Purpose: The ARCANA Capsule was born from a personal habit developed over the last two years: drawing a daily tarot card to guide my decisions. In our digital age, while mobile apps make tarot accessible, they often lack the soul and tactile connection of a physical ritual.My goal was to design a “Digital Amulet”—a wearable device that bridges the gap between digital convenience (AI interpretation) and physical ceremony (the act of drawing a card).
Form & Function:Inspired by blind-box culture and the Y2K “Magical Girl” aesthetic, the device takes the form of a stylized trophy cup.
The Interaction: The user presses the metallic “wing” on the right side of the device.
The Feedback: This physical action triggers the LED matrix to display the drawn card’s symbol (e.g., The Star, The Sun) while simultaneously sending data via Bluetooth to a mobile interface for a detailed AI reading.
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.
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.
I still prefer my first idea — cosplaying as Plankton’s electronic wife, Karen, from SpongeBob SquarePants. Although my second idea, the angel wings, is visually beautiful, it doesn’t feel as conceptually interesting. However, wearing a large “computer” on my head during the Halloween parade would not be safe. So I’m thinking about transforming the computer into a handheld screen or a portable box, while dressing myself in a mechanical or cyber-inspired outfit.
This way, I can ensure safety during the parade, and when taking photos, I can lift the screen up to my face to recreate Karen’s look — it would still be visually striking and conceptually playful.
1.Structure & Function
The device functions as a portable electronic screen that displays animated graphics and patterns. A button allows the user to switch between multiple display modes (heartbeat line, smile, or flat signal), recreating the reactive visual behavior of Karen from SpongeBob SquarePants.
2.Materials
Main Board：Use an Arduino UNO as the main control board to manage lighting and button interactions.
Display Module：BTF-LIGHTING WS2812B IC RGB 5050SMD Pure Gold Individual Addressable LED Strip 16.4FT 300LED 60Pixel/m Flexible Full Color IP30 DC5V for DIY Chasing Color Project
Light Source：Apply green LEDs or RGB lights (green channel only) to recreate Karen’s iconic electronic green glow.
Button：Add a small push button to switch between different facial expressions or animation modes.
Karen, the sentient computer wife of Plankton in SpongeBob SquarePants
I plan to use foam or cardboard as the main material for the computer head frame, since it is lightweight, easy to cut and shape, making it convenient to build and wear.
For the display screen, I designed a two-layer structure:
Outer layer: made of black translucent acrylic, creating a realistic screen texture and reflective surface.
Inner layer: made of clear acrylic, used to mount and secure the light bulbs, ensuring stable and even illumination.
2. Wearable biblically accurate angel wings
I plan to purchase ready-made feather wings and combine several of them into a single larger structure to form the main wearable piece.
In the next step, I will 3D print several eye-shaped covers to serve as lampshades and attach them to the wings.
After that, I will install the light bulbs and wiring, allowing each “eye” to blink and emit light.
Finally, the piece will be worn on the back, with each eye-shaped light continuously blinking and shifting in color.
The inspiration for this work comes from the culture of large designer toy collectibles. Many people buy oversized toys to place in their homes, sometimes even dressing them up with clothes or accessories. I find this behavior fascinating, so I designed a plush night light with the same collectible toy aesthetic.
This night light is designed for myself, as my apartment bedroom is currently missing a stylish, Y2K-inspired decorative lamp. I’ve been carefully curating the style of my room, aiming for a Bauhaus or millennial aesthetic. However, since I don’t have much furniture, I hope this night light can bring a sense of fashion and personality into the space.
Personally, I love collecting clothes, shoes, and bags, and I often feel that some shoes look beautiful enough to serve as decorative objects even when they’re not being worn. Inspired by this idea, I decided to design a Boots Night Light that can act both as a functional lamp and a stylish décor piece.
The target users for this design are teenagers and young adults, around 16–24 years old, who share an interest in fashion, Y2K aesthetics, and trendy room decoration.
Parts and Materials
Fabric: Fleece (polar fleece) or sherpa fabric to create a soft, plush texture.
Shoe Base: Foam material to provide firm support, covered with fleece fabric.
Lighting Components: Two to three LED light beads placed inside the boot.
Structure: A zipper opening in the sole for easy replacement of batteries or light components.
2. Fluffy Monster Night Light
Story and Target Users
The inspiration for this Fluffy Monster Night Light comes from large collectible designer toys. Many people purchase such large toys to display on the floor of their homes, and sometimes even dress them up with clothes or add small accessories. I find this behavior fascinating, so I took inspiration from the collectible toy aesthetic to design my own long-haired monster night light.
In my design, the monster’s neck is elongated and transformed into the lampshade. The lampshade is constructed from colorful elastic mesh, giving it both a playful and eye-catching look.
The target users are toy collectors and trend-conscious individuals who are passionate about designer toys and collectible culture, and who enjoy integrating playful, fashion-inspired objects into their living spaces.
Parts and Materials
Head & Body: Plush long-pile fabric filled with cotton stuffing to form the monster’s head and seated body.
Structural Support: Rigid foam may be added inside the body to enhance stability.
Lampshade (Neck Extension): Primarily made from elastic plastic mesh supported by a wire frame. If elastic mesh is unavailable, nylon modeling mesh will be considered as an alternative.
Light Source: Either LED string lights or a light pole will be placed inside as the internal light source.
Power Supply: A longer power cord will be used since the design is intended to function as a floor lamp.
