost and lose their equipment.

Black and white illustration of a person holding a large oval object above their head, with a crown-like shape on top of the object

Loses years worth of data

Losing Equipment

A diagram with four quadrants labeled 'High Stakes' and 'Low Stakes' along the vertical axis, and 'Present Impact' and 'Future Impact' along the horizontal axis. The top left quadrant lists 'Safety,' 'Data Collection,' and 'Equipment.' The top right quadrant lists 'Reef Health' and 'Climate Change.' The bottom left quadrant lists 'Animal Interactions.' The bottom right quadrant lists 'Impact of Equipment on Environment' and 'PHD Progress.' The word 'INTERPRETATIONS' is written vertically along the left side.
The image shows a silhouette of a person sitting in front of a computer, with a large window in the background.

Negatively impacts their careers

A black silhouette of a fox holding a distressed or confused woman's face in a circular frame.

Loses millions of dollars worth of equipment

A matrix chart with axes labeled Stake Impact (present impact to future impact) and Stake Stakes (low to high). The chart has two squares: one in the upper right labeled DREAD with Reef Health and Climate Change, indicating high stakes and future impact, and one in the lower left labeled EXCITEMENT with Animal Interactions, indicating low stakes and present impact.

The Insight

Research divers seek instant gratification from animal encounters to enjoy their day-to-day work, which helps offset doubts about their work’s long-term impact.

Flowchart showing the needs, activities, context, and common goals of scientific researchers. Needs include locating equipment and swimming with marine life. Activities involve conducting research and interacting with animals. Context involves contributing to the science community and connecting with those served. Common goals are having an impact, having fun, being happy, feeling good about their work, and checking on distant reefs without physically being there. 
Imperative & Design Principles

  • Connect the short-term experience with the long-term impact.

  • Use real-time imaging technologies to count people and/or animals in a worksite to connect workers with those they serve.

  • Implement a digital platform with daily notifications to help workers see tangible reminders of their impact while offsite.

  • Provide modular sensors to help builders work the right solution into their environment to help create a wider impact.

  • Use livestream viewing to help workers interact with animals and/or people in real-time.

  • Send daily notifications to help workers feel good about their work on a short term basis.

The Solutions

An infographic titled "Sonim Impact Tracker" with a subtitle "Capturing Your Impact Today and Every Day." It explains the core concept of visual data capture using thermal imaging and passive sonar to monitor visitors at a worksite, integrated via a user-friendly app for real-time impact analysis. The infographic highlights points of difference, including eco-friendly solar and wind power options and adaptable transmission methods, as well as core benefits like job fulfillment, user connection, and community ties. It features a diagram of a device with a solar panel, thermal imaging camera, passive sonar capture, and data transmission illustrated through wireless signals. The infographic also includes the Insighta logo with a sunset or sunrise over a landscape.
Screenshots of a mobile app called INSIGHTA, displaying impact tracking statistics including total impacts, recent sightings, device status, live video feed, and impact data over time. The interface uses yellow, black, and gray colors.
An illustrated webpage slide about extended family accessories, featuring drawings of a 360 camera, light block, and solar block, with labels and a brief description.
Illustration showing three different outdoor activity scenarios: a person walking in a forest with a trail camera, a person on a bicycle under large arches, and a research diver exploring underwater with a submersible.