Date of Award
Spring 5-22-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Industrial Design
Department
Industrial Design
First Advisor
Hannah Chung
Second Advisor
Justin Sirotin
Third Advisor
Bryce Yao
Abstract
Across history and global cultures, water has played a central and often spiritual role in practices of care, from cleansing rituals to saunas and steam therapies. Yet, within contemporary product design, water is typically treated as a utility rather than as an experiential material capable of shaping perception, attention, and well-being. This thesis, Waterway, investigates how water, specifically in its steam state, can be designed as both a therapeutic medium and a ritualized experience that engages the body and mind.
Waterway proposes a steam-based wellness system that addresses physical pain and somatic discomfort while cultivating slower, more attentive interaction. Rather than delivering treatment as a passive intervention, the design structures care as a sequence of intentional actions: preparing water, selecting attachments, and applying steam through guided steps which encourage participation and awareness. These “sensory buffers” and preparatory moments frame the experience, allowing users to transition into a state of focused engagement that links physical and mental wellbeing.
Drawing on research in heat therapy, mindfulness-based rehabilitation, and ritual behavior, the project argues that embodied, intentional interaction can reduce stress, enhance body awareness, and support improved therapeutic outcomes. Through material exploration, user studies, and iterative prototyping, this research examines how designing meaningful processes, similar to the structure of a tea ceremony, can transform a functional relief device into a sustained self-care practice.
By positioning water as both medium and metaphor, Waterway contributes a human-centered design approach that integrates physiological effectiveness with psychological engagement. The project demonstrates how everyday objects can support holistic well-being, suggesting new directions for wellness and medical design that prioritize accessibility, participation, and the integration of care into daily life.
Recommended Citation
Dong, Mingyuan, "Waterway: A Steam-Based Therapeutic Device System" (2026). Masters Theses. 1540.
https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/1540
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Included in
Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons, Art and Design Commons, Health Psychology Commons, Physical Therapy Commons