Combining biomimicry and user-centered design to create a tangible and multisensory, interactive experience.
Hive
Opportunity
Biomimicry (imitating biological designs) offers strategies to help solve complex human design problems, and offers a greater appreciation and understanding of the natural world. Velcro, running shoes, aircraft, are just of some of the example of how borrowing from nature can aid in designing human-centric products.
Pairing biomimicry with user-centric design, I created Hive, an interactive installation inspired by the biological phenomenon of honeybees. Hive tests this idea of borrowing-from-nature in the field of interaction design in physical space.
A full conceptual background can be found here.
Studio
Rockerbie Designs
UX Research
Interaction Design
Product Design
Prototyping
Embedded Development (Arduino)
3D Modelling
Fabricator
Roles
Team
Brent Coulton
Niall Donaghy
Joshua Gordon
Mary-Anne McTrowe
Kevin Sehn
Fabrication
Installation
Tyler Heaton
Clifford Rockerbie
Digital Marketing
Research - 2 Mo. (Oct 2017 - Nov 2018)
Design / Development - 5 Mo. (Dec - Apr 2018)
Fabrication - 2 Mo. (Apr - Jun 2018)
Timeline
Concept
Beekeeping is a hobby that has allowed me to get up close and understand the traits and behavior’s honeybees exhibit. Using an agile design / dev process, I explored 3 of the most notable characteristics of honeybees to conceptualize the interactivity and visual design of Hive…
Touch
Sight
Sound
Design
I modelled various hexagonal structures that are easy to assemble using laser-cut wood components. The edges of these components have finger joints that allow them to slot together. Usability testing the tactility of each iteration was used to determine an ideal shape and size of structure, or “honeycomb”. This research also created an understand of how honeycombs could entice users to interact with them and what type of interactions are possible.
Along with honeycombs being stackable thanks to their shape, surface adherence was also incorporated to expand Hive’s abilities in physical space.
Honeycombs were modelled in 3D using Rhino/Grasshopper, then translated into 2D outlines for laser cutting.
Iteration Of Shapes
Development
Arduinos were used as a proof of concept for driving the code and sensors. An accelerometer calculates the rotation of a honeycomb, fading RGB LEDs through the colour spectrum. Touch sensors along the outer faces detects and calculates the number of contact points there are with other honeycombs, emitting a unique sound based on that value.
Electronics Layout
Installation/Exhibition
Hive was first installed and exhibited through June, 2018 at the Penny Gallery in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Subsequent installations included Club Didi Nightclub, the 2019 Crossing Boundaries Symposium, and the 2019 SOLAR Awards at Lethbridge Subaru.
Take Aways
While Hive succeeded in creating a user-driven, sensorial experience, much was learned about how it’s immersion was dictated by the number of guests at it’s exhibit. Too few (2 or less) and too many (more than 6) caused the interaction between users and honeycombs to significantly drop off. A performative element existed where users enjoyed attracting the attention of other patrons with their arrangements of honeycombs; this act would be none-existent or cumbersome in small or large groups.
Awards
Hive was selected for the Lethbridge Subaru S.O.L.A.R. Award - 2019, Best Physical Work.
