Blink is an app helping young adults manage sleep through AVS (Audio-Visual Stimulation), relaxing mental and subconscious brain activity. This capstone project for the IDEA program focused on developing socially responsible concepts, addressing sleeplessness and insomnia through personal experience, surveys, interviews, and academic research.
The app offers scientifically validated home treatment using AVS, simulating low-frequency theta waves naturally occurring during relaxed or drowsy states.
Sleeplessness was something I kept hearing about from loved ones. Most were managing it on their own, piecing together routines without any real guidance. And it made sense why: insomnia touches well-being and daily functioning in ways that compound over time, and common remedies like meditation offer only temporary relief. That gap became the starting point for Blink, a capstone project for the IDEA program focused on developing a solution that goes beyond conventional methods, integrating scientifically proven strategies with modern technology to help people manage sleeplessness effectively.
I distributed surveys through local college Facebook groups to understand sleep habits, bedtime routines, and daily impacts. Respondents averaged 24 years old. Most reached for their phones before bed. 27.8% used computers and 44.4% used phones as their primary device. When looking for help, 90.9% turned to online searches first, and only 9.1% considered medical consultation.
Remote interviews went deeper. Respondents described negative sleep habits causing restlessness, stressful home environments, and underlying conditions including sleep paralysis, anxiety, and depression. Many experienced abnormal stress, performance issues, and mood imbalances. Most wanted more empathy toward their symptoms, not just solutions. Follow-up interviews with family and friends revealed a supportive but often uninformed network, reinforcing the need for professional guidance in more severe cases.
I researched treatments sitting between relaxation and traditional therapy, including stimulus control and cognitive behavioral approaches commonly used among participants. Through academic research, I discovered Audio-Visual Stimulation (AVS), which uses light and sound patterns to recreate sleep-like brain activity through Theta and low alpha frequencies (2–10Hz). This method commonly requires a handheld device and a headset to output the light and sound wave patterns. Studies showed AVS successfully slowed brain activity, improving both insomnia and chronic pain treatment.
Two variations exist: close-loop AVS (based on patient brainwaves) and open-loop AVS (preset patterns) for patients to adapt to the desired frequency. Open-loop AVS, proven safe for home use in particular, became the referenced solution for the app.
The app structure centered on three areas: AVS Treatment for playing sessions and adjusting frequency (Theta or low alpha waves and audio settings), Diary Page for symptom tracking to reference during practitioner visits, and Community Forum via Reddit for anonymous emotional support. The structure went through multiple reviews with the course instructor before it was finalized.
Sleep-related words like moon, shut eye, cloud, and sleep inspired the concept name "Blink", the moment where eyes close involuntarily. The logo aligned with that vision. The color palette and UI drew from survey data to maximize nighttime comfort, using monochromatic and muted tones. The final demo was presented to the class and shared with research participants for acknowledgment.
The concept was positively received and moved others to think about designing for people they care about. I submitted the project to the 2018 Adobe ADAA, earning Social Impact 2018, Semi-Finalist. The app remains a demo, but it was a pivotal experience seeing community impact beyond coursework and how design research builds empathy as much as it builds products.