HI toolkit: Google
Role: provide concrete, real-world data to mirror the social status and validate the opportunities identified

Through actual News and reports, we confirmed the situation of refugees facing power shortages on a daily basis when migrating between temporary settlements.

According to reports from the New York Times, the quest to keep smartphones running pushes migrants to create makeshift charging stations in the unlikeliest of places, with wires snaking out of food trucks, phone booths, or even a busted traffic light.

HI toolkit: Procreate
Role: Digital painting tool for designers to sketch and conceptualize ideas.

With the rounded form as the starting point, we increased the solar panel's light-receiving area and protected it from potential damage during transport. To achieve this, an insertable placement was chosen within the generator, accompanied by a pull-out interaction mechanism.

HI toolkit: SolidWorks
Role: translate the finalized 2D concept into precise 3D models for manufacturing

From final sketching to 3D modeling, we arrived at a feature set that can deliver multiple benefits to the user:

• The T-shaped handle and solar panel are retractable, with the solar panel featuring grooves for secure placement against the handle at an inclined angle, optimizing sunlight absorption.
• The top surface of the power generator is gently curved, allowing stable storage of items like backpacks and also serving as a comfortable seat for refugees in need of temporary rest.
• The overall design of the device adopts a gracefully curved form, reducing the risk of impacts and minimizing maintenance requirements.
• All charging ports are conveniently located on the front of the device, ensuring ease of access and use.

After establishing the design direction, we focused on enhancing aesthetics and user experience by leveraging MidJourney and Vizcom to generate concept images from our 3D models.

• We improved the omnidirectional wheels for better integration and reduced soil clogging.
• We made the solar panel fully retractable, enabling easy rotation and enhancing its visual appeal.
• Additionally, we selected E-ink for the display screen to reduce costs, power consumption, and improve visibility in sunlight.
• Ambient lighting around power outlets was added for both illumination and easy socket location.

AI toolkit: Midjourney
Role: generate photo-realistic backdrop images, to better showcase our design achievements and assist stakeholders in understanding the usage scenarios.

The example here demonstrates how we generated a camping scene to place the product inside as a general consumer electronic device. The solar panel can simultaneously generate power when HELIOS is charging a laptop.

AI toolkit: Photoshop AI Generation
Role: effortlessly rectify imperfections in the images generated by MJ by selecting certain areas in the scene

The example here demonstrates how we selected the area above the table to create a laptop to be powered by HELIOS.