Botties
A robot series that mediates shared awareness within the family.
Render credit of this web page: Yuchen Lan
My role
User Experience Design + Visual
Botties is a bench project by Swift Creatives. The industrial design was completed before I joined the team. My task was about rethinking the logic behind the existing design—specifically how the robots operate together and how the system could function realistically in a real-world context.
In addition, I was responsible for producing the visual renderings for Botties.
This is the most interesting part of the project ;)
Bring warmth to the family — no more cold notifications
Booties are designed to replace cold, noisy alarms with a warmer and more human way of notifying the family.
Crafted from oak, Booties naturally blend into the home environment, sitting comfortably on shelves, side tables, or kitchen counters like familiar objects rather than devices. By using movement instead of sound, Booties soften the experience of being notified, turning interruptions into quiet moments of awareness. In doing so, they transform notifications from something annoying and isolating into something shared, calm, and connected.
Notifying through movement
Rather than demanding attention through sound or vibration, Booties communicate through gentle body movements—subtle shifts, tilts, and gestures that feel expressive rather than intrusive.
Set up Botties notifications through the app.
Connect Botties to your smart home devices and choose what matters to you.
A shared family experience
To create a shared experience, Botties are connected to a family account rather than an individual user. One user can create a family account and invite others to join, allowing everyone in the household to share the same moments, settings, and notifications.
View shared events
Within a shared family account, users can view the notifications and events set by other family members. This shared visibility supports a more connected household, allowing everyone to stay aware of what’s happening without needing constant reminders or explanations. By making upcoming activities visible at a glance, Booties help families coordinate naturally and feel more in tune with one another.
Notification both on phone and Booties
Botties act as a mediator for notifications within the home. Rather than delivering detailed or explicit information, they provide gentle, non-intrusive cues that let the family know someone has something to attend to. Detailed notifications remain on personal phones, while Booties communicate presence and awareness at a shared level. By shifting attention from individual alerts to shared signals, this approach encourages conversation, consideration, and a stronger sense of family connection.
