Hardware Project

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Modifying a Device

For my hardware project, I chose to modify an existing device. I chose to do this by adding a layer of fiction to the device. Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby describe how “desire leads to a subversion of the environment creating an opportunity to reconfigure it to suit our 'illegitamate' needs, establishing new and unofficial narratives” in their excerpt from Design Noir: The Secret Life of Electronic Objects. It is this desire that in adding a layer of fiction to a device, a new object is created to suit my personal needs.

Growing up in the Bay Area, I was accustomed to heavy rainfall and the constant need for an umbrella. The dreary skies during the rain would be off-putting and made me crave the sunshine and spring flowers. Because of this, I came up with the idea to make it seem like spring time even when I'm in the rain. I modified an umbrella by changing the interior to a scenic view under blooming cherry blossoms. To alter my view of the rain with this umbrella, all I would have to do is look up in order to see the branches of cherry blossoms as if I was actually standing under them.