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OCEANIC+

Designing for Emotion:
Reimaging Oceanic+

Oceanic+ turns the Apple Watch Ultra into a dive computer for recreational divers. It provides real-time metrics, safety alerts, and dive logs across the watch and mobile app, focusing on usability and safety.

While it meets functional needs, the emotional experience of diving remains underexplored. Addressing this aspect could deepen user engagement and enhance the overall experience.

brand
OCEANIC+ APP

tımelıne
2025

Deliverables
Research & Insights
High-fidelity Prototypes
CONCEPT PRESENTATION

ROLE
INTERACTION DESIGNER

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.

Insights & Learnings

This project marked my first use of embodied research methodology, which revealed deep, unexpected insights. It was also my first time designing for a physically small device like the Apple Watch, which taught me how to adapt designs for limited screen space and interactions. Lastly, by selecting Oceanic+, a data-heavy dive app (tracking depth, temperature, duration, etc.), for my emotional design course, I deliberately challenged myself to craft meaningful emotional experiences within a technical context.

There is clear room to simplify and systematize post-dive logging. Connecting heart rate data with storytelling features could enable smarter, smoother interactions. Furthermore, adding social engagement and sharing features has the potential to boost user connection and motivation.