What my costume is:
For this project, I chose to cosplay Karen, the electronic wife of Plankton from SpongeBob SquarePants.
I mainly focused on recreating Karen’s head—the computer screen, and turned it into a handheld interactive device.
To complete the look, I paired it with a silver outfit that enhances the metallic, robotic feel of the character.
Why I made it:
I grew up watching SpongeBob SquarePants, and Karen has always been one of my favorite characters.
Cosplaying an intelligent computer felt both funny and fascinating—it’s not just a character, but also a machine with a personality.
Another reason I wanted to make this costume is the interactive potential: I can design multiple facial expressions and animations for the screen and switch between them during the Halloween parade, which makes the performance dynamic and playful.
How it is to wear it:
Since the device is handheld, I carried it throughout the parade.
The grip felt quite comfortable and the overall weight was manageable.
It was fun to hold and show to others, although I did notice that the screen tended to tilt slightly forward when posing for photos—something I’ll try to adjust in the future.
What I learned in the process:
This project taught me a lot—from building circuits based on my own design, to modifying Arduino code and making my idea come to life through interactive electronics.
It was a great opportunity to overcome my fear of circuitry and programming.
Now I feel much more confident about creating interactive and responsive objects in future design projects.
What I would do differently:
If I had more time, I would add more animated expressions to the screen.
Right now, Karen only has three facial states, but adding more—like a dramatic shift from a happy face to an angry red one, then transitioning into moving lines—could create a small visual “storyline.”
That would make the character’s expression and behavior even more alive and theatrical.
List (with links) of materials and parts used
1️⃣ BTF-LIGHTING WS2812B 16×16 RGB LED Matrix Panels (2 packs)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XWQTZZN?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1 (Wini Recomand)
2️⃣ Arduino Gemma Microcontroller Board
3️⃣ Push Button Switch
4️⃣ Black Translucent Acrylic Sheet (VFL)+ Black Silicone Sealant（Borrowed from Wini）
5️⃣ Foam Board
6️⃣ Silver Metallic Cardstock Paper （Bought from Blick)
7️⃣ Electrical Wires for Soldering
8️⃣ Portable Power Bank
Circuit diagram
Arduino code
In-progress images/sketches
🙏 Special Thanks
Huge thanks to Wini — honestly, I couldn’t have even started this project without her. She helped me with everything — from figuring out the circuit wiring to writing and debugging the Arduino code. She was super patient and always there when I got stuck. I’m so, so grateful for all her help.
And also to Jay, who gave me tons of guidance with the circuit setup — your advice really made things a lot smoother.
Thank you both so much!