PEEK | INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER
A social doorbell designed for senior housing. It turns the front door into an invitation.
The Challenge: At Bethany Center, residents prop their doors open to signal they are available. But an open door feels unsafe, so doors stay closed. And neighbors walk past thinking, let's not disturb her. Isolation settles in quietly.
The Approach: For two months I observed two residents, Liz and Queen. The insight: the hard part is not saying hello. It is communicating loneliness. My first concept used a light to signal availability. Residents felt it made them look desperate. I scrapped it. The answer came from door knockers. Left open, PEEK signals welcome. Passers-by can say hey or leave a voice message.
The Outcome: Residents chose PEEK over the open door. The same welcome. With privacy and control.
