Coulombic Watch

Returning to Shanghai from a GT Racing competition in Charlotte, NC, we had a layover in LAX. With only one hour to reach our connecting flight, we were worried whether we could make it. We rushed through the airport, quickly scanning the airport signage for directions. When we reached the terminal, we couldn’t find our gate, even after a flight attendant pointed the way. Finally, we realized we were on the arrivals floor, while departures were upstairs.
Inspired by this experience, I wanted to create a navigational device that effectively guides users through complex spaces like airports. Unlike the traditional GPS systems on our smart phones and watches, this device would provide 3-dimensional navigation, guiding wearers not only to turn left or right, but also to go up and down stairs.
I chose an analog design because I think digital devices are too distracting; when you need to get somewhere quickly, you do not need to be bothered by incoming notifications.

How the product works:
The pins that circle the watch move up and down. One pin will rise to indicate the direction that the user needs to go. The height of the pin will tell the user whether they need to go upstairs, downstairs, or stay on the same level. Of course, this is just a concept; the corresponding technology will need to be developed to enable this watch to work the way I imagine it to.