this project originated from a class by omar sosa-tzec (phd), based on his thesis that delight is essential in design. the open-ended prompt led me to begin by exploring the concept as it relates to my experiences.

WHAT DOES DELIGHT MEAN TO ME?

i realized after reflecting that almost everyone has a joyful childhood memory of blowing on a dandelion - it's a universally delightful experience.

i designed the lamp to focus on the interaction of blowing on a dandelion, rather than just its form. the idea was to turn the lamp on and off by blowing on it.

i started in cad, aiming for the form to reference the dandelion as an abstraction, not a direct copy. the form evolved as i iterated.

i fabricated the base using high-density foam on the lathe and 3d printed the outer mesh form in resin.

i wired it to work with an arduino nano and a microphone - when the microphone detects a certain output indicating someone blowing, the lights toggle on or off.

i designed the packaging to include subtle surprises that don’t overshadow the product. i used the uv printer to add small glossy details.

the final product captures the joyful experience of blowing on a dandelion and is now a functional piece in my home.

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