Overview
Problem
Goal
Solution
Research
Users & Context
Ideation
System Logic & Architecture
Prototyping & Delivery
Reflection

Turning Tense Family Moments into Gentle Reflection
via an Ambient Interface

YunZai · Magic Mirror

Social Bias

Speculative Design

UI/UX Design

5-6 min read

My role:

Research, Ideation, UI Design

Team:

Group of 6

Tools:

Figma, MagicMirror², Raspberry Pi, LLM API, Sensors

Tools:

Figma, Raspberry Pi, LLM API, Sensors

Duration:

4 Weeks

Overview

Introduction

YunZai · Magic Mirror is a speculative family device that designed to ease family tension, it transforms biased or emotional talk into gentle, reflective cues. The system senses tone, and visualizes long-term emotional patterns as a monthly climate curve.

Introduction

YunZai · Magic Mirror is a speculative family device that designed to ease family tension, it transforms biased or emotional talk into gentle, reflective cues. The system senses tone, and visualizes long-term emotional patterns as a monthly climate curve.

Introduction

YunZai · Magic Mirror is a speculative family device that designed to ease family tension, it transforms biased or emotional talk into gentle, reflective cues. The system senses tone, and visualizes long-term emotional patterns as a monthly climate curve.

My Role

I conducted user interviews and synthesized findings, led inclusive design thinking in ideation, and owned the UI design across all device modes. I collaborated with other five members (two Design, three Technical) throughout this project.

My Role

I conducted user interviews and synthesized findings, led inclusive design thinking in ideation, and owned the UI design across all device modes. I collaborated with other five members (two Design, three Technical) throughout this project.

My Role

I conducted user interviews and synthesized findings, led inclusive design thinking in ideation, and owned the UI design across all device modes. I collaborated with other five members (two Design, three Technical) throughout this project.

Problem

Problem #1

Invisible Bias

Bias is often transmitted through seemingly caring language, jokes, or ingrained traditional role expectations, making power dynamics invisible to both the speaker (parent) and the receiver (child).

Problem #1

Invisible Bias

Bias is often transmitted through seemingly caring language, jokes, or ingrained traditional role expectations, making power dynamics invisible to both the speaker (parent) and the receiver (child).

Problem #1

Invisible Bias

Bias is often transmitted through seemingly caring language, jokes, or ingrained traditional role expectations, making power dynamics invisible to both the speaker (parent) and the receiver (child).

“

He would already do everything for me, and then turn around and say that I'm useless.

“

He would already do everything for me, and then turn around and say that I'm useless.

“

He would already do everything for me, and then turn around and say that I'm useless.

Problem #2

Intrusion Aversion

Users overwhelmingly reject any technology that is perceived as monitoring, interruptive, or judgmental in private family moments.

Problem #2

Intrusion Aversion

Users overwhelmingly reject any technology that is perceived as monitoring, interruptive, or judgmental in private family moments.

Problem #2

Intrusion Aversion

Users overwhelmingly reject any technology that is perceived as monitoring, interruptive, or judgmental in private family moments.

“

I absolutely wouldn't want a tool like that. It feels disgusting to have a machine sitting there. My biggest fear is privacy, and the feeling that someone is secretly listening.

“

I absolutely wouldn't want a tool like that. It feels disgusting to have a machine sitting there. My biggest fear is privacy, and the feeling that someone is secretly listening.

“

I absolutely wouldn't want a tool like that. It feels disgusting to have a machine sitting there. My biggest fear is privacy, and the feeling that someone is secretly listening.

Defining the problem

“

How might we design an intervention that gently exposes bias-induced harm during escalating family conflicts, without triggering defensiveness, to foster mutual awareness and relationship repair?

“

How might we design an intervention that gently exposes bias-induced harm during escalating family conflicts, without triggering defensiveness, to foster mutual awareness and relationship repair?

“

How might we design an intervention that gently exposes bias-induced harm during escalating family conflicts, without triggering defensiveness, to foster mutual awareness and relationship repair?

Goal

EXPERIENCE GOALS

Deliver Gentle, Non-Confrontational Awareness

Translate accumulated emotion and bias into soft, metaphorical visuals to prompt post-conflict reflection without triggering defensiveness.

EXPERIENCE GOALS

Deliver Gentle, Non-Confrontational Awareness

Translate accumulated emotion and bias into soft, metaphorical visuals to prompt post-conflict reflection without triggering defensiveness.

EXPERIENCE GOALS

Deliver Gentle, Non-Confrontational Awareness

Translate accumulated emotion and bias into soft, metaphorical visuals to prompt post-conflict reflection without triggering defensiveness.

