TOMA | SENIOR CAPSTONE 2023
I wanted to dedicate my year-long senior project to topics that I can relate to and that I’m curious about. I’ve always questioned the effect of dehydration on mental health. Personally, I often find myself forgetting to stay hydrated due to my own mental disorders which, in turn, makes it a bit harder for me to live with said mental disorders. So, I decided to seek out if this is a common problem that others share and the long term reprocussions of dehydration on mental health.
RESEARCH
The purpose if my research was to answer these questions: Who are the stakeholders (who will be my target audience)? What’s the medical correlation between mental health and dehydration? Any long term effects? What do people look for in a water bottle? Where do the faults in staying hydrated live in the daily life of someone living with mental health issues?
Research methods used:
stakeholder map
surveys
interviews
shadowing
(photo observations)
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Lack of hydration can cause increased sypmtoms of mental illness in the future.
Many people in the target demographic want to keep a steady level of hydration everyday but forget to drink enough water...
... Yet most people in the target demographic carry a water bottle eith them every day (or most days).
Drinking water when feeling overwhelmed can help relieve a bit of anxiety.
INTERVIEW
I reached out to an expert in neurology to obtain better insight into the medical side of the problem. Luca Marsili, a clinical instructor at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine, Neurology & Rehabilitation Medicine, informed me on the importance of hydration on mental health, the longterm benefits of constant hydration, and potential longterm consequences of dehydration.
I reached out to an expert in neurology to obtain better insight into the medical side of the problem. Luca Marsili, a clinical instructor at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine, Neurology & Rehabilitation Medicine, informed me on the importance of hydration on mental health, the longterm benefits of constant hydration, and potential longterm consequences of dehydration.
SURVEY
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SOLUTION
An app that helps users track and manage their hydration along with a water bottle that connects to the app.
SOLUTION INSPIRATION
After coming up with a solution, I checked to see if this product was already on the market. From what I found, there weren’t many options available. However, I found one that caught my eye.
HidrateSpark is a company that primarily makes different ‘smart water bottles’. I decided to purchase and test the product in order to learn what works and potential opportunities for improvement. This product, then became the main inspiration for my project and final solution.
