Manya’s First Arduino Exercises

  1. Blinking LED Circuit

a. Blink (delay = 1000ms)

b. Fast Blink (delay = 200ms)

2. LED Loop

3. Fading LEDs

FadeAmount = 5

FadeAmount = 4

FadeAmount = 3

4. RGB LEDs

5. Digital Inputs (Buttons)

Note: I didn’t remember how to reverse the button action via changing the wiring, so I changed the code instead, but I would like to better understand why the code was reversed due to wiring.

Button: ON -> OFF

Button: OFF -> ON

6. Analog Inputs (potentiometer)

Yiran’s Plush Night Light Proposal

a long-armed tiny monster

A collection of three plush toys: a small leopard keychain, a yellow fluffy doll, and a blue plush monster with a stitched outline, placed on a surface.
Materials and tools for crafting a plush monster. Features a layout including a black-and-white template on textured fabric, scissors, and electronic components.
A person holding a small, blue plush monster with long arms and a simple design, set against a wooden table backdrop with various crafting materials.

Three Ideas

1. Plush Boots Night Light

Illustration of a blue boot designed for a night light, featuring a fleece surface and foam base support, including notes on its design and materials.

Story and Target Users

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

Concept sketches for a whimsical doll-shaped night light design featuring a plush character with an elongated body and playful details, surrounded by images of colorful materials and accessories.

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

Illustration of a lamp with bell-shaped lampshades, a playful figure, a star-shaped lampshade, and a design concept involving plush dolls surrounding light.

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.