Establish Long-Term Reflective System

Enable longitudinal tracking of communication patterns and atmosphere to reveal conflict root causes and promote gradual value realignment.

Establish Long-Term Reflective System

Enable longitudinal tracking of communication patterns and atmosphere to reveal conflict root causes and promote gradual value realignment.

Establish Long-Term Reflective System

Enable longitudinal tracking of communication patterns and atmosphere to reveal conflict root causes and promote gradual value realignment.

Facilitate Power Re-balancing

Introduce a neutral third-party perspective to shift family power dynamics from dominance to collaborative conversation, empowering suppressed voices.

Facilitate Power Re-balancing

Introduce a neutral third-party perspective to shift family power dynamics from dominance to collaborative conversation, empowering suppressed voices.

Facilitate Power Re-balancing

Introduce a neutral third-party perspective to shift family power dynamics from dominance to collaborative conversation, empowering suppressed voices.

USER GOALS

Increase Willingness to Communicate

Surface emotional patterns in a non-accusatory way, so family members feel safe enough to reflect.

USER GOALS

Increase Willingness to Communicate

Surface emotional patterns in a non-accusatory way, so family members feel safe enough to reflect.

USER GOALS

Increase Willingness to Communicate

Surface emotional patterns in a non-accusatory way, so family members feel safe enough to reflect.

Bridge Misaligned Perspectives

Create a shared reference point for both parent and child, so conflicts can be revisited from a neutral, evidence-based perspective.

Bridge Misaligned Perspectives

Create a shared reference point for both parent and child, so conflicts can be revisited from a neutral, evidence-based perspective.

Bridge Misaligned Perspectives

Create a shared reference point for both parent and child, so conflicts can be revisited from a neutral, evidence-based perspective.

Challenge Ingrained Bias

Subtly introduce reflective content and guidance into everyday routines to challenge existing biases outside of high-pressure conflicts.

Challenge Ingrained Bias

Subtly introduce reflective content and guidance into everyday routines to challenge existing biases outside of high-pressure conflicts.

Challenge Ingrained Bias

Subtly introduce reflective content and guidance into everyday routines to challenge existing biases outside of high-pressure conflicts.

Solution

Core Feature Flows

1. Daily Sensing

The mirror observes and analyzes everyday speech, reflecting the emotional climate and level of bias as “Family Weather.”

1. Daily Sensing

The mirror observes and analyzes everyday speech, reflecting the emotional climate and level of bias as “Family Weather.”

1. Daily Sensing

The mirror observes and analyzes everyday speech, reflecting the emotional climate and level of bias as “Family Weather.”

2. Emotional Build-up

If bias and conflict occur consecutively, the weather worsens; once a threshold is reached, the mirror “cracks” and temporarily disables interaction.

2. Emotional Build-up

If bias and conflict occur consecutively, the weather worsens; once a threshold is reached, the mirror “cracks” and temporarily disables interaction.

2. Emotional Build-up

If bias and conflict occur consecutively, the weather worsens; once a threshold is reached, the mirror “cracks” and temporarily disables interaction.

3. Review Report

Family members can switch to the report view to browse logged bias events and the family climate curve, understanding frequency and details.

3. Review Report

Family members can switch to the report view to browse logged bias events and the family climate curve, understanding frequency and details.

3. Review Report

Family members can switch to the report view to browse logged bias events and the family climate curve, understanding frequency and details.

4. Repair to Clear Skies

Through communication, apologies, and other positive actions, the mirror’s functions are restored—completing a cycle of emotional repair.

4. Repair to Clear Skies

Through communication, apologies, and other positive actions, the mirror’s functions are restored—completing a cycle of emotional repair.

4. Repair to Clear Skies

Through communication, apologies, and other positive actions, the mirror’s functions are restored—completing a cycle of emotional repair.

  1. Active / Mirror Mode

Reflection & Guidance Layer

Daily News: Based on bias-related keywords, the system delivers customized news that offers counter-perspectives or reflection-driven viewpoints, gently challenging users’ values in low-pressure moments.

Daily Climate Tip: Provides concrete tips—such as “give a family member one compliment today”—turning abstract communication advice into simple, doable actions.

Family Climate: Translating family emotions into weather patterns to present the atmosphere in a non-blaming way.

Utility Layer

Includes date, time, temperature and real weather. This ensures the mirror provides practical value and encourages users to check it daily, making it a consistent touchpoint.

