Noto

Minimalist work desk with a closed silver laptop on the left, a white cylindrical container in the center, and two markers on a white paper on the right.

Noto

2023

A calm tech device that spatially distributes notifications.

Project summary

In a world with abundant digital distractions, [[Noto creates a structured and controllable environment for digital interactions.]]
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By implementing the principles of Calm Tech into the home environment, Noto enables users to determine when and where to engage with the digital world, [[ultimately reducing stress in everyday life.]]

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Information

Jannes Daur

Malte Fial

Johannes Rothkegel

Team

Invention design

2023

4 Weeks

Role

Concept

Ideation

Product design

Rendering

Research

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Problem

The average person reaches for their phone 144 times a day. This constant cycle, often spurred by FOMO, means we’re checking in every ten minutes. Constant, unpredictable notifications disrupt focus at work and interrupt moments of rest, pulling attention away from what truly matters.

Gray placeholder image icon with two mountain peaks and a sun on a light gray background.

Concept

Noto introduces a physical threshold for incoming data. By gathering alerts into physical vessels, the system transforms intrusive digital pings into a stationary presence, allowing the user to interact on their own terms.

Store and fetch messages

When a station is activated, it grows with each notification stored. When users are ready to focus on their messages, they can simply push the top part down.

Mailboxes and localization

Users can group similar notifications such as work alerts or news feeds into personalized mailboxes, which are then assigned to designated rooms within the home.

Placeholder image icon with a mountain and sun inside a rounded square on a light gray background.

Digital foundation

Notifications are categorized with a swipe or automatically by an intelligent system that organizes them based on past behavior. This lets users skip immediate pings, knowing their messages will be waiting for them. For clarity, lock screen notifications remain neatly grouped by their assigned mailboxes.

Physical integration

The message station is a screenless interface that communicates status through physical form. A variable height provides a glanceable estimate of stored notifications, while tactile gestures, including a push to drain and a twist to toggle, allow for intuitive, eyes-free interaction.

Reflection

With Noto I found it most interesting to explore how interaction can extend beyond screens. While solutions exist in purely digital operating systems like iOS, it was rewarding to investigate how a physical, ambient, and subtle approach could add a new layer of friction and intention when using our devices.

In this context, I found it exciting to design without a display or LEDs, since it introduced new challenges in conveying information through form alone. It was also my first time exploring industrial design, which highlighted how physical products can create thoughtful, calm, and meaningful experiences compared with the purely digital solutions I had worked on previously.