Movements

Prototype 1: Inflatable Mushroom

• • Movement: inflatable
  • 3D printed mushroom & silicon inflatable
  • How we vision to use it [I wrote this before our idea revision]: According to Korrina’s research, the mushrooms won’t show themselves until they feel like the environment is correct. Thus, with the inflatable (and the sound that comes along with it), we want to present a character that wouldn’t reveal herself until she feels comfortable. She’s been through trauma, so she is very careful and cautious. 

• I downloaded the model from thingiverse. I forgot to change filament color before printing it so I had to color it afterwards and it looks … bad 🙁 
• Marcela told us to have something at the back so that the inflatable silicon won’t inflate on that side. Taking inspiration from that, I tried to get the holes from the mushroom cap, make airways, and make an inflatable using plastics. However, it didn’t really work. I thought about football patterns – potentially they might work. However, I don’t have time to try that out yet. 
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• I always want to know how to keep the air in the inflatable for a longer time, finally figured it out during class! (That’s my understanding, didn’t have the chance to try it out
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• mushroom

Prototype 2: Moving Plate

• • Movement: with stepper motor 
  • Idea inspiration: Instagram Artist & Marcela’s chain
  • This is based on the chain units we made for the mask project. I added some channels to each unit so that it can move more smoothly. The problem with the chain units is that they might bend too much (completely forgot about this while modeling!!), but Korrina came up with the idea to use cardboard to hold the chain. 
• I modeled the plate. However, because I got the measures wrong, the hole is too big for the actuator stick, and the upper stick is too big. Korrina explained to me why we need a stepper motor but not a servo motor to me: the servo motor is too weak to support the movement of the whole structure. I also accidentally set the inner filling of the plate too thin. The plate is too light and fragile. 
• Improvement:
  • plate needs to be heavier to hold the whole structure;
  • the chains should be horizontal in the original place — I would love to experiment with the soft plastic string!
  • I wonder how I can improve the plate model and add more texture to it (like channels for the string). On the other hand, I do doubt whether the 3D printer can print out the texture LOL.
  • Change the code to make it move slower. (here is the reference code: link)
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  • plate

Prototype 3: Butterfly

• Movement: with actuator 
• The butterfly wings flip with the actuator. It is based on the butterfly wings Yelena made for our wing project. Korrina made the hold for the actuator and support for the butterflies. We discovered that since the actuator is relatively weak, it is impossible to make it pull the wings directly.

Research

• Some mushrooms glow at night: Fungi glow because of a natural reaction between enzymes and chemicals called luciferins, including a type called caffeic acid that is found in all plants. Introducing four key fungal genes into the plants’ DNA caused them to glow 10 times more brightly than those engineered using bacteria, The Guardian reports. (link)
• In Chinese, 菌(fungi) shares the same sound with 君(beautiful, well-educated, good-mannered people). And there is a saying that goes: 君子之交淡如水, it can mean friendship and mutual trust.
• Mushrooms grow very fast, they can symbolize liveliness and strength.
• Mushrooms send out signals to each other. Andrew Adamatzy did a research on mushrooms. He integrated circuits into mushrooms and it worked.
• Books: Humongous Fungus | link
• Texture inspiration: 
  • Canadian Smocking – link 

Inflatables

Triangle

• (I don’t have a video for this bc I went to work after class, but will upload it later ;; 
• This is the first project. I didn’t figure out the mechanisms when modeling it in Rhino. Instead of making lines, I should have made rectangles. 
  • The “mechanism” here is that the gaps are where two layers of plastic get stuck together. When modeling, pathways for air should be made! (didn’t think of that before)

Box

• I encountered great trouble when laser cutting the box. Because of the heat the baking paper curled up so some parts didn’t get cut. Special thanks to Dalin!! He suggested that we should put some tape on the paper, so that the paper would become heavier and easier to cut. But this failure was a good experiment in that I figured out the air flow, so I made the rhombuses a bit smaller.

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Crane

• With the crane, we were able to experiment with different shapes and how they affect the direction of the shape. We also found that it is necessary to cut those little triangles where the inflatable folds because without these gaps, it may not be able to fold. 

Watermelon (? 

• We realize that the semi-circle “watermelon” could be a chest/ breast piece. When it contracts, it nicely holds our breast. 
• For future improvement, it would be better if I can make a rim around the semi-circle, as shown in the reference picture, the melon rind part. 

