Reading Pods
In my sophomore year of high school, I attended a week-long design immersion program at IDEO to explore industrial design through real-world challenges. Our brief was to encourage our generation to read more. While most teams gravitated toward app-based solutions, I led my group in a different direction — designing outdoor reading pods for public spaces.
The concept aimed to create whimsical, comfortable micro-environments that invited people to pause, disconnect from their devices, and immerse themselves in a book. Each pod was envisioned as weather-resistant, acoustically insulated, and modular, making it easy to install in parks, campuses, or transit hubs.
The idea was well-received for its originality and physicality in a tech-heavy problem space. Now, as a recent graduate, I’m revisiting this project with a fresh perspective, developing refined concept renders that capture the playfulness and community-minded spirit of the original design. It’s a reminder that even “silly” ideas can spark meaningful conversations about how we connect with stories — and with each other.
