Technique Explorations

Physical Computing & Arduino systems

Arduino Capacitive sensing Input/output logic Web serial

Sensor-driven hardware studies

A sequence of Arduino studies covering LED timing, PWM fading, photoresistor input, capacitive touch, servo control, MOSFET load switching, joystick-to-web control, and a final cat-proof charging station.

PWM LED fading circuit with button input — PWM fading and pushbutton-controlled LED behavior.

Photoresistor input controlling LEDs — Photoresistor input mapped to sequential LED feedback.

Capacitive touch servo control prototype — Capacitive touch mapped to servo motion.

Capacitive touch controlling LED strip brightness through transistor circuit — MOSFET load switching for capacitive LED strip control.

Joystick controlled web game prototype — Joystick input driving a web game through serial communication.

Cat-proof charging station schematic — Final PIR, capacitive touch, LED strip, buzzer, and safety logic.

Context

I explored how physical inputs can shape digital or environmental feedback, starting with simple LED timing and building toward sensed interaction systems.

Process

Each circuit paired a schematic, breadboard implementation, firmware, and operation test. The final study combined a PIR motion sensor, capacitive touch, LED strip, and buzzer into one safety-oriented prototype.

Outcome

The work strengthened my technical fluency with sensors, PWM control, calibration, serial communication, and translating interaction intent into hardware behavior.

Material, interface, and storytelling prototypes.

Featured prototype Tactile learning Fabric book Soft anatomy

Bloom Fabric Book

A soft puberty education toolkit that turns body literacy, period products, and self-preparation into tactile pages young users can open, touch, and practice with.

Bloom flower-inspired fabric cover process

Challenge

Make puberty education feel approachable, private, and less clinical.

Prototype

Fabric, felt, stuffing, 3D printing, laser cutting, and sewn interaction cues.

Reflection

The tactile format felt warm and clear; future iterations should reduce bulk and improve durability.

Paper interface

Thermostat Flow Sprint

Design a thermostat interface that supports core home programming tasks.

Method: Paper screens, flow diagram, rapid group synthesis
Takeaway: Paper prototyping exposed the logic quickly and made missing states easy to discuss.

Low-fidelity system

Voting Interaction Model

Design a low-fidelity voting machine prototype with fewer steps and moving parts.

Method: Sketch merging, physical low-fi model, fast peer testing
Outcome: Testing surfaced usability edge cases quickly and clarified where the interaction needed stronger feedback.

All-in-one pet grooming appliance prototype

3D low-fi product

Pet Care Appliance

A compact grooming concept built around usability, comfort, and multi-function pet care.

Features: Fur brushing, nail filing, massage, calming sounds, and removable comb attachments.
Critique: Six testers liked the realistic weight and manual comb, but wanted clearer controls and simpler speed settings.

Pet grooming appliance design exploration

Pet appliance prototype assembly process

Sewn Jellycat-inspired bouldering chalk bag prototype

Soft goods

Sewn Chalk Bag

A sewn chalk bag that remixes the visual language of a Jellycat gift bag.

Method: Sketching, paper structure studies, muslin testing, machine sewing, drawstring closure.
Outcome: The final bag used layered construction to reduce chalk leakage while keeping a playful outer shell.

Laser-cut fabrication

Flat-Pack Laptop Stand

One structure supporting laptop use, flat-pack storage, book display, and desk organization.

Method: Parametric Onshape modeling, auto laser joints, Kiri:Moto layout, kerf and allowance tests.
Outcome: The final -0.05 kerf and -0.03 allowance combination created firm joints without glue or tape.

Video prototype

Climbing Recovery Concept

A novel interaction for a wellness product communicated through a scenario-based video prototype.

Concept: A bracelet records climbing force, reports session metrics, and recommends recovery timing.
Outcome: Viewers understood the concept clearly because the video made the interaction feel realistic and situated.