Faculty of Design

Industrial Design

Azkiya Azfar

SAFA

A child with congenital heart disease (CHD) begins life with a heart that does not function in the usual way. It is the most common birth defect worldwide, affecting about 1 in every 100 births. Many children undergo early surgeries, frequent hospital visits, and ongoing care. Alongside these physical challenges, they are often exposed to unfamiliar environments, medical procedures, and emotional stress at a young age, often without fully understanding what is happening around them. SAFA is a small, handheld companion that responds to touch through gentle light and sound. As children press, hold, or squeeze it, it provides steady, calming feedback, guided by a slow, heartbeat-like rhythm that can sync with the child’s own heartbeat to help ease stress and create a sense of safety. Designed for hospital stays, recovery, and unfamiliar settings, it offers a simple, nonverbal way to help children process emotions and find their way back to calm.