Calmi

Because scrolling isn't resting

Calmi helps you find calm when you need it most, and in doing so, take better care of yourself.

Role

End to end

Platform

Physical & Mobile

Location

Amsterdam

Scope

Design & Development

Brief

Approximately 36% of young adults report struggling with stress and anxiety.

Not because they lack awareness, but because nobody taught them how to actually rest. Scrolling and gaming feel like downtime but leave the nervous system running. Calmi was built to fix that: a physical device that guides people through real relaxation, making the habit approachable enough to stick.

001

36%

Of young adults report struggling with genuine relaxation.

002

91%

Of Gen Z adults experienced stress symptoms in the past month.

003

40%

Of young people have trouble sleeping because of stress.

004

58%

Of young adults say their stress feels completely overwhelming.

What we Solved

A relaxation device for people who never learned how to switch off.

It's not that we work too much. We simply rest too little. Calmi is a guided relaxation device for young adults. It sits in your space, pairs with your phone, and runs sessions that combine ambient light, spatial audio, and narration to teach your body and mind how to unwind. Research with psychologists and focus groups confirmed the core problem: most people do not rest badly, they simply do not know how. Calmi was built to fix that.

A device and app that work as one

You browse and select a session in the app. One press of the button on top starts it. From that point, there is no screen to navigate, no interface to manage. The app handles the complexity: onboarding, session library, progress tracking. The device handles the experience. Content updates through regular app releases, so the library stays fresh without touching the hardware.

Built to last, designed to disappear

The enclosure was developed through multiple rounds of 3D-printed prototypes using biodegradable plastics. All internal components are off-the-shelf and straightforward to replace. A light ring, a 3.5 watt speaker, wireless charging, and a dual-core microcontroller with built-in Wi-Fi. Everything was chosen to be sourceable, repairable, and sustainable. The goal was something that lives on your nightstand, not something you charge in a drawer.

Hardware designed to disappear into the room

The enclosure was iterated through multiple 3D-printed prototypes to find a form that reads as a home object rather than a gadget. All components are off-the-shelf and replaceable. The final shell is biodegradable. The goal was something you would leave on your nightstand, not charge in a drawer.

Content built to teach, not just accompany

Every session was crafted in-house. Sound design, narration, and light choreography were composed together as a single experience rather than layered on top of each other. Some sessions are immersive, like "Forest Walk." Others are instructional, like "Learning How to Breathe." The distinction matters: Calmi is not a mood lamp with a playlist. It is a tool that teaches a skill.