The Design

The Code

Other thoughts 

• Inflatables are fun to play with! Korrina and I experimented on the nano tapes as well because I watched some cool videos on Xiaohongshu. They are fun to play with, tho a bit toxic. These little bubbles can be scattered around the body, and if you puncture them, they will make loud (unexpected) sounds. (I only have pics from online, because we punctured ours .. ) 
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• As for the application of inflatables, I am fascinated by their motions — they contract and expand with air. They fit into our ideas for the wings: to take more space and to feel bigger. And they remind me of protection & air sac.  

🪩 Societal Facade 🪩

Project Description 

Our project is a piece that symbolizes how the clothes we choose to wear often reflect society, only showing the surface of who the person is. From afar you may see the wearer is complex with a unique personality, hence the patterned mirror textile, but only shows what they want society to see and what society wants to see. But once an individual takes that next step to get to know an individual (Shaking hands), the once reflective mirror lights up and shows infinite depth. We emphasize the importance of personal connection over superficial judgments.

Our medium was heavily around the usage of mirrors as its role is to reflect. While to display human complexity, we used origami as our textile. Origami, despite its complexity, is flexible, compatible and strong, which reflects the fact that humans are strong but malleable and often try to fit into society. The mirror in the middle shows one dimension before interacting with the individual, then everlasting dimensions once activating the light. This displays the vulnerability of the wearer, as you can look within the individual, while intimidating for the viewer, as you can see no end.

Research & Development 

[Idea Development]

• Some of the initial ideas we have included: 
• a wearable that expands with breathings (visualizing the meditation process)
  • We want this to be a part of our final using stepper motors as if it would show more movement.
• The Chakras 
  • We really like the idea of have our aura being on display, and changing depending on the energy we are focusing on and receiving. We thought it was a fun way to show how we can be affected by others emotions and visa versa.
• Led spiritual aura, herself & the nature are one;
  • Most parts expand & led lights going on/ around 
  • Healing | reference
  • Spiritual Colors | reference
• Kaleidoscopes
  • pop-up kaleidoscope | reference
  • Kaleidoscope with LED | reference 
    • We loved the complexity that a  kaleidoscope could portray despite the fact that it is an illusion. We wanted to carry this illusion part into our project. Often what we portray to society is just an illusion to who we are, and I (Korrina) love the idea that the kaleidoscope can distort what’s on the surface to something mesmerizing and complex even if when looked with no angled mirrors is just a couple beads, and in our case, a mirror facing society. 
• Pop-up book ideas for the mechanisms | reference
  • We wanted to experiment with new ways to show dimension and texture, and pop up books are a great way to start. 
• Inspiration: photographer/ artist 钱儒雅 ｜reference
  • She used acrylic mirrors to make a whole piece of clothes, and reflected on the connections between people. She said, in an intimate relationship, many people are indulged in themselves and don’t really have to connect to the other party. Just like their reflections on the mirrors, they only focus on themselves, and interact with whatever they want to interact with. (在亲密关系中，很多人只是沉迷于在这段关系里的自己，不需要真正碰触到另外一个人，就像那面镜子上映射的虚像。) 
• Sketch

[Research]

• As we are thinking about human interactions, we looked for data on social anxiety disorder because initially we wanted to do some designs on the frames around the infinity mirror to reflect the struggles people might experience when interacting with others. This is what we found: The cross-national epidemiology of social anxiety disorder: Data from the World Mental Health Survey Initiative | link  

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  [Origami]

• Paper folding tutorial: https://youtu.be/RVDDoDSinx0?si=3sDEfageL3qkyKMk 
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  [Coding]

• The coding process started with the microbits codes we used for Week3’s exercise. Eventually we replaced the sensor with a button. 
• (Questions Yelena has) What does “serial write value” mean? | reference
  • “Basically, this allows you to send data from the micro:bit to your own computer. This is very useful for debugging purposes: you can add write line statements in your code and see them display on your computer as the program executes.” → so this is a bit similar to “console.log” ….? 
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  [future improvements]

