Prototypes
1. Mushroom
2. Red LED Circuit
Three Ideas
1. Sunflower Cushion Night Light
Story: Like a sunflower that blooms toward the sun, this cushion appears as a simple sunflower during the day. When sunlight is no longer detected, the embedded light turns on, providing gentle illumination that follows the rhythm of nature.
Target User: People seeking digital detox and healing moments aligned with natural cycles.
Material: Soft short-hair fabric, light-sensing plate (Arduino), LED light bulb.
2. Sea Otter Shell Night Light
Story: Inspired by the way sea otters give cherished shells or stones to those they care about, this plush otter holds a glowing shell. When the user squeezes the plush, the shell light turns off, offering a stress-relieving tactile experience. After 30 minutes, the light turns on again, as if the otter is giving the shell back.
Target User: People who want stress relief and relaxation during short breaks.
Material: Soft tufting and fluffy fabric for the otter, short-hair fabric for the shell.
3. Cloud Wrist Rest Health Alarm Night Light
Story: A fluffy, cloud-shaped wrist rest that feels light and comforting. When the user continuously uses a mouse for more than an hour, the light turns on as a soft reminder to pause, stretch, and care for wrist health.
Target User: People who use a computer mouse frequently and want to protect their wrist health.
Material: Soft fabric with safe, supportive filling that can comfortably support the wrist.
Thank you for reading🌻
Oh please please do the otter! It’s so cute. Your other ideas are also feasible and within scope of the assignment, but I can tell you are already so good at sewing that you are up to the challenge of making the otter shape. We’re not putting our Arduinos inside this project, just a simple LED circuit like the one we built during our soldering workshop, with more LEDs if you wish. So since the shell is small, you could plan to put the battery pack in its belly and run the wires in through the back of the shell. We can also disregard any interactivity for the sake of this projects’ scope, so the LEDs will just be on when the battery switch is toggled, but you can tell the story of how you want it to be interactive in the future, and mock up it flashing with an animated GIF or video.
Wait! The Otter is SOOO Cute!!
Please do the Otter ahhhhh! XD
Love all three of your ideas Yennie!! Im personally leaning towards the sunflower. I think it’s so innovative and a great way to seek digital detox. I think photographing this in the context of nature with other plants/grass etc would be really fun!
Especially like the second one — the Sea Otter Shell Night Light. The inspiration is super sweet, and it kind of feels like a form of biomimicry. I love how the interaction makes it feel like you’re actually bonding with a sea otter — giving and receiving the glowing shell. It’s calming, a little playful, and really comforting at the same time. The idea of the light turning off when squeezed and coming back after 30 minutes is such a nice touch.