Bit
A smoking cessation device that takes a holistic approach in helping people who want to quit smoking cigarettes.
92% of attempts to quit end in failure
-2020 Surgeon General's Report
overview
Project Scope
This project was completed for my master’s thesis, done individually over the course of two 10-week quarters. After choosing the topic, I spent the first 10 weeks conducting research to better understand the problem area. The following 10 weeks were spent translating research findings into a design direction and developing, prototyping, and testing my solution.
Why I chose this topic
It’s a crowded market characterized by corruption and a lack of empathy that has led to shallow innovation and a culture of condemnation
Put simply, I love a challenge and hate injustice
How I chose to approach it
Cigarettes are harmful, but there’s non-trivial benefits to the act of taking a “smoke break”
Through this project, I wanted to develop a physical product that would be delightfully disruptive.
Questions to answer
I cast a wide net, making sure every voice was accounted for and taking them all with a grain of salt, my research encompasses medical expertise, socio-cultural analysis, a categorization of the market landscape, and individual narratives that informed the direction of the project.
What makes it so hard?
PROBLEM FRAMING
What do doctors and scientists say?
How does it differ based on individual experience?
What is the role of culture and society in quitting?
What are common misconceptions?
What's out there?
MARKET LANDSCAPE
Who makes it, what motivates them, and why?
How is it marketed? What information is left out?
Who buys it and how is it viewed by society?
How is it helpful? How is it harmful? Does it work?
What's missing?
OPPORTUNITY SPACE
What’s being done well? What’s being left out?
Who is targeted, who is excluded?
How do these fit into the journey of a smoker?
What does success look like? What happens after everyone's quit?
Secondary research
In order to paint a clear picture of the main players in both the tobacco and the smoking cessation industries, I looked for trends, tensions, and explicit biases from these three key stakeholder groups
Those who study it
A literature review of medical reports, research papers, and a data analysis of relevant metrics of the Surgeon’s General Report underscores the severity and proliferation of smoking addiction, particularly among marginalized populations
Those who profit from it
A content analysis of product and promotional materials, press releases, internal documents, courtroom transcripts, and self-help books and programs, shows the smoking cessation industry to be highly profitable, regardless of efficacy
Those who suffer for it
An in depth cyberethnographic analysis of online communities, cessation forums, and public support groups suggests widespread feelings of discouragement, isolation, and a general lack of support for people trying to quit
primary research
To find a diverse pool of participants and get my hands on the products they’re currently using, I leaned on my scrappy side, painting the town with ways to engage and listening to anyone who wanted to talk.
what makes it so hard?
Chemical
The Nicotine
"You have to worry about like feeding yourself, water, sleep, …and then also cigarettes"
- Aiden
Behavioral
The Action
"The hardest part was always the ritual…going outside, take out the pack, light it, and inhale"
-Claris
Socio-Emotional
The Context
"You're missing out on 'hey let's go have a cigarette and talk'… which can feel like a social loss"
- Allie
it's More than just nicotine
Smoking permeates every single aspect of a person’s life, creating associations so strong they can persist for years after cessation
giving up more than cigarettes…
For long term users, the decision to quit smoking means having to abandon the social, emotional, and behavioral systems of life to which they are accustomed
… also giving up
Emotional Regulation
People smoke in good times and bad, and when they quit any big emotion can feel overwhelmingly impossible to navigate
Social Support
Friendships are often built around smoking, and while people value these bonds, self-distancing is a common cessation strategy
Identity and Belonging
A person who is quitting can no longer relate to smokers, but isn’t treated like a non-smoker until after they’re no longer struggling
what's out there
Smokers who want to quit have access to tools in two main categories; those that are FDA-approved and backed by science and those that are not.
Unfortunately, FDA-approved treatments are not popular, with only 1/3 of smokers reporting to having used them in their cessation attempt*
*2022 Surgeon General Report
What makes evidence-based tools unpopular?
FDA-approved tools are at odds with socio-cultural attitudes around smoking, with the former treating addiction as a medical problem and the latter viewing it as a character failure. Interestingly, many smokers will turn to NRT not when trying to quit but during times where smoking is inaccessible to them, such as on long flights or during exams.
