Outcome & Reflection
The finished Heartbeat Lamps combine handcrafted forms with responsive lighting to create a personal and interactive experience. The smooth, handheld pebble provides a simple way to share a heartbeat, while the larger companion lamp translates the signal into a gentle pulse of light.
The project provided valuable experience in combining traditional making techniques with electronics and digital fabrication. Developing the physical forms alongside the interactive system highlighted the importance of considering technical requirements, usability and material choices together throughout the design process.
Working collaboratively also strengthened my experience in shared problem-solving, prototyping and refining ideas through testing. The project demonstrated how thoughtful integration of technology can create products that are both functional and emotionally engaging.
Skills Used
- Wood turning
- Glass blowing
- Digital fabrication (laser cutting, CNC)
- Sensor-based interaction design
- Arduino programming and electronics
- Collaborative prototyping
- User experience & emotional interaction mapping