PRODUCT DEFINITION
HEIM : FERN is a domestic product concept designed to support emotional connection between people living apart, especially within family contexts.
The product functions as a physical communication object, allowing emotional presence to be expressed through subtle material and spatial feedback rather than explicit digital interaction. 

Instead of screens or notifications, HEIM : FERN translates remote interaction into a calm, tangible experience embedded in the home environment.
DESIGN FOCUS

Emotional presence: The product emphasizes emotional connection rather than information exchange. 

Domestic integration: Designed to blend naturally into home interiors as an object, not a device.

Low-interruption interaction: Interaction is ambient and subtle, avoiding notifications or active attention. 

Physical expression: Emotions are communicated through material change, light, or form rather than text or icons. 

The design positions industrial design as a medium for emotional communication at a distance.


FORM & PROPORTION STRATEGY

_ Soft, reduced geometry suitable for domestic environments 

_ Balanced proportions that sit comfortably within living spaces (shelf, table, or wall) 

_ Centralized core element as the emotional focus, surrounded by calm, stable outer volumes 

_ Minimal formal articulation to avoid technological or utilitarian associations 

The form is intentionally quiet, allowing meaning to emerge through presence rather than visual dominance.













CMF STRATEGY

Color: Warm, low-saturation tones to support emotional comfort and familiarity 

Material: Natural and tactile materials, such as wood, textile, or softly finished polymers 

Finish: Matte and soft-touch surfaces that invite touch and reduce visual noise 

The CMF strategy reinforces a sense of home, warmth, and emotional safety.


PROJECT CONTEXT

Project type: Industrial Design Product Project 

Context: Security inspection environments requiring reliable, easy-to-use handheld detection tools 

Design contribution: Translating technical detection requirements into a clear, ergonomic, and trustworthy physical product, focusing on form, proportion, and material rather than visible technology
At HTW Werkschau 2022

At Dutch Design Week 2022








HEIM:FERN
 
   
Shengjie Guo

Sommersemester 2022

Cooperate partner 
_TITV-Institut für Spezialtextilien
_Start-Up HapticLabs.io

Industrial Design

HTW Berlin



MADE WITH
_Miro
_Adobe Illustrator
_Procreate
_Rhino
_Cinema 4D
_Keyshot
_Photoshop
_Figma


DESIGN STACK
_Emotional Design 
_Speculative Design
_Spatial Experience Design 
_Storytelling & Narrative Prototyping
_Industrial Design Thinking 
_CMF Exploration
_System Mapping
_Human–Object Interaction Visual _Communication Conceptual Rendering
_Motion Design
_Environment Composition


















© 2025 Shengjie Guo All rights reserved.  
Based in Berlin – Available for collaboration worldwide.