Idle / Frame Mode

The system maps the emotional intensity (derived from volume, tone, and bias keyword frequency) to four states:

Sunny: Joy, Peace, Harmony

Cloudy: Quiet, Neutral, Lack of Engagement

Drizzle: Sadness, Low Stress, Minor Disputes

Thunderstorm: Anger, High Conflict, Bias Detected

Idle / Frame Mode

The system maps the emotional intensity (derived from volume, tone, and bias keyword frequency) to four states:

Sunny: Joy, Peace, Harmony

Cloudy: Quiet, Neutral, Lack of Engagement

Drizzle: Sadness, Low Stress, Minor Disputes

Thunderstorm: Anger, High Conflict, Bias Detected

Idle / Frame Mode

The system maps the emotional intensity (derived from volume, tone, and bias keyword frequency) to four states:

Sunny: Joy, Peace, Harmony

Cloudy: Quiet, Neutral, Lack of Engagement

Drizzle: Sadness, Low Stress, Minor Disputes

Thunderstorm: Anger, High Conflict, Bias Detected

Cracked / dysfunction Mode

Prevents further conflict by stopping interaction, requiring the family to actively address the accumulated harm.

Cracked / dysfunction Mode

Prevents further conflict by stopping interaction, requiring the family to actively address the accumulated harm.

Cracked / dysfunction Mode

Prevents further conflict by stopping interaction, requiring the family to actively address the accumulated harm.

Review / Report Mode

Transforms family emotional data into an scannable, narrative-style climate journal and curve.

Family Climate Spectrum: Visualizes the color change of the household's emotional state over the time period.

Event Logger: The scrollable timeline allows navigation of past days. The Red Dot marks a Bias Incident.

Reflective Log: Display the log of the detected bias, enables family members to reflect on the conflict's root cause.

Review / Report Mode

Transforms family emotional data into an scannable, narrative-style climate journal and curve.

Family Climate Spectrum: Visualizes the color change of the household's emotional state over the time period.

Event Logger: The scrollable timeline allows navigation of past days. The Red Dot marks a Bias Incident.

Reflective Log: Display the log of the detected bias, enables family members to reflect on the conflict's root cause.

Review / Report Mode

Transforms family emotional data into an scannable, narrative-style climate journal and curve.

Family Climate Spectrum: Visualizes the color change of the household's emotional state over the time period.

Event Logger: The scrollable timeline allows navigation of past days. The Red Dot marks a Bias Incident.

Reflective Log: Display the log of the detected bias, enables family members to reflect on the conflict's root cause.

Research

Conducted mixed-methods research—including a literature review , a survey , and 17 semi-structured interviews —to uncover ingrained family biases.

Delayed Reflection

Research reveals a strong rejection of high-intrusion AI intervention during conflicts. Survey data confirms high acceptance (0.69) for "Recording & Review" strategies, validating the need for emotional cooling before any mediation or reflection takes place.

Delayed Reflection

Research reveals a strong rejection of high-intrusion AI intervention during conflicts. Survey data confirms high acceptance (0.69) for "Recording & Review" strategies, validating the need for emotional cooling before any mediation or reflection takes place.

Delayed Reflection

Research reveals a strong rejection of high-intrusion AI intervention during conflicts. Survey data confirms high acceptance (0.69) for "Recording & Review" strategies, validating the need for emotional cooling before any mediation or reflection takes place.

“

I wouldn't want it to intervene when emotions are at their peak—we'd push back. It's more effective when we've calmed down or just as the emotion is starting to build.

“

I wouldn't want it to intervene when emotions are at their peak—we'd push back. It's more effective when we've calmed down or just as the emotion is starting to build.

“

I wouldn't want it to intervene when emotions are at their peak—we'd push back. It's more effective when we've calmed down or just as the emotion is starting to build.

Camouflaged Bias

Prejudice within families is frequently camouflaged as "jokes" or "parental care", obscuring underlying power dynamics. This triggers a cycle where the accumulation of negative impressions leads to communication failure.

Camouflaged Bias

Prejudice within families is frequently camouflaged as "jokes" or "parental care", obscuring underlying power dynamics. This triggers a cycle where the accumulation of negative impressions leads to communication failure.

Camouflaged Bias

Prejudice within families is frequently camouflaged as "jokes" or "parental care", obscuring underlying power dynamics. This triggers a cycle where the accumulation of negative impressions leads to communication failure.

Protective Barriers

Approximately 50% of surveyed families fall into "protective" types, characterized by high compliance and low dialogue, which hinders meaningful conflict resolution.

Protective Barriers

Approximately 50% of surveyed families fall into "protective" types, characterized by high compliance and low dialogue, which hinders meaningful conflict resolution.