  • Professor Rodolfo suggested that we can put motors inside the fabric, because it is relatively flexible. In this way, the fabric can expand/ bend on its own. 
  • If we were to stick to the origami idea, next time we may need to find a better, less fragile material and make the patterns bigger 
  • I (Yelena) realized that we can use the laser cutter to make the creases of the paper, and cut the soft mirrors. 
  • Cover the body with more fabrics! and/ or make small infinity mirrors and scatter them around the body. Right now the interlocutors can only look at the breast of the wearer if they want to see their reflections in the infinity mirror, instead of looking at the wearer in the eyes. 
  • Incorporate our idea about having patterns within the infinity mirror which could represent humans insecurities/faults/passions/problems/love/ etc/
  • I (Korrina) would like to have more performative aspects in our design to make the audience feel more intimate with the wearer, and want to explore more with how to convey this. 
    • Birds only make noises when they are not in danger. When you hear birds chirping our vagus nerve (mediator of our anti inflammatory parasympathetic nervous system) we naturally feel calmer and safer. But when chirping is taken away, it’s a sign of a predator. I would like to play with this. | reference

My Reflections

This project is aimed at changing/ amplifying our interactions with the environment around us. By using the mirrors and LEDs, we interacted with people’s visuals. The unexpected result we got, in my opinion, comes from the soft mirror. Because soft mirrors don’t 100% reflect reality, the distorted reflection is not an honest reflection of the society. The paradox of honest and dishonest reflection of the society and one’s inner self is inspiring in the sense that to what extent do we absorb and internalize societal expectations? To what extent do we perform such expectations? 

I learned a lot during this project. Starting with the techniques I felt most eager to learn, which is how to code for the Micro:bits and how to connect the circuits and weave the circuits to the fabric, working with Korrina was definitely helpful. I was experimenting with the java script while she was looking for tutorials on YouTube. If we were given more time, I’d like to learn more about the java script (and review what I’ve learned in creative coding). As for the circuits, I was able to connect the most basic circuits on my own (which was a great progress for me because back in highschool … I couldn’t really understand the circuits). I also learned how to connect the wires to the micro:bits and how to protect the wires using the tape. My dad taught me a bit about that but now I had the chance to actually try it out!  

I also really liked our brainstorming process! We explored with so many different ideas and did so much research. Google/ youtube feeds inspired us a lot :). I think without this exploring process, I can’t personally resonate with the project we made. In addition, I found it really important to constantly expand my insight and enrich my knowledge. Otherwise it would be really difficult to find a starting point for ideas. 

I am really proud of myself for making the origami. It was stressful, but I figured a way out. While I was making the patterns, I finished watching Volver (a movie!), two REALLY GOOD documentaries (one from Vice about exploitation), and several short interviews with book authors. I did question myself about why I’d spent so much time on this project, but I think at the end of the day, I really enjoyed the process of learning, the process of making things, the process of working with my partner Korrina, and I really like this class & this major <33. It’s all worth it! 

As for future improvements, I want to experiment with more materials to make the origami, and to experiment with more origami patterns (like the ones on the books). I would also love to experiment with micro:bits and other sensors or motors to make the project more interactive and more creative. 

Our Textile

Our textile is made of paper rolls, and the pattern is the tree of life. We found the books in N3 IMA lab (the free books box, I love free books :D). The pattern in a sense echos with the materials because paper is made of wood! We made paper rolls of different thickness and lengths, cut them and glued them to another paper. The important thing is to make the pattern symmetrical. 

Mask

Idea/ Concept

The mask gives observers a majestic sense by just observing whoever is wearing it. The observers might think the wearer is pretty and easy to mess up with. However, when the wearer opens her/ his mouth and starts to talk, the spikes on the top of her/ his head go up. The spikes consist of both 3D printed PLA units and needles, which eventually make the spike relatively dangerous. This piece helps the wearer to express herself/ himself through opening the mouth.

inspirations: @aerarius_metalworks | pearls/ chains | link 1 | link 2

Technical development 

• I learned how to solder when dealing with the wires. We couldn’t find the soldering wires, so using another type of wire was a bit hard (although since I haven’t tried with soldering wire, I couldn’t tell the differences :P). I need to melt some solder so that the two wires can be connected together. It is a bit hard to do when the touching surface is small, but once everything is in good position/ condition, the two wires can be connected easily. 
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• I got more familiar with the combination plier. Because the plier has a relatively big head, it was easier to use it to make the rings for the mask. 
• 3D printing. Although I downloaded the model online, I experimented a bit with the printing. The spaghetti failure appeared several times. Now that we don’t use glues on the plate, it’s important to create brims for the models before printing them out. 
• I failed to figure out how the spikes work, so after observing what Korrina made, I drew something down. We need to get the chain through the holes alternatively, so that the spike can be pulled up. 
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• When creating the wire frame, Korrina and I put down its outline on a piece of paper after adjusting it on my face. But I am guessing, next time when making a shape with the wire, we can draw the shapes on paper first, and make the shape according to what we’ve drawn (if we know the measures). It’s kind of similar to the idea that create a (paper) model first, then operate with the wires (so that we don’t operate in the air).

