Jiko (means in Japanese - ' Self ')
Transforming data of Alzheimer's patients into a generative art form
Project Type
Role
Concept researcher
and UI designer
Duration
3 Months
Team
1 Dev, 1 Graphic designer
1 Product designer
It all began with a four-person team tasked with exploring the broad theme of 'Data Mirror.' Each of us proposed distinct directions, but two stood out Alzheimer’s illness and emotional technology. We decided to merge these, recognizing the potential to humanize data while addressing a pressing social issue.
The idea was to create a bridge between patients, families, and researchers by turning invisible health signals into meaningful experiences. By doing so, we aimed to give families a new form of connection and provide researchers with valuable insights. Designing for people with incurable diseases felt not only socially impactful but also culturally relevant, highlighting the role of design in shaping empathy-driven technologies.
In a world more connected than ever, we remain largely unaware of the challenges posed by neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurological condition that causes brain atrophy and the death of brain cells, leading to a gradual decline in cognitive, behavioral, and social abilities. This deterioration profoundly impacts a person’s capacity to function independently, creating emotional and practical challenges for both patients and their families.
We conducted an extensive study of current technologies and approaches, exploring areas such as emotional analysis, generative art, and self-reflection, while also investigating the importance of self-awareness in individuals. Through this research, we identified a gap in tools that can meaningfully interpret and communicate the inner experiences of people with Alzheimer’s. This led us to conceptualize a platform that can analyze and visualize the emotions of Alzheimer’s patients in real-time, translating their neurological and physiological signals into a form that is understandable and relatable for families and caregivers.
After conducting concept research, our biggest challenge was figuring out how to present patients’ emotions in a way that was both meaningful and easy for users to understand. We also had to decide which data metrics and featureswould make the application intuitive without overwhelming users. To address this, we chose generative art as a visual medium, creating dynamic and engaging representations of patients’ emotional states.
Additionally, we explored incorporating historical and social contexts such as the Holocaust to highlight the importance of preserving human experience, as well as referencing ongoing research funding challenges for this incurable disease, emphasizing the broader significance of the platform.
Inspiration : Vinyl Records and Clocks served as inspiration. How data is stored When making a vinyl record, a needle is used to make grooves in the vinyl, which are basically stored information of the intended sound or music, similar to how we employed grooves in our lines. Each line records one item of data, such as emotion, and the data will be collected for 24 hours to create art for one day.
Sensory Products Used
To Achieve the art we decided to use EEG (electroencephalography) Glasses and Smart Watch with an optical Sensor to collect Data metrics from Alzheimer's Patients.
Data Axis
The colors represent the emotion experienced by the patient. (refer to emotional wheel chart)5 major emotions experienced by Alzehimer's Patients recorded within 24 hours are :
Afraid
Excited
Anxiety
Anger
Sadness
Generative Art and Solution
The color Represent the emotional value as per the input received from sensory devices.The tone and shade of color represent the high and low.The intensity is also represented by the distortion of the smooth circle.This Art can be further sold as an NFTs Output Art consisting of digital artwork like Images, videos, or GIFs; It could be printed in 3D as well.This Data form can further be used for research analysis which gives a better understanding of Alzheimer's patients.
The design execution resulted in an app, a real-time digital platform that transforms Alzheimer’s patients’ biometric and neurological data into generative art. The system allows patients and their families to visualize patients emotional progression throughout the day, fostering self-awareness and offering families a new way to connect with their loved ones. The interface also records daily emotional data, enabling long-term tracking and reflection.
Beyond personal use, the platform integrates with blockchain technology, allowing each artwork to be associated with an NFT. This feature opens opportunities for patients to sell their art, while also enabling researchers, caregivers, or collectors to purchase, compare, and analyze generative art linked to different patients. Furthermore, the system tracks contributions generated through NFT sales, which can be directed towards funding Alzheimer’s research, creating a cycle of empathy, creativity, and social impact.