Protective Barriers

Approximately 50% of surveyed families fall into "protective" types, characterized by high compliance and low dialogue, which hinders meaningful conflict resolution.

Mediator Gap

The critical differentiator between warm and authoritarian family modes is the presence of a trusted third party, who is capable of reframing conflicts and breaking the "authority-obedience" loop.

Mediator Gap

The critical differentiator between warm and authoritarian family modes is the presence of a trusted third party, who is capable of reframing conflicts and breaking the "authority-obedience" loop.

Mediator Gap

The critical differentiator between warm and authoritarian family modes is the presence of a trusted third party, who is capable of reframing conflicts and breaking the "authority-obedience" loop.

Users & Context

The Anxious Guardian

"I’d rather persuade her with my experience than command her with my authority."

JOBS-TO-BE-DONE

Establish mutual agreements and shared reflections so she can ensure her daughter’s safety and growth without resorting to authoritarian commands.

Pain points

Dismissed as nagging or outdated, she feels exhausted having her valuable advice disregarded.

The Anxious Guardian

"I’d rather persuade her with my experience than command her with my authority."

JOBS-TO-BE-DONE

Establish mutual agreements and shared reflections so she can ensure her daughter’s safety and growth without resorting to authoritarian commands.

Pain points

Dismissed as nagging or outdated, she feels exhausted having her valuable advice disregarded.

The Anxious Guardian

"I’d rather persuade her with my experience than command her with my authority."

JOBS-TO-BE-DONE

Establish mutual agreements and shared reflections so she can ensure her daughter’s safety and growth without resorting to authoritarian commands.

Pain points

Dismissed as nagging or outdated, she feels exhausted having her valuable advice disregarded.

The Suppressed Youth

"I just wish they’d listen before they start teaching."

JOBS-TO-BE-DONE

Fully express her decisions and emotions so she can be validated as an individual with agency rather than just a child to be managed.

Pain points

Arguments are shut down as talking back, forcing her to suppress feelings and doubt her own choices.

The Suppressed Youth

"I just wish they’d listen before they start teaching."

JOBS-TO-BE-DONE

Fully express her decisions and emotions so she can be validated as an individual with agency rather than just a child to be managed.

Pain points

Arguments are shut down as talking back, forcing her to suppress feelings and doubt her own choices.

The Suppressed Youth

"I just wish they’d listen before they start teaching."

JOBS-TO-BE-DONE

Fully express her decisions and emotions so she can be validated as an individual with agency rather than just a child to be managed.

Pain points

Arguments are shut down as talking back, forcing her to suppress feelings and doubt her own choices.

Ideation

Divergence

We categorized and generated numerous ideas, focusing on where technology could disrupt conflict without confrontation:

Strategy Category

Initial Ideas Explored

The Rejection Point

Physical Intervention

Scent diffusers, temperature control, sound dampening, moving dinner plates.

Direct Interruption: These solutions intervene physically or instantly, risking immediate user annoyance and device abandonment.

Digital Journaling

Diary Apps, AI-assisted letter writing, communication sandbox/pre-rehearsal tools.

Lack of Co-Presence: While private reflection was desired, these methods failed to prompt mutual, shared awareness within the families.

Ambient/Poetic Metaphor

Shared plant that withers/grows based on dialogue, a "Family Language DNA" report, a weather forecast for emotions.

The Sweet Spot: Users showed high affinity for metaphors that could convey complex emotional data in a poetic, non-literal way.

Convergence

Our research confirmed that the design intervention must be: shared, glanceable, and non-accusatory. We converged on the idea of translating emotion into a weather, and chose the ambient mirror as the final device artifact.

Convergence

Our research confirmed that the design intervention must be: shared, glanceable, and non-accusatory. We converged on the idea of translating emotion into a weather, and chose the ambient mirror as the final device artifact.

Convergence

Our research confirmed that the design intervention must be: shared, glanceable, and non-accusatory. We converged on the idea of translating emotion into a weather, and chose the ambient mirror as the final device artifact.

Design Element

Decision Rationale

Value Proposition

Metaphor: Weather

Everyone understands clear skies vs. a thunderstorm. This neutral language immediately lowers emotional defense.

The AI acts as a Soft Translator, transforming volatile emotional tension into objective, public information (drizzle, thunder).

Artifact: Ambient Mirror

The mirror is a common household item, engaging every member during moments of self-reflection (e.g., getting ready).

The display provides a low-intrusion moment to deliver cues (color/light changes) without demanding immediate response.

Intervention Mode

Replaced real-time speech cues with ambient color changes and daily reports.

