Various physical-digital prototypes of personal and academic projects, including: Party Mode, Focus Shift, Split Flap, Blink Blink by Bip Bop, Sound Bowl, and Toolkit Hackathon
Party Mode
Party Mode was an exploratory autobiographical design project, in which visitors’ interactions with my previous website remotely control an Internet of Things light within my apartment. When a visitor entered ‘Party Mode’ at the bottom of the homepage, my portfolio transformed into a musical instrument. Using a combination of digital and physical prototyping tools, my flat was synchronously transformed into a party space.
Reflections:
• When disparate ‘things’ have the ability to connect via open source Internet of Things, agency shifts between designers, end-users, and the technology. What are the consequences of democratizing configuration, participation, maintenance, and creativity?
• With data a material and participation a medium, our ‘things’ are not only physical and personal, but are also digital and social. How does this transform our relationships with ‘things’ and each other?
• The behaviors of ’things’ are expected to become increasingly complex as they become technologically embedded and connected. Should the responsibility lie in the ‘thing’ to communicate status, symptoms, and intent or should designers focus on empowering people?
Focus Shift
Focus Shift is an experience prototype exploring new ways of communicating external environmental conditions to a driver or passenger within an automotive interior. This project took place in 2013 at Umeå Institute of Design with project team member Ernst Hellby in collaboration with Bang & Olufsen. Concept design was a join collaboration, Ernst was responsible for the transportation design, and I was responsible for the working experience prototype (Processing, Arduino, Soldering, After Effects).
Split Flap
Split Flap is the result of a two week graphic design course on unorthodox ways of displaying information graphics in a specific context. The working physical prototype of a split flap, or Solari board, experiments with an analog method of displaying dynamic digital information.
Blink Blink by Bip Bop
Blink Blink by Bip Bop is an emergent musical instrument rooted in the subtle communication of facial expressions. Whether subconsciously or with full intent, our faces are a powerful tool of communication. A wink, slight smile, or lift of an eye brow convey many messages in response to or directed at others. Using a proximity sensor to detect blinks and an accelerometer to read head position, Blink Blink transforms this silent dialogue into an interactive rhythm. Team: Jessica Williams & Jacob Cyriac.
Sound Bowl
Sound Bowl is an interactive mixing bowl that creates a playful and positive educational baking experience. The characteristic focus on accuracy is de-emphasized as measurement units are abstractly reinterpreted. During step-by-step recipe guidance, real-time sound and light feedback provide a fun way to understand the relationship of ingredients while baking. Project at Umeå Institute of Design with Henriette Stykow, Malin Andersson, Yui Komatsu.
Toolkit Hackathon
The hackathon was a two day event based on the premise of using an intuitive controllers to design and prototype a toolkit that allows anyone to design an everyday 3D object to be 3D printed.
