Motorola Nursery Debuts the New Tej Chauhan-Design S1 Soother

Tej Chauhan has long positioned product design as the facilitation of joy, deftly shaping innovative devices, furnishings, and apparel through a considered balance of whimsy and refinement. The British designer deploys distilled, recognizable, playful forms as a way of softening both existing and emerging modalities of function, especially when it comes to making rapid technological advancements decipherable and perhaps even relatable. This approach is best exemplified in the new S1 Soother, conceived for Motorola Nursery.

Introduced as the latest addition to the paradigmatically reimagined PIP collection of baby monitors and complementary devices, this fresh-format portable nightlight emits carefully calibrated soft light while also projecting gentle soundscapes. Shaped to resemble a “little seal,” the animated device works to calm babies and toddlers as they begin to rest. It becomes a friendly force, providing immediate, if indirect, support when parents cannot.
When not activated, the sleekly designed, monochromatic object remains sculptural, slightly distinct from its zoomorphic configuration, yet still somewhat inconspicuous.

“With the S1 Soother, I wanted to create more than just a nursery device—I wanted its form to capture a sense of calm and character, inviting warmth into an everyday routine,” says Chauhan. “The PIP collection has always been about blending emotional connection with purposeful, reliable technology, and the S1 needed to embody that concept completely. It’s designed to make parents feel good, to bring joy and reassurance to quiet moments, and to look beautiful wherever it lives.”

The S1 Soother is a far cry from its bulky, poorly imagined competitors: products in which function strenuously supersedes form, and design is an afterthought, if even a thought at all. With its clever proportions, form and function are considered in equal measure. And yet, the form is less a reflection of pure, so-called universal function than of an implicit emotional need. Here, it is not only about getting the job done — getting the kids to sleep — but about making sure the experience is positive, holistic, and hopefully not traumatic.

Adrian Madlener is a Brussels-born, New York-based writer specializing in collectible and sustainable design. With a particular focus on topics that exemplify the best in craft-led experimentation, he’s committed to supporting talents that push the envelope in various disciplines.