Principles
Within Reach is guided by three core design principles:
Playfulness — creating openings for curiosity and engagement
Comfort — supporting ease and safety
Memorability — shaping how patients remember care environments
Interaction Decisions
A shift away from task-based interaction
More precise or goal-oriented activities introduce expectations…
For patients with limited mobility,
this can create friction or a sense of failure.
The watercolor system removes precision and goals
Movement produces soft, fluid responses
allowing interaction to remain accessible and forgiving
Material Exploration
Inspired by watercolor
Watercolor introduces
diffusion, softness, and unpredictability
Small or imprecise movements can produce rich, continuous responses
Unpredictability encourages interpretation
Like looking at clouds
forms remain ambiguous
inviting users to imagine meaning
Voice and Shared
Expression
Movement is not the only form of expression
Patients may record audio
telling stories or recalling memories
Adding a layer of meaning without additional effort or control
telling a story or recalling a memory
The interface also supports collaboration
Allowing play and storytelling to become a shared experience