Stardust
Made with ❤️ by Rohit Ashok Khot & Jung-Ying (Lois) Yi
Introducing Stardust, an exquisite spice kit that takes your coffee or tea experience to a whole new level. This carefully crafted kit allows you to immerse yourself in the art of creating Latte art while adding a delightful twist of unique spice flavors. Inside the kit, you'll find a collection of beautifully designed pattern cards, each adorned with mesmerizing dotted patterns. But that's not all - there's also a secret set of 9 spices waiting to be discovered. As you engage with the kit, you'll have the opportunity to reveal a hidden masterpiece by poking holes in the pattern card. Not only will you unveil a stunning piece of art, but you'll also find a number that leads you to a secret spice from the box. Once you've uncovered the magic, it's time to bring it to life. Simply place the poked pattern card over your favorite hot coffee or tea, and gently sprinkle the secret spice over it. As if by serendipity, you'll witness the spice and the punched pattern come together, creating a truly unique and personalized latte art. But the experience doesn't end there. As you savor your beverage, you'll be treated to more than just a visual delight. The aroma of the spice will infuse your coffee, making it even more flavorful and enticing. With Stardust, every sip becomes a work of art, a sensory journey that combines the beauty of Latte art with the allure of unique spice flavors. Indulge in this extraordinary experience and elevate your coffee or tea ritual to new heights.
What makes Stardust unique?
Stardust doesn't just redefine self-care; it transforms the ordinary act of coffee preparation into an extraordinary journey of sensory delight and artistic expression. Welcome to a realm where everyday rituals become opportunities for mindful reflection and creativity.
Stardust in Action
Provocative Harmony of Art and Self-Care
Self-care, though universally desired, often falls victim to the fast-paced nature of contemporary living. Stardust challenges this narrative, redefining self-care as an artful endeavor accessible in the mundane. It confronts the misconception that self-care is a luxury reserved for spas or vacations, introducing a new dimension that transforms the routine act of preparing coffee into a meditative multisensory experience. Stardust provocatively merges the creative process of art-making with the pleasures of gustatory and olfactory senses, breaking the mold of standalone self-care activities.
Grounded in Design Expertise and Iterative Refinement
Developed by an in-house team of industrial designers and computer scientists with a focus on digital health and interaction design, Stardust underwent meticulous crafting over six months. Striking a delicate balance between simplicity and complexity, the toolkit ensures that users find an engaging activity without feeling overwhelmed. Inspired by learning-based coloring books, Stardust introduces an educational element by incorporating information about popular coffee spices into the visual representations on the patterned cards. Careful attention to the design of the poking mechanism ensures a mindful yet not overly complex experience.
A Journey into Mindfulness
Stardust's artful approach to latte-making is more than just a visual treat; it's a journey into mindfulness. By encouraging users to immerse themselves in the present moment, Stardust offers a unique blend of sensory exploration and self-expression. Unlike traditional self-care activities, Stardust's perishable latte art emphasizes non-judgmental acceptance. Users are free from the pressure of creating lasting masterpieces, fostering an environment where the process becomes as meaningful as the outcome. Stardust provides the agency for users to engage at their own pace, making mindful self-care an integral part of their everyday routine. Stardust doesn't just elevate the act of self-care; it transforms it into an artful and accessible practice, weaving moments of mindfulness into the fabric of daily life. Welcome to a new era of self-care, where every sip becomes a brushstroke in the canvas of your well-being.
Stardust DIS 2023 conference presentation
Research publications
Rohit Ashok Khot, Jung-Ying (Lois) Yi, and Deepti Aggarwal. 2022. Designing Stardust: Reimagining Self-care through Everyday Latte Art. In Proceedings of ACM SIGCHI Conference on Designing Interactive Systems (DIS'23), ACM, 1-15.