lyric

Designed by: Addaday and IDEO
Media Credit: Addaday and IDEO
Project Involvement: From whiteboard to store shelves in less than 12 months in 2021

About

Taking the guesswork out of self-care, the Lyric is an intelligent, handheld massager that offers on-device guided massage to help temporarily relieve minor muscle aches and more. Launched in 2021 Lyric aimed to offer an alternative to the aggressive and heavy massage guns made only for elite athletes and purposefully was developed with everybody – and every body – in mind.

Challenge

When Addaday came to IDEO, they knew the market was ready for an alternative and were seeking help to uncover unmet consumer needs around experience, function, form and accessibility.

As a guide I supported the team to hone in on a differentiating value proposition and supported the Industrial and Interaction Designers as they were designing and refining the hardware, UX, architecture and visual design.

Approach

The Lyric was the result of a two-year project and collaboration between designers, therapists, entrepreneurs and investors drawing on consumer research and experience to deliver a delightful, intuitive and easy-to-use experience.

Insights

Interviews with doctors, physical therapists, massage experts and a range of potential users allowed us to uncover our key insights and unmet needs. I played a role in synthesizing user research, evaluating the current product and those of competitors which lead to several of the insights that were the foundation for our value proposition and design of the device.

Top of mind

It’s always there, visible and ready to use by everyone in the household and doesn’t end up in a drawer because it’s ugly.

Ease of use

It’s light, can easily be held in one hand and can comfortably be used on all parts of the body. Guidance is provided for the early days of use and equally allows for broader exploration.

Fits into my life

It’s approachable, quiet and can easily fit into available moments in daily life or be used for more in depth sessions when needed.

Top of mind

We needed to consider and design for every aspect of accessibility. We knew the risk of “out of sight, out of mind” and instead designed the device to be readily charged and with each of its accessories easily accessible. In the digital UX we removed any barriers related to onboarding and developed delightful experiences from first time use to repeat use.

Ease of Use

Included with each massager are four attachments neatly stored in the docking station: Cone, Dome, Thumb and Double.

Each attachment is referenced in the on-device wellness programs with over time aiming to deliver a personalized experience that provides exactly what the body needs, regardless of the ache or pain.

Fits into my life

The design, available in five attractive colors, means no more hiding it in a drawer or closet like most massage devices.

The Lyric has induction charging built into the docking station for grab-n-go whether its relaxation, pain relief or exercise recovery. And it is quiet enough to not disturb your yoga session.

The slim ergonomic grip has a connection point to add an optional extension handle for easier maneuvering and accessing hard-to-reach spots.

User Experience

Its easy-to-use touchscreen guides users through therapies and, unlike other connected massagers and their respective apps, it eliminates the need to juggle a device and phone simultaneously, allowing people to truly be in the moment and focus on their holistic wellbeing.

I supported the team with the development of the architecture, allowing for future feature expansions as well as provided inspiration for the visual design and iconography.

As a self-care companion, the Lyric provides on-board guidance for temporary relief of muscle aches and pains, as well as therapies designed to relax and energize.

“Therapies that incorporate rhythmic frequencies have the ability to guide the body to its parasympathetic mode, allowing it to slow down and rest, but they can also activate the body’s sympathetic mode, leading to feeling alert, awake and energized.”

The therapy options provided by the Lyric offer a range of benefits, including pain relief, calm and energy, for an intuitive and customized experience.”

Dr. Jena Gatses, DPT, LMT, SFMA, CSCS

“Never before has a massage device offered the technology, aesthetic and experience to answer so many unmet consumer needs, not just those of serious athletes”

Hugh Williams, Lyric co-founder

What people say

“My favorite thing about the Lyric is that unlike other massage guns it doesn’t feel like you’re getting beat up when you use it. My second favorite thing is the extension arm, it makes it easier to relax while you’re using it and lets you reach places you’re not able to with the short handle. I was also pleasantly surprised by the fact the the docking station is also a wireless charger AND holds the interchangeable heads. It really is a beautiful, effective and easily usable product. I recommend it 100 times over.”

Lizzy from Rhode Island – REI Aug 2022 4.7 of 5 stars (133 reviews)

“This sits on my coffee table and it’s my evening wind down.
My next gets so stiff sitting at a desk and this makes it all disappear.
Feels great after long bike rides too.
High recommend.”

EB – Target Aug 2022 4.5 of 5 stars (141 reviews)

“I use those therapeutic massager every day as part of my night time routine! It helps me relax and decompress after a long day. I love the guided therapies that instruct me to follow along with the prompts on the screen! The massager isn’t as intense as ones I’ve tried in the past, which I like! It really helps me relax instead of wincing in pain while going over my legs, neck and shoulders. Definitely worth the money if you’re looking into getting a therapeutic massager!”

Katerina Diaz – Amazon Aug 2022 4.1 out of 5 stars (250 reviews)

Team

Industrial Design—Leo Marzolf
Mechanical Engineering—Nikolay Vladimirov
UI/UX—Robyn Alley, Takashi Wickes, Nikolaj Dam Roadley-Battin
Project Guides—Jason Wilkins (ME), Dav Rauch (UI/UX), Marcelle van Beusekom (ID, UX)