Future improvements

• The chains are a bit too hard, so the mechanics may not be working well. We should have used wool/ fabrics. (But the problem with these soft materials is that they don’t fit the theme/ color.)

Reading/ viewing Reflections 

“We never look at just one thing; we are always looking at the relation between things and ourselves. Our vision is continually active, continually moving, continually holding things in a circle around itself, constituting what is present to us as we are.”

• I found this quote while I was reading for another course, from Ways of Seeing.  I think it poetically portrays how our visual senses work. But in addition to only perceive the relations by “looking”, we also integrate other senses when we interact with the environment around us. 

💬 How fashion/ dress articulate group identities? 

Paris is Burning and the readings reminds me of a phenomenon in China called Shamate 杀马特. People in the Shamate community wear unique, eye-catchy hairstyles and clothes. Their showy hair, especially the long bangs covering their forehead is their signature. The similarities between them and those characters in Paris is Burning are: 1) people of both communities are in a marginalized position. In Shamate’s case, the community is usually composed of the second generation of migrant workers or migrant factory workers. They use this way to confront the hardships in their life. In Paris is Burning’s case, these black, queer people are trying to find their agency in the white dominated society, although some of them joined houses still run by the white. 2) Both communities use clothes, hairstyles, makeup and fashion elements to express themselves. However, while most people in Paris is Burning feel comfortable expressing themselves in that way, the Shamate group faced explicit criticism and mocking, and eventually, most of them yielded to reality and went back to the mundane factory work. I think both phenomena, along with our readings, point out how marginalized groups are seeking ways to be seen, seeking ways to find their space in society. They use appearance as the media to challenge and confront the long-established social structure because “we look to read the other through appearance and hope we can do so accurately” (142). Fashion is their way of gaining agency in this world. 

What is really valuable, and unique in these cases is that these fashions are created and demonstrated by the group. They are not wearing clothes, hairstyles, or makeup designed by others who don’t even belong to the group. There is criticism of the movie in that it was made by a white person. After gaining all the fames, reputations and rewards from the movie, little attention is paid to the status quo of the communities in the film. I do agree with this criticism. 

Another question that’s been hunting me: How do we perform a certain gender?  How do we perform our gender and sexuality? If I were biologically a man, but I recognized myself as a woman, is changing my appearance so that I can fit in the societal perception of woman appearance an effective way to express my sexuality? Doesn’t it reinforce certain gender stereotypes? 

In-Class exercise:

This week we learned how to use Arduino Lilypad USB, micro:bit, and Neopixels. I am still struggling with how to connect the circuits, so I made the following pictures.

 

I was also struggling with the LilyPad because I couldn’t understand the mechanism, so I referred to this and made some notes.

Coding the micro:bit wasn’t was difficult as I thought, maybe it was because we only did the simplest one. One thing to pay attention to is the “radio set group” must be the same for both of the mirco:bits.

here is the final result: IMG_8447

Reading reflections and thoughts: 

How animals & plants communicate: 

• • Three interesting facts I found online: 
    • Octopuses can change the color and texture of their skin to communicate.
    • Elephants can communicate through seismic vibrations in the ground.
    • Spiders use vibrations on their webs to communicate important messages.
• By using radio signals, the person who is wearing the clothes can choose to change its color,  based on his/ her mood and feelings, or to send out sounds or vibrations. 
• Speaking of vibrations, I think of receiving phone calls or messages. So if the person wants to make a connection with another person nearby, but he/ she is too shy to speak up, he/ she can use vibration to attract attention. 
• I learned that plants can emit scents to communicate with each other. However, so far, I still regard it difficult to control the scents a person sends out because scents do stay there for a long time. But fragrance can be a part of the design as scents can be related to memories and feelings. 

 

• I am also trying to think about how to manifest “ethical consumption” through interactive fashion. Based on my understanding of the Chinese fashion market, although there are conscious consumers who care about the environmental and ethical impact of fashion, most consumers still have little knowledge about the negative impact of clothings, especially those of fast fashion. From what I learned before, one of the driving reasons why consumers can’t stop consuming fast fashion is that the designs of those durable products can’t keep up with the changing styles. Would it be possible to integrate LED screen or other technologies that allow users to define their own patterns and designs into clothes? 

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