BILLY DUVALLE

®2024

OCEANIC+

Reimaging Oceanic+: Designing for Emotion

Oceanic+ turns the Apple Watch Ultra into a dive computer, letting divers track real-time data and stay safe. It shows dive metrics, safety alerts, and logs dives on both the watch and phone. The app is designed for recreational divers to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

While it focuses on safety, the app doesn’t tap into the emotional side of diving. By understanding these emotions, we can improve the app to better connect with divers and enhance their experience.

FOCUS
OCEANIC+ APP

YEAR
2025

Deliverables
Research & Insights
High-fidelity Prototypes
CONCEPT PRESENTATION

ROLE
RESEARCH & DESIGN

Starting Question

How might we help scuba divers capture & recall moments to regulate their emotions underwater?

How might we help scuba divers capture & recall moments to regulate their emotions underwater?

Diving is an emotional journey, with feelings that come and go. Instead of avoiding them, managing emotions boosts self-confidence. My goal is to make Oceanic+ more than a data tool—helping users connect deeper, control their emotions, and feel more confident. So, can we elevate the app, focused on safety at Maslow’s base, to support the self-actualization aspects of diving?
Diving is an emotional journey, with feelings that come and go. Instead of avoiding them, managing emotions boosts self-confidence. My goal is to make Oceanic+ more than a data tool—helping users connect deeper, control their emotions, and feel more confident. So, can we elevate the app, focused on safety at Maslow’s base, to support the self-actualization aspects of diving?

The Analysis of the Research

Key Takeaways From
the Interaction Map

Key Takeaways From
the Interaction Map

  1. Stay out of the diver’s way.

  2. Keep it simple, minimal, and intuitive.

  3. Be a companion, not a distraction.

  1. Stay out of the diver’s way.

  2. Keep it simple, minimal, and intuitive.

  3. Be a companion, not a distraction.

Embodied Research: Exploring the Unknown

Embodied Research: Exploring the Unknown

I attended an Estonian-language yoga class to simulate the underwater experience—unfamiliar, immersive, breath-focused, and physically engaging. This informed key design principles for creating a more intuitive and emotionally connected dive app.

I attended an Estonian-language yoga class to simulate the underwater experience—unfamiliar, immersive, breath-focused, and physically engaging. This informed key design principles for creating a more intuitive and emotionally connected dive app.

Design Principles

WHAT ESCAPES,
GETS CHASED

WHAT ESCAPES,
GETS CHASED

Avoiding emotions is pointless. Embrace them, keep them, and recall them when needed. After all, you’re the one chasing them!

Avoiding emotions is pointless. Embrace them, keep them, and recall them when needed. After all, you’re the one chasing them!

MASTER OF THE CARRIER BAG

MASTER OF THE CARRIER BAG

Identify what works and bring it back from the carrier bag as a sign to guide emotions and stay in the flow.

Identify what works and bring it back from the carrier bag as a sign to guide emotions and stay in the flow.

SURPRISES
THAT STAY

SURPRISES
THAT STAY

Seek unexpected surprises to shift the feelings in an instant, then tuck them into the carrier bag for later.

Seek unexpected surprises to shift the feelings in an instant, then tuck them into the carrier bag for later.

Key Features

Timely Logging, Smart Recall & Meaningful Sharing

Timely Logging, Smart Recall & Meaningful Sharing

1

1

Emotion Logging on Apple Watch

Emotion Logging on Apple Watch

Record your emotions and their details right after your dive using a voice note—directly on your Apple Watch. Easily recall specific memories when needed, no phone required.

Record your emotions and their details right after your dive using a voice note—directly on your Apple Watch. Easily recall specific memories when needed, no phone required.

2

2

Heart Rate & Movement Tracking

Heart Rate & Movement Tracking

Activate guidance to regulate your mood using real-time heart rate and movement data with visual feedback.

Activate guidance to regulate your mood using real-time heart rate and movement data with visual feedback.

3

3

Breathing Awareness & Dive Memory Recall

Breathing Awareness & Dive Memory Recall

Enhance your awareness through breathing exercises and recall stored memories to help regulate your current emotional state.

Enhance your awareness through breathing exercises and recall stored memories to help regulate your current emotional state.

4

4

Enhanced Logging
with Reminders

Enhanced Logging
with Reminders

Setting same-day reminders to add dive details makes logs more meaningful, enhancing future use and social sharing—avoiding the problem of logs being just data stacks.

Setting same-day reminders to add dive details makes logs more meaningful, enhancing future use and social sharing—avoiding the problem of logs being just data stacks.