3. Doll Circle Night Lamp
Story and Target Users
For my final night light sketch, I had many different ideas and struggled to decide on one. Eventually, I chose to design a ring-shaped night light made up of multiple plush dolls. I was inspired by the idea that light seeping through the gaps between the dolls would create a unique and playful effect.
The target users are people who enjoy collecting plush toys like Jellycat or those who appreciate handcrafted, artisanal products. They are drawn to objects that combine warmth, personality, and a touch of whimsy in their living spaces.
Parts and Materials
Lampshade Core: A fully enclosed cylindrical lampshade inside the plush ring, designed to soften the light.
Fabric: Nylon fabric for the inner shade, chosen for its strong light transmission and easy-to-clean properties.
Frame: A supporting iron frame to maintain the cylindrical shape.
Outer Layer: Multiple plush dolls arranged in a circular form around the inner lampshade, allowing light to filter through the gaps.
step 1–Locate the SIM-card slot and insert a small flat-head screwdriver into the SIM-card notch. Carefully pry the rear cover away in small, controlled increments until it detaches.
step 2–Using a precision screwdriver, unscrew the two screws securing the battery to the mainboard. Carefully peel away the insulating tape on top of the battery, then lift and remove the battery from the housing.
step 3–Peel off the conductive fabric tape covering the flex cable, and pull out the flex cable from both ends of the connectors.
step 4–Use a small screwdriver to remove the screws securing the speaker module to the motherboard, unplug the soldered wires from the connector on the motherboard, and take out the speaker module.
step 5–Use a small screwdriver to remove the remaining three screws on the motherboard, unplug the connector cable between the motherboard and the antenna module, and take out the motherboard.
step 6–Remove the antenna module.
step 7–Use a heat gun to warm the edges of the screen and separate the screen from the frame, then remove the volume and power button assemblies.
step 8–Use a small screwdriver to unscrew the screws at the charging port and remove the charging port.
Overview
Materials Used for Each Component
Back Cover And Mid Frame
The back cover and mid frame of the Verizon Ellipsis 8 tablet are primarily made of plastic. The back cover features a plastic shell designed with ease of disassembly and repair in mind. The mid frame is also made of plastic, reinforced with metal brackets and screws to ensure structural stability.
2. Screen Assembly
The screen assembly of the Verizon Ellipsis 8 is made of multiple materials to ensure its functionality and durability. The surface consists of a reinforced glass panel, such as Corning Gorilla Glass, which provides scratch and impact resistance. The touch layer uses a transparent conductive material, such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), to sense touch input. The LCD display provides image output and works together with a backlight. The midframe is usually made of plastic or aluminum alloy to support and secure the screen assembly. Additionally, the flex cable uses flexible printed circuit (FPC) technology to connect the touch screen to the motherboard, transmitting touch signals and display data.
3. Motherboard And SoC Area
The motherboard and SoC area of the Verizon Ellipsis 8 consist of the PCB (FR4) for support and connections, silicon chips in plastic packages soldered via BGA, thermal materials like paste, copper, or aluminum, plastic and metal connectors, and passive components made of ceramic, metal, or electrolytic materials. These materials ensure mechanical strength, electrical performance, and heat management.
4. Battery and Flex Cables
The Verizon Ellipsis 8 uses a Li-Po soft-pack battery with aluminum-plastic film, lithium-ion electrolyte, copper, and aluminum foils for lightweight, high-density power. Its casing and pads are plastic and foam or silicone for shock and insulation. Flex cables (FPC) made of polyimide or polyester with copper connect the screen, buttons, and camera to the motherboard, with plastic and metal contacts ensuring reliable signal transmission.
Manufacturing and Assembly
The Verizon Ellipsis 8 is made using reinforced glass, multi-layer PCB, BGA chip packaging, soft-pack batteries, and injection-molded or die-cast chassis. The screen is laminated to the midframe, chips and components are surface-mounted and BGA-soldered, and thermal materials are applied to the SoC. Batteries and flex cables are installed and secured with pads, screws, and connectors. The final assembly is fixed with clips and adhesive, then tested for functionality, ensuring precision, reliability, and lightweight design.
Tools Used for Disassembly
1. Small Phillips screwdriver
2. flathead screwdriver
3. heat gun
Two Areas of Interest
For me, the first thing I noticed about this tablet is its unique screen. The screen is surrounded by a midframe, which makes it feel like a very durable tablet, as it doesn’t seem likely to break easily if dropped. This is a point that interests me because it looks different from a typical iPad and seems well-suited for outdoor activities. During the disassembly process, I also found that the screen is relatively easy to remove, which suggests that the design may have considered replacement, allowing the tablet to have a longer lifespan.
The second aspect is its clean internal layout, with clearly defined module sections and a compact arrangement of the motherboard and screen. Each component is very easy to remove, and the entire assembly is secured with only ten screws. I think this is a very clever choice, as it makes the tablet relatively easy to disassemble with a clear removal path, facilitating replacements. This is also a great way to extend the lifespan of the device, while keeping the body lightweight and slim.
I did my undergraduate studies in Product Design in China, where I focused on projects related to sustainability, user experience, and how design can respond to social and environmental issues.
I’m really excited about this course because I’ve always wanted to explore more about computer science and coding. I think combining technical skills with design can open up new ways of solving problems and creating meaningful experiences.
Outside of school, I love traveling and photography. I enjoy capturing natural landscapes and cultural moments during my trips, and those experiences often inspire my creative work.
Looking forward to learning with all of you and sharing ideas along the way!
