Anthropological Industrial Designer
Strategic, Innovative, & Futuristic Problem-Solver
Humanity-Centered & Versatile Fabricator
Experiencing Bioluminescence I
Problem
People struggle to visualize / imagine what the future might be / look like. What would it be like if we used bioluminescent plants, a biotechnology currently in development, to light an interior space? This project visualizes indoor evening lighting using forecasted bioluminescent potted plants. I explored bringing design fiction to life; the objective was an immersive wonder to motivate people to think about the future they want to create and inhabit.
This piece was designed specifically for the 4th Volume of the 1 Hour Party, an exclusive, invite-only holistic networking event for local young creatives, scientists, and movers and shakers.
This project also has two resulting outcomes:
1) The biofuturism, design fiction version, where the science of naturally bioluminescent plants is real, and the piece is lit by biology and not electronics
2) The version seen here, possible to be created in our current reality, where I use LEDs to mimic natural bioluminescence
Target User:
Given the project's two possible outcomes:
1) Target user would be anyone lighting an indoor space in the evening / in the absence of sunlight and wanting to eliminate the presence of artificial light sources
2) Target user possesses at least one of the following needs:
- Interior design style that involves natural elements, but wants to maintain cutting-edge technology and modern amenties
- Wants to get as close to lighting their space with plants as currently technologically possible
- Wants an experiential understanding of lighting our indoor spaces with nature
Venue & Event Research
Visual Inspiration & Design Constraints
Art Deco Fan & Leaf Motifs (present in Hue Boston's decor)
Bioluminescence for evening lighting (as shown in James Cameron's Avatar films)
The Experience of being surrounded by giant plants in the Tropics
Concept Development
Design Constraints
- Immersive
- Suited to an evening event, indoors
- Aesthetic design suits the interior of Hue Boston
- Interactive
- Easy Installation, easy take down
- Able to withstand poking, prodding, pulling, etc
- Able to be produced in 2 weeks (while working full time)
- Minimal new materials purchased
- Explores theme of bioluminescence in human spaces
Final Design
Fabrication
Final Product
Medium - Dynamic, Poseable Interactive Sculpture
Materiality - Raffia, bronze wire*, aluminum wire, LED strips*, copper pipe, & wood, on a turntable*
* Indicates purchased for this project
Dimensions -
Base: 13" x 13"
Max height: 4ft
Max General diameter - ~4ft
Next Steps
- Versions featuring different species of plants - leafy ones, grasses, mosses, trailing plants, etc.
- A version that lights up when minimum UV threshold is reached, to mimic a plant turning on as the sun went down (as well as / instead of a manual switch)
- Control over the light colors? Over the brightness?
- A version that can be installed as a fixture - pendant, chandelier, sconce