Expressive Wearable
Bringing emotions with inputs and outputs
Discipline
Interactive Product Design
For
ID3051
Timeline
2 weeks
Tools
Arudino, Laser Cutter
Summary
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a Sunflower Hat! Designed for “expressive” personality (INFPs, I see you), it bridges the gap between emotions and social interactions. This playful wearable eases social stress, making human connections more fun and approachable.
Process
First Iteration :/Second Iteration :)Getting the petal just right brought some challenges. With limited material choices, it had to be light enough to move easily but sturdy enough to hold up against real-life interactions. There were plenty of failed attempts along the way, but each one brought us closer to the final version.
Finished Product
Arduino, a versatile microcontroller, brings human creativity to life with the right inputs and outputs. In the Sunflower Hat, it tells the story of introverts without a word. The hat houses six micro-servos connected to a breadboard, each controlling a petal. Force sensors on the wearer's arms send input to an Arduino Uno, which processes the data and moves the petals based on pressure readings. Though challenges with wiring and power arose, persistence and experimentation brought the Sunflower Hat to life.
The final design used flexible copper wires attached to servo motors, yellow paper for the petals, and a geodesic dome to house all the components. Looking back at it, I see so much potential for improvement, but that’s the beauty of design—always thinking about what the next version could become.