Resonance

Inspiration

Think about the last time you experienced a conflict or saw one unfold. They can start as a simple conversation, and then, before you know it, they escalate in seconds without knowing why.

We started this project because, as two sisters, we noticed how family dynamics can make even small conversations tense. Growing up, we saw moments when people felt unheard or misunderstood, and miscommunication was rampant.

We wanted to create a tool that helps people notice those shifts in conversation and, through reflection, break generational patterns of escalating conflict.

What it does

Resonance highlights emotional shifts in conversations, shows key turning points, and guides users to reflect on what triggered them. It presents a new way of perceiving conversations: Interoceptive Conversation Awareness.

It uses principles of affective computing by using a smartwatch to analyze physiological signals and tone to identify conversational turning points, helping people understand why conversations escalate.

How we built it

We designed the app in Figma Make, experimented with interaction ideas, and brought the story to life with a short animation in Procreate and hand-made line drawings to give it a unique touch.

Challenges we ran into

Capturing emotion without labelling or judging, keeping reflection prompts useful but not overwhelming, and translating the concept of turning points into clear visuals were the hardest parts.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We created a concept that feels real and relatable, designed a clean, thoughtful UI, and made an animation that conveys the impact of conflict.

What we learned

Even small shifts in conversation have a big impact. Reflection tools work best when they empower users without being intrusive. Designing for emotion requires a careful balance between insight and privacy.

What's next for Resonance

We want to expand the app to explore subtle conversational cues, support more relationship types, and, in the future, include a skin interface that seamlessly provides emotional awareness, potentially integrating with AR or smart displays.