Paying for disappointment
Many of these tools are just as, if not more expensive than cigarettes and for those that focus on nicotine delivery, the experience can often feel like a let down that's difficult to justify
"Not yet" mentality
FDA-approved tools have a greater association with heavy addiction, even though they work best at mild dependency, smokers often see these as a last resort
Labels users as addicts
These FDA-approved tools are so heavily linked to cessation that using them immediately signals to the outside world that the user is an addict and needs help to control their addiction
Complicated to use
Many of these tools have strict instructions to ensure the best chances of success. Users who ignore these directions are left dissatisfied, while the others can feel frustrated or annoyed
No personal redemption
Many smokers opt to try cold turkey or similar methods as a way of demonstrating their sense of willpower, and these methods are often celebrated despite their low effectiveness
Medical Barrier
Visiting a doctor is often needed to obtain a prescription or insurance coverage, creating major obstacles for most people who aren't yet experiencing physical side effects.
what about the others?
Alternate nicotine delivery methods are popular and often used in conjunction with cigarettes (poly-use). This reduces the association with addiction and increases their social relevance. Additionally, targeted marketing and misleading claims have wrongfully touted them as safe alternatives, further leading to consumer confusion.
Social Relevance is Non-Trivial
People will seek things that promote acceptance, are normalized within the smoker community, and that distance themselves from identifying as an addict
Societal acceptance is often stronger than individual bias when it comes to picking a cessation tool.
a world of workarounds
"it doesn't matter what you do because what you're doing is not smoking
"
-u/ryx107
People seek stimulation that engages multiple senses, works with different levels of attention, and contributes to their overall wellbeing
From research to design direction
In order to identify key problems to solve through the design, I generated insights straight from research observations.
into design requirements
guiding design principles
a tip for every occasion
NRTips are made from FDA approved nicotine lozenges and allow for more controlled delivery
Candy tips allow for routine building around predicable and consistent consumption
Sensory tips provide varied textures, temperatures, and durometers (chewable) to stimulate the senses
fast 'n easy
Using a press-fit system with a quick-release ball joint means tips can be easily swapped with just one hand.
emergency backup
Having one in the chamber means you're never caught lacking
guided weaning
Bit users have the option of buying their tips in packs curated just for them.
You're the boss
Plans based on level of dependence and commitment to quit means there’s a plan for everyone, and each plan can be infinitely customized
A pack a day
The plan is divided into daily packs which means you get to have good days and bad days, without throwing you off course
Expect the expected
The contents of each daily pack only changes week to week, meaning you have time to adapt to the decreased nicotine and time to prepare for the next reduction
lungless vaping
An isolated vapor chamber means users can still enjoy the sensory experience of drawing in air and being met with an aromatic cloud of vapor, without risking their health in the process
A holistic solution; the multi-tool model
Chemical
Reliable
A tool, not a framework
There’s no wrong way to quit. There’s also no right way. A bump in the road is not the end of the line.
Convenient, evidence-based support that addresses cravings and withdrawls at an individual level without promoting further use
Behavioral
Flexible
A tool, not a cog
People change, life changes - so does Bit. What you need it to be, when you need it.
Provides a comforting yet satisfying interaction that engages the senses and allows for routine-building through a predictable, repeatable interaction.
Social
Relevant
A tool, not a death sentence
A device that does not "out" its user, Bit can show up anywhere from the break room to the tap room
Promotes connection, is contextually relevant, and is accepted across smoker and non-smoker groups,
Emotional
Empowering
A tool, not a distraction
Powering through is not empowering! People need confidence as much as they do control.
Promotes positive emotional self-regulation and the development of sustained coping strategies
Concept development
sketching, building, testing;
the brainstorm's never resting
a strong vision
The embodiment of "enchanted object", I wanted a look and feel that can blend in with the working professional and serve as a conversation starter outside the office
to a million ideas
In designing the core interaction, I came up with different ways to mimic the first drag's sweet release and evoke a sense of completion through routine
a glimpse into my Iterative design process
Planting Seeds of Justice
Creating safe spaces for children visiting their incarcerated loved ones
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