Aroma-bota
Why
About 70% of purchase decisions occur in physical retail spaces.
Emotional connections are increasingly formed through the mood and storytelling found on social media platforms, yet current in-store displays are static and flat.
Team
Ben Jungblut
Khaled Abdul Rahman
Youjin Chung
The Problem Area
Fragrance retail spaces are densely organized with many brands competing for space and attention. Current displays are static posters and shelving to present products, but they do not make you feel.
Our Gap
There is a disconnect between digital discovery and the physical retail space. Emotion is lost where purchasing decisions are still made.
How…
How do we design an embodied multi modal interactive experience that can draw people attention to a aroma product and augment their sensory experience of that product?
Design Intent
Create a non-intrusive robotic retail installation that elevates a brand in a crowded fragrance environment
Use motion, responsiveness, and multisensory cues to convey the emotional character of a scent
Respond to customer presence and interaction rather than demanding engagement
Approach
Developed a behavior-first skeleton prototype to explore motion, presence, and emotional signaling
Tested the robot in a mock retail environment to evaluate realism and context
Compared the interactive experience directly against traditional static fragrance displays
User Testing
Participants were asked to shop naturally—sampling scents, using testing strips, and exploring freely, as they would in a real retail setting. Post-interaction interviews captured perception, emotional response, and impact on product interest.
Key Insights
The robot consistently captured attention, even among participants with no intent to purchase
Participants felt interactive behavior could increase interest in lower-cost aroma products
The most engaging moment was direct interaction—especially when the robot offered the product—making the experience feel personal and emotionally resonant
What
Research Question
How do we design an embodied multi modal interactive experience that can draw people attention to a aroma product and augment their sensory experience of that product?
