Staytion is a technology start-up with a mission to create a screen-less smart home ecosystem. With our innovative smart hub projection system, users can receive not only auditory assistance but visualized assistance ques through projection augmentation.
Our goal was to unify all smart home appliances into one centralized control unit, which we called SPLIT. With SPLIT users can project any desired content anywhere in their home environment and transform previously unutilized surface space into functional visualized assistance ques.
MY ROLE
Joining the team early on in 2020 when our team was just 3 developers. I designed directly under Staytions leadership. Assigned the task of taking a hardware prototype concept + rough sketch and visualizing its current capabilities and eventual possibilities in both functionality and hardware appearance. Through research and collaboration, I designed many different product demo videos and marketing materials. My content aided us in evolving our product from first-pass alpha concept to real world multi-fabricated V0.1 hardware.
BRANDING
The Staytion brand is built upon a few key aspects, we believe in as a service-providing company. We want to enable new living opportunities by bringing people together and leveraging a new way of living. Our device acts as the beacon of light that brings them closer to those goals.
Icons designed throughout my time working for Staytion Inc. These designs have various use cases from interface visuals to projection-aiding assets find them stationary or animated.
Bathroom
Bedroom
Kitchen
Livingroom
Yard
Pairing
Voice
QR
SPLIT
Paired
Lights
Light
Coffee
Temp
Icon
Microwave
Stove
Door
Door
Frige
Fan
Netflix
Attractions
Liked
Restaurant
Sights
Map
List
Pin
ETA
Our Hardware SPLIT I.R.L
Photos and video of our V1.0 concept SPLIT. Designed and engineered in collaboration with our partners at Ammunition Group. Footage from our Staytion X Cloud Apartments reveal event.
Projection Content
Our device had a few actions it could execute, and we wanted those assistance ques to be paired with visual aids. I designed a set of response screens based on specific request parameters our device would hear and respond to when paird with particular smart home equipment. Below you can scroll through a few of my favorite response actions.
Product Evolutions
1. First Prototype Pitch
Our first product pitch highlights an early prototype form factor. Our 20-degree cut ceiling cylinder takes on the form of a ceiling light and covertly is now your new home assistant. With this video and some additional supporting graphics our leadership was able to acquire a large sum of venture funding from a joint syndicate group. Launching us to develop alternate feasible models with our partnerships.
2. SPLIT - First Glimpse
Animated in Unreal Engine we showcase the first glimpse at our latest design hardware direction SPLIT. In its early development stages, this video showed the use case of hardware to further interest investors and inspire collaborators.
3. SPLIT - Early Example
Animated an early proof of concept video, when we first stepped into the direction of SPLIT a concept we liked out of a handful of designs we and our engineering firm came up with. This video below was for internal visualization to investors and business partners to show what direction we were taking our hardware.
4. ALT Hardware Concept
Even though we decided to go with the SPLIT model, we didn't stop exploring other hardware design form factors. Ultimately we went with SPLIT due to the fabrication cost efficiencies. Our Alt model is sleek and more compact. [Password Required]
STAYTION + Cloud Apartments
Staytion through its span has partnered with many companies LMNOP Design Inc., Ammunition Group, SPAN, and Cloud Apartments. With our partnerships we were able to continue RND with our concept direction.
With Cloud Apartments we were able to pair their Cloud S modular living unit with our device for in person product demonstrations. I utilized referance images to recreated the Cloud S apartment unit design in Cinema 4D to market our SPLIT model. Showcasing to current and potential investors, partners, and team members of SPLITS promising future.
UNVAILING PROMO
Shot and Edited by Michael Smith Features footage of SPLIT unit + projection content.
SPLIT x Cloud Apartments Promo
Staytion SPLIT device promotional video. We wanted to highlight the use cases of our latest Ammunition Group-engineered device with our Cloud Apartments collaborator, featuring their Cloud S smart modular apartment design.
ALT x Cloud Apartments Promo
Additional promotional video featuring alternative device design direction in collaboration with Ammunition Group, and Cloud Apartments. [Password Required]
Studio Apartment Renders
Early on, one of our main goals was to market to the hospitality industry which called for a studio apartment design direction. I ended up modeling several room designs as well as a fabrication of the Cloud S apartment design by Cloud Apartments.
Product Hedging
1. HOME SHARING
Early in Staytions business ventures, we explored the concept of leveraging the new changing world of WFH and steering it into a business model that leverages our centralized home HUB. For my director that came in the form of Staytion-partnered home listings that you can buy, rent, and sell shares all managed by your newly configured Staytion HUB + app.
Used for internal purposes only and being constrained from filming locations I was encouraged to leverage stock footage and online travel videos, as well as original motion graphics within our branding.
2. VIRTUAL BUILDING
My director came to me with an idea he wanted to build upon from a VC he had a meeting with and it regarded jumping on the Web3 bandwagon and utilizing our smart home concept by allowing users to generate 3D models of their own homes using Staytion and floor plan data. This venture never went beyond the conceptualization phases.
3. Vertical Real-Estate
I and my lead came up with the idea of a vertical shopping experience after I had produced some presentation assets that involved going through a window leading the user from one space to a new space over and over. Which inspired us to think about how we could hedge our concept further and conceptualize a vertical real-estate shopping experience. Fully equipped with Tiktok-esk vertical scrolling and social engagement, but with a home-buying utilitarian perspective in mind.
4. Travel Gamification
My director approached me with the concept of bringing a gamified aspect to our travel/home share companion app. So in the direction of adding a collectible game aspect to our travel companion app. We came up with the idea of users collecting badges based on tourist-like activities. Completion of these activities was to "unlock" fun region-based projection content to show off in your home and also earn local exclusive discounts through company partners. Screens crafted in Figma, featuring a few animated elements created in After Effects and imported as gifs/sprite sheets.
STAYTION MISC.
Pitch Deck Graphics
A few presentation assets designed to support leadership through VC product proposals.
Facebook Advertisting
I was requested to design a few short-form video ads for Facebook. I was instructed to use a variable company name and to design the ads to be vague in character to retain product secrecy. The goal was to use Facebook advertising analytics to chart user interest.
