Prototype: “Winter Care: Skin, Eyes, and Comfort”
Pod #5:
Simon Zhang
Nico Cai
Understand Phase
The Challenge:
While many people prepare for the cold when moving to northern Canadian cities like Edmonton, few truly understand the impact of extreme dryness on their health. The combination of low humidity and cold air can cause cracked skin, eye irritation, and overall discomfort. This video series aims to educate viewers about how to protect their skin and eyes, and maintain comfort during long, dry winters through practical, evidence-based daily care strategies.
Context and Audience:
Typical cases:
Students or young adults moving from milder climates—such as British Columbia—to Alberta or other cold, dry regions. They may bring warm clothing but often underestimate the severity of dryness during winter, leading to issues like chapped skin, bleeding lips, or dry eyes.
Extreme cases:
Individuals experiencing painful skin cracks, recurring eye dryness, or irritation that interferes with sleep, study, or work. Some may even develop conditions like chronic dry eye syndrome, requiring medical treatment. Many only seek help after symptoms worsen, unaware that prevention is possible through small daily habits such as using humidifiers, applying dermatologist-recommended moisturizers, taking fish oil supplements, and using preservative-free artificial tears.
Needs, goals, and motivations:
This audience needs simple, practical strategies to adapt to a cold, dry climate. Their primary goal is to maintain comfort and health throughout the winter without resorting to expensive treatments. They need to know how to choose the right skin-care products (e.g., dermatologist-approved moisturizers), safely use humidifiers (including cleaning them regularly to prevent mould and bacteria), and develop consistent routines that support both skin and eye health. Motivation often arises after experiencing discomfort firsthand, though clear and visually engaging educational content can help them learn preventive care before issues occur.
Demographic, psychographic, and behavioural factors:
The primary demographic consists of young adults aged 18 to 30—students or early-career professionals who have relocated to cold regions. Psychographically, they value efficiency, simplicity, and cost-effective solutions. Behaviourally, they may spend long hours indoors studying or working, often with central heating that further reduces indoor humidity. They rely heavily on digital devices, contributing to eye strain and dryness. Their routines often lack awareness of how environmental conditions and indoor air quality affect overall well-being.
POV statement:
A university student who recently moved from a mild, coastal city to Edmonton needs practical, easy-to-follow strategies to protect their skin and eyes from extreme dryness so that they can stay comfortable and healthy throughout the winter.
Learning Objectives:
The primary learning objectives of this project are for people to:
- Understand how cold, dry air affects skin and eye health;
- Identify common symptoms of dryness and irritation;
- Apply daily self-care strategies such as using dermatologist-recommended moisturizers, maintaining clean humidifiers, taking fish oil supplements, and using preservative-free artificial tears;
- Recognize the importance of humidity control, hydration, and routine maintenance in having comfort during the winter times.
The secondary objectives are to:
- Encourage greater awareness of how environmental conditions impact health and comfort;
- Inspire regular self-care practices throughout seasonal transitions;
- Prepare newcomers for the physical and environmental challenges of dry, cold winters.
Plan Phase
Ideation:
The inspiration for this project came directly from my own experience living in Edmonton for three years. Before moving there, I knew the winters would be cold and long, but I underestimated how dry it would be. During my second year, my skin became so dry that it started to crack and bleed, and I constantly felt discomfort in my eyes. In my third year, I was diagnosed with dry eye syndrome, which made me realize how important humidity and moisture are for overall health.
This personal experience motivated me to create an educational video series to help others, especially those moving from milder climates like British Columbia to colder provinces such as Alberta. Many newcomers prepare for freezing temperatures with warm clothing but gorget about the need for humidity and proper skin and eye care. I wanted to share what I learned through real experience and simple, practical tips that can genuinely make a difference in daily comfort and health.
The video series will be presented in three short parts, each addressing a key topic:
- Understanding Dryness: Why cold, dry air affects our skin and eyes, and how humidity levels impact comfort.
- Daily Prevention Strategies: How to maintain skin and eye health through hydration, dermatologist-recommended moisturizers, fish oil supplements, clean humidifiers, and preservative-free artificial tears.
- Long-Term Adaptation: How to build sustainable self-care habits during winter, including monitoring indoor humidity and creating consistent moisturizing routines.
The tone of the videos will be calm, relatable, and informative—using visuals of real winter scenes, simple animations, and short voice-over explanations. This approach will make the content both educational and emotionally engaging, helping viewers understand and apply the information easily in their daily lives.
Script:
Video 1: Why Does Winter Make Your Skin So Dry?
Goal: Explain why skin becomes dry in winter and prepare for the next “how-to” video.
Scene 1: Opening (0:00–0:10)
Visual: Snowy street, cold wind and people rubbing their hands or cheeks in typical Canadian winter scenes.
Audio: “Ever noticed how your skin feels tight and flaky in winter? That’s not just you, it’s the dry Canadian air.”
Text: Cold + Low Humidity = Dry Skin
Scene 2: Cold Air and Humidity (0:10 – 0:25)
Visual: Animation showing outside air with low humidity and water evaporating from skin.
Audio: “Cold winter air holds very little moisture, which makes water in your skin evaporate faster and leaves it feeling dry.”
Text: Cold air → Low Moisture = Dry Skin
Scene 3: Indoor Heating (0:25 – 0:40)
Visual: A person sitting near a heater with arrows showing hot dry air.
