1. Magnetic beads (2)
2. Magnet wire
3. Yarn & Crochet needle
4. Large-hole beads
5. Conductive thread
6. Non-conductive thread
7. ATtiny85
8. Transistors (2)
9. IN4001 Diode (2)
10. 100K Ohm Resistors (2)
11. 100 Ohm Resistors (2)
12. 3.7V 500mAh Lipo batteries (2)
13. JST sockets (2)
14. Laser-cutable wood
15. 120gsm papers: 2 colors green & blue

Tools:

1. Soldering iron
2. Soldering wire
3. Laptop
4. ATtiny programmer board (optional)
5. Wire cutter
6. Glue gun

Step-by-step:

• Step 1: Make the two flip dots by creating 2 coils (each consists of at least 50 rounds) out of magnetic wire. Use extra wire to secure the two coils together. Use a non-conductive thread to tie a magnetic wire in between the two coils.
• Step 2: From this point on, refer to the schematic below. Connect the two flip dots according to the schematic. Tip: connect the bottom coils to each other, and the top coils to each other. 
• Step 3: Laser cut the statement piece and the paper. Here I chose the tear drop shape to compliment the round shape of the flip dot. But the statement can take any form.
• Step 4: Use the programming board to upload the below code to the ATtiny:

void setup() {
// initialize digital pin LED_BUILTIN as an output.
pinMode(2, OUTPUT);
}

// the loop function runs over and over again forever
void loop() {
digitalWrite(2, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
delay(2000); // wait for a second
digitalWrite(2, LOW); // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW // wait for a second
digitalWrite(3, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
delay(2000); // wait for a second
digitalWrite(3, LOW); // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW // wait for a second
}

• Step 5: Solder in the ATtiny, Transistors, diode, resistors and JST socket and connect the statement to the rest of the necklace
• 
• Step 6: Plug in the battery and watch the flip dots flip!

People are always on their cellphones checking notifications. In a way, we have become cyborgs because of this behavior. The world we perceive no longer consists of only cityscape but also data structure. And in returns, our data becomes parts of us as well, a long with our flesh and bones. This idea inspired me to create a wearable piece that responds to your phone’s notification. Every time a notification pops up, the flip dots on the necklace will be activated. When an user wears the necklace, they become one with their data as their mind constantly moves back and forth between the physical and the digital world.

I have created a semi-functional prototype for this idea. The biggest issue I have currently is how to hook it up to a phone. I have been looking into TouchOSC and Ardunio OSCuino but they only allow me to control the arduino using the TouchOSC app instead of from the notification settings.

I used SMA to create a linear motion between 2 cut-out paper on a piece of cardboard (These illustrations aren’t mine! They are from freepik).

I had trouble increasing the wire’s movement but then I found out my battery was dying. With a new battery, the different levels of movement when I changed the number in analogWrite were pretty drastic. The video below features 3 different analogwrite:

Process:

Cut out the boy and the girl.

Cut out an area of the cardboard so that the figures can move toward each other. I later decided to lock the boy in one place so that only the girl moves.

And here’s the (not so pretty) back!

Thermochromic ink is an interesting medium and I wanted to use it to reveal a hidden message to educate an often ignored issue. I remember a year ago when I talked to my parents about mental disorders, they were obviously not very comfortable. It’s not a subject that we discuss often at home but I never understood why. I would normally talked about something else but that time I lingered on the topic longer, only to find out that my parents didn’t understand what mental disorder really is. Misunderstanding, in their case, led to fear and avoidance.

For this week I created a poster that normally only has a face with two eyes (no mouth) and the words “is real.” When the thermochromic ink is activated, the hidden message revealed: “Depression is real” and the face now has a sad expression. However, when I tested the poster with 9V battery, it doesn’t work, even though it works when I blew into it.

For this week I created 3 speaker swatches out of basswood and copper tape. I drilled a hole in the wood for the copper tape to go through because scotch tape doesn’t attach to wood that well.

Below are the four “nodes” that I made. 2 of them (right) were made on paper, and the others on fabric. The one on the top left made use of the embroidery technique.

The four connectors that I made (image below) includes: one pin probes, one small clip connector, one long metallic clip connector and one metal snap connector.

The small clip connector (second from left to right) proved to be the most challenging to make but also turned out to be the most beautiful.

And they all worked!

Hello!

The instructables for my lamp is live!

*Update:

Hooray!

I identify myself as a designer, storyteller, learner, research and craftperson. I like recreating or inventing new experiences through storytelling and in doing so, incorporating design theories and research. Similar to most designers, I love well-coordinated color swatches, rare types and things organized neatly. But I am especially into purposeful design, or design that is backed up by thoughtful research. I have been and always will be a learner because I can never get enough of new techniques. They do not have to be ground-breaking technology. Learning how to crochet this past week, for example, has been delightful.

I have many favorite tools. On the first day of class, I mentioned the letterpress (which is magical). I also love the small but mighty bone folder and x-acto knife for bookmaking. They are tools that are specifically made for artists because they are not as easy to use as scissors and rulers.

What I love about learning how to crochet is that because I’m fairly new, the progress has been pretty fast. I went from making twisted messy knots to a square of single crochet in 2 days. I learned by following Youtube tutorial. It is very helpful when the teacher explained what she is doing instead of telling people to follow her without understanding the structure of the single crochet. I spent a day without much improvement following one tutorial that was shorter but didn’t explain much. The next day, I switched to a longer but more thorough tutorial and the result was very satisfying.