Physical Product Design
SMACK – inspired by the phenakistoscope
"Yoyo" has been a tradition at PHOENIX since 1987—a week-long offboarding project where interns put their skills to the test. Inspired by the vinyl industry’s use of the phenakistoscope and the arcade games, I created SMACK, a project designed to spark joy through interaction.
Time
Summer 2024
Skill
Woodwork
Mechatronic
Lighting Design
01
Showcase
To interact with Smack, players must hit the squishable with enough force to trigger the winning-state lighting. Once activated, the motor spins at full speed, bringing the animation to life.
02
Ideate
Given just a week to create and present, I approached the process from two angles: first, interpreting the 3 guiding keywords, and second, selecting a form or medium that was worth dedicating my time to. By merging these intentions, I shaped the final outcome.
The keywords that informed my project's development are:
Sports
&
Yoyo
• is the thing that orbit around
• is a form of balance
• is the toy that helped me make • friends and cheered me up
&
Interest
topic I hope to explore in one week & reflect my learning at PHOENIX
03
Define
By defining my motivation and goals, I decide to make something that can:
interesting enough for me to explore
The Phenakistoscope has intrigued me, especially its connection to the vinyl industry. I want to explore its mechanism—the foundation of modern motion pictures—and uncover new ways to reinterpret its movement and visual storytelling.
cheer people up
Agency work often comes with intense workloads and the weight of client expectations. My project seeks to counterbalance these pressures, offering a moment of lightness and joy.
be enjoyable
Something playful, even in an office setting.
reflect my learning at PHOENIX
Xiaomi speaker's lighting prototype for PHOENIX's marketing narrative
AIGC graphics with UI design to quickly visualize the concept
04
Process
By defining my motivation and goals, I decide to make something that can:
01.trial
I used a screwdriver to test if different graphic loops on the same disc would be visible to the human eye at the same orbiting speed
My selfies modified by AI tools, then animated into GIF sequence by PIKA
02. prototype
I developed a minimal viable prototype using a motor and FSR sensor to ensure the disc rotated fast enough for the animation to be visible
Next, I did some woodworking for the exterior design
03. adjustment
Tested the effect of different lighting designs on the box cover
Adjusted the motor speed for different disc sizes to achieve optimal animation
05
Component
Appreciate the Scroll