PulsePack

Modern life is saturated with external stimuli — notifications, social pressures, constant information — leaving little room for emotional equilibrium. Existing calming solutions require dedicated time, trained techniques, or withdrawal from daily life. The challenge was to conceive a minimal, wearable object that enables self-calming anywhere, without disrupting routines or relying on screens. The concept also needed to embed biometric sensing and haptic feedback within a socially familiar form — hiding technological complexity inside something as approachable as a bag. As a cross-continental project between Konel's Tokyo and newly established Milan offices, bridging different cultural perspectives on wellbeing added a further design constraint.

The team explored how the body's own rhythm could become a calming anchor. Through iterative prototyping, they found that pulsing at half the user's heart rate naturally draws attention inward, creating a meditative pause without learned technique. A sensor reads the pulse; a haptic actuator translates it into gentle vibration at the halved tempo. This biofeedback loop is housed in a soft, huggable bag made from eco-conscious materials — no screens, no apps. Model-1 was publicly tested at Milan Design Week, generating strong visitor engagement and partnership inquiries from medical facilities, schools, and wellness businesses, confirming the concept's viability across sectors.

Pulse Pack proposes a new category of wellbeing design — non-pharmaceutical, non-digital, requiring no training. Qualitative feedback from Milan Design Week validated its calming effect across diverse demographics. Since the debut, multiple companies, medical facilities, and schools have begun collaborative discussions, signalling real-world demand for the concept. Commercially, the rental model tested in Milan opens scalable B2B pathways for spas, calm-down spaces, and retail. Environmentally, eco-conscious materials are used throughout. The project advances Konel's "Good Singularity" philosophy — following their Fuorisalone Award 2025-selected ZZZN SLEEP APPAREL SYSTEM — positioning technology as a tool for restoring human balance.

Heart-sync biofeedback: senses heartbeat and pulses at half its frequency to encourage inward focus. Screenless, app-free: a purely physical and intuitive interaction. Eco-conscious materials throughout. Soft, huggable form functioning as both wearable accessory and calming device. Patent-pending technology (JP 2026-053268). Post-debut traction: partnerships forming with medical facilities, schools, and wellness businesses. Developed cross-culturally across Konel's Tokyo, New York, and Milan studios. Continues a proven body of work in perception-centred design, following the Fuorisalone Award 2025-selected ZZZN SLEEP APPAREL SYSTEM. Concept validated through public exhibition at Milan Design Week 2026.