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3 min read
Local breath tool bobi wins Gold at the Australian Good Design Awards

bobi, a groundbreaking new product designed to help people to manage stress and anxiety by the learning and adoption of proper breathing techniques. Created by a local Gold Coaster, its already earned a prestigious Gold Award at the Australian Good Design Awards.

This innovative tool was invented by Damien Thomas, a 47-year-old Gold Coast man and psychologist with over 20 years experience.

Damien has worked in the field of national security and war crime investigations, where stress and anxiety were inseparable from his work environment. 

bobi represents a significant leap forward in the management of stress and anxiety in Australia. It has been meticulously designed to optimise breathing techniques, serving as a foundational pillar for enhancing health and wellbeing. 

This patented and awarded design stands out as a unique solution that redefines the importance of conscious breathing for mental and physical health.

When regulating his own emotional state, Damien discovered the benefits of breathing in the correct manner and carried his experiences iinto his practice as a psychologist.

He observed how correct breathing techniques could become part of everyone’s ability to deal with stress and anxiety. However, many individuals struggle to adopt the habit of practising these breathing exercises regularly once they’ve learnt the correct technique. This is especially pronounced in peak moments of stress and anxiety.

Fast-forward to 2023 and Damien is now the founder of bobi - a simple, durable device to coach its users in a preferred breathing practice. bobi was conceived to address this challenge by providing a tangible, portable solution that physically synchronises breathing with the device.

“Different chapters of my life have placed me in high-stress environments where managing emotions was a necessity, and that is what gave me the foundational knowledge of creating a product like bobi,” said Mr Thomas.

“Today, as the founder of bobi, I am proud to have developed a device that will support people in managing their stress and anxiety. Winning a Gold Award at the Australian Good Design Awards is just a testament to the hard work and innovation my team and I have put into this product."

It is my hope that bobi will become a trusted companion on the journey to improved well-being for individuals from all walks of life.

bobi's three settings—two-and-a-half seconds, four seconds, and six seconds—allow users to start at their comfort level and progressively extend their breath, ultimately aiming for the optimal breathing rate of five and a half seconds in and five and a half seconds out.

Key features and benefits of Bobi include:

  • Three foundational principles: sight, touch, and guidance
  • Tactile guidance: bobi employs a tactile guide to foster better breathing
  • Versatility: bobi's compact design makes it useable anywhere and anytime
  • Optimal breathing: a foundational skill proven for achieving holistic wellbeing
  • Targeted stimulation: precise stimulation on the back of the hand for enhanced results
  • Stress alleviation: regular engagement with bobi can be instrumental in managing stress
  • Swift integration: designed to mimic the body's natural rhythm, bobi ensures users can adapt to its functionality
  • Personalised approach: bobi has been designed to incorporate interchangeable palm pads, adding a unique, personalised touch
  • Enhanced grip and hand fortitude: Beyond breathing, bobi also plays a pivotal role in amplifying grip and hand strength - which is fast being recognised as a key health marker

For more information about bobi, head to meetbobi.com