Audio: “Indoor heating makes the air even drier. The warm airflow pulls water from your skin and weakens its natural barrier.”
Text: Heating → Dry Indoor Air
Scene 4: Hot Showers and Barrier Damage (0:40 – 0:55)
Visual: Shower scene with steam and slowly zooming on skin layers losing oil.
Audio: “Taking long, hot showers removes the natural oils that protect your skin. Without that barrier, moisture escapes even faster.”
Text: Hot showers = less protection
Scene 5: Closing (0:55 – 1:00)
Visual: Split screen: dry hand (looks rough) vs. moisturized hand (looks smooth).
Audio: “So next time your skin feels rough, remember it’s not about using more lotion. It’s about locking in moisture and protecting your skin barrier.”
Text: Next video: How to Keep Your Skin Moisturized!
Video 2: How to Keep Your Skin Moisturized
Goal: Demonstrate 3 practical moisturizing tips.
Scene 1: Introduction (0:00–0:10)
Visual: A lady holding a towel and moisturizer in a bright bathroom.
Audio: “Let’s take a look at a few simple ways to keep your skin soft and hydrated during winter.”
Text: 3 Easy Steps for Healthy Skin
Scene 2: Step 1: Use Warm, NOT Hot Water (0:10 – 0:25)
Visual: Steam rising from a sink, the lady switches from very hot water to comfortably warm water.
Audio: “Start with warm water instead of hot. Hot showers feel nice but strip away your skin’s natural oils.”
Text: Step 1: Use warm water
Scene 3: Step 2: Moisturize Right After Washing (0:25 – 0:40)
Visual: The lady gently patting skin dry, then applying lotion immediately in slow circular motions.
Audio: “After washing, pat your skin dry and apply moisturizer right away. Doing this within a few minutes helps trap water inside your skin.”
Text: Step 2: Moisturize right after washing
Scene 4: Step 3: Choose the Right Product (0:40 – 0:55)
Visual: Close-up shots show different skincare bottles labelled hyaluronic acid, ceramide, and fragrance-free.
Audio: “Pick a rich cream or lotion that contains ceramides or hyaluronic acid. These ingredients help your skin stay smooth and repair its barrier.”
Text: Step 3: Pick a barrier-repair cream
Scene 5: Closing (0:55 – 1:00)
Visual: The lady smiles at the camera with healthy-looking skin. A title card appears that reads Next Up: Eye Care in Winter.
Audio: “Moisturized skin feels better all day. In the next video, we’ll show you how to protect your eyes, too.”
Text: Next video: Eye Care in Winter
Video 3: How to Protect Your Eyes from Dryness
Goal: Show easy eye-care habits for dry winter air and screen fatigue.
Scene 1: Introduction (0:00 – 0:10)
Visual: A student sits at a desk on a winter day, staring at a laptop screen. After a moment, he blinks slowly and rub his eyes in discomfort.
Audio: “Cold winter air and long hours in front of screens can make your eyes feel dry and tired.”
Text: Winter = Dry Eyes
Scene 2: Tip 1: Follow the 20-20-20 Rule (0:10 – 0:25)
Visual: A close-up of the student’s eyes appears, then a small clock icon shows 20-minute intervals. The student looks away from the laptop toward a window and focuses on a tree.
Audio: “Every twenty minutes, look at something about twenty feet away for twenty seconds. This simple habit helps your eyes relax and stay moist.”
Text: Tip 1: 20-20-20 Rule
Scene 3: Tip 2: Use eye drops (0:25 – 0:40)
Visual: The student holds a small bottle of eye drops and carefully applies one drop to each eye while looking upward. He closed his eyes gently afterward and smiled with relief.
Audio: “Use correct eye drops when your eyes feel dry. Choose preservative-free drops and be careful not to touch the tip of the bottle to your eye.”
Text: Tip 2: Use artificial tears safely
Scene 4: Tip 3: Improve Your Environment (0:40 – 0:55)
Visual: A humidifier quietly releases mist beside the desk. The student moves his chair slightly away from a heater and opens the window to let in natural light.
Audio: “Add a humidifier to increase moisture in the air, and avoid sitting too close to heaters. Small changes like these can make your eyes much more comfortable.”
Text: Tip 3: Add humidity and avoid direct heat
Scene 5: Closing (0:55 – 1:00)
Visual:The student smiles at the camera with bright, relaxed eyes. A title card appears with snowflakes and the text Winter Care: Skin, Eyes, and Comfort.
Audio: “Stay hydrated, stay comfortable, and remember that moisture matters for both your skin and your eyes.”
Text: Winter Care: Skin, Eyes, and Comfort
Principles Applied:
The Coherence Principle is addressed by including only essential explanations and visuals that directly relate to the topic, reducing unnecessary details that might distract learners. The Contiguity Principle is applied by pairing narration and visuals together in each segment, ensuring that viewers process both elements simultaneously. The Segmenting Principle is reflected in dividing the video into three short parts, allowing learners to absorb information in manageable sections rather than all at once.
The Personalization Principle is achieved through a conversational and empathetic tone, where the narrator speaks directly to viewers, sharing real experiences rather than abstract facts. This makes the learning more personal and relatable. Finally, the Modality Principle is incorporated by combining verbal explanations with supportive visuals, such as showing how humidity levels drop indoors or how moisturizers protect the skin barrier. This combination enhances dual-channel processing, improving comprehension and retention.