Shifts the focus to "how do we fix the climate(e.g., relationship repair)," fostering long-term behavioral change.

System Logic & Architecture

To translate weather metaphors into real-time interaction, we engineered a technical architecture capable of sensing biases through speech.

Information Architecture & Data Flow

Core Modules

Rpi A (Frontend) runs the MagicMirror UI, and Rpi B (Backend) handles the heavy processing.

Data Flow

Implemented a Sense-Think-Act loop that translates real-time speech into structured JSON via Google STT and GPT-4, dynamically updating weather states and ambient LED cues.

Bias Detection & Trigger Logic

Mechanism

The AI-powered Bias Radar analyzes speech characteristics against a knowledge base of social and structural biases.

Conflict Index Calculation

The system calculates a Conflict Index (0-100) by combining volume/pitch fluctuation and the bias frequency.

Ambient Control

Proximity Sensors ensure the mirror only reveals data when approached (<30 cm).

Prototyping & Delivery

Hardware Deployment

The physical build uses a Dual Raspberry Pi Architecture and a Two-Way Acrylic Mirror mounted in a wooden frame. The system integrates a USB microphone for voice input and an addressable LED strip for ambient light cues.

Hardware Deployment

The physical build uses a Dual Raspberry Pi Architecture and a Two-Way Acrylic Mirror mounted in a wooden frame. The system integrates a USB microphone for voice input and an addressable LED strip for ambient light cues.

Hardware Deployment

The physical build uses a Dual Raspberry Pi Architecture and a Two-Way Acrylic Mirror mounted in a wooden frame. The system integrates a USB microphone for voice input and an addressable LED strip for ambient light cues.

Reflection

Learning

Timeboxing

In a six-day sprint, we built a functional prototype from scratch. This experience validated a lesson: clear time limits sharpen decision-making. Work expands to fill the time you give it—so give it less.

Timeboxing

In a six-day sprint, we built a functional prototype from scratch. This experience validated a lesson: clear time limits sharpen decision-making. Work expands to fill the time you give it—so give it less.

Timeboxing

In a six-day sprint, we built a functional prototype from scratch. This experience validated a lesson: clear time limits sharpen decision-making. Work expands to fill the time you give it—so give it less.

Productive Design Debate

We learned to separate feedback from the person. When design opinions diverged, discussions centered on user needs and feasibility instead of personal preference. The goal is always "we as a team vs. the problem".

Productive Design Debate

We learned to separate feedback from the person. When design opinions diverged, discussions centered on user needs and feasibility instead of personal preference. The goal is always "we as a team vs. the problem".

Productive Design Debate

We learned to separate feedback from the person. When design opinions diverged, discussions centered on user needs and feasibility instead of personal preference. The goal is always "we as a team vs. the problem".

Constraint

Multi-sensory features

Several "Nice-to-Have" multi-sensory features—like syncing the mirror with smart home lighting or adding ambient sound cues—were deprioritized due to time and technical constraints.

Multi-sensory features

Several "Nice-to-Have" multi-sensory features—like syncing the mirror with smart home lighting or adding ambient sound cues—were deprioritized due to time and technical constraints.

Multi-sensory features

Several "Nice-to-Have" multi-sensory features—like syncing the mirror with smart home lighting or adding ambient sound cues—were deprioritized due to time and technical constraints.

Validation Metrics

As the project was not deployed for long-term use, the prototype remains untested. We could not collect real-world data such as long-term retention, communication improvement, and bias reduction.

Validation Metrics

As the project was not deployed for long-term use, the prototype remains untested. We could not collect real-world data such as long-term retention, communication improvement, and bias reduction.

Validation Metrics

As the project was not deployed for long-term use, the prototype remains untested. We could not collect real-world data such as long-term retention, communication improvement, and bias reduction.

Future

  • Run a longitudinal study to test whether the weather metaphor actually shifts communication patterns.

  • Revisit ambient features (lighting/sound linkage) to strengthen the low-intrusion, atmospheric presence.

  • Fine-tune bias-trigger logic, especially around subtle “care-as-control” language.

Future

  • Run a longitudinal study to test whether the weather metaphor actually shifts communication patterns.

  • Revisit ambient features (lighting/sound linkage) to strengthen the low-intrusion, atmospheric presence.

  • Fine-tune bias-trigger logic, especially around subtle “care-as-control” language.

Future

  • Run a longitudinal study to test whether the weather metaphor actually shifts communication patterns.

  • Revisit ambient features (lighting/sound linkage) to strengthen the low-intrusion, atmospheric presence.

  • Fine-tune bias-trigger logic, especially around subtle “care-as-control” language.

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