Module 3 Formstorming

Weekly Activity Template

Tina Ye

Project 3

Module 3

1. How did you engage with the project theme?
In Activity 1 and 2, I started exploring how to connect digital visuals with physical interaction using Makey Makey. I followed the project theme by trying different ways to make simple materials like graphite pencil marks, tinfoil, and copper tape react with a controller I built myself. These activities helped me think about how people can touch real objects and see something change on a screen, which is what “Design for Living Systems” is about—mixing physical actions with digital feedback in creative ways.

2. What was successful?
During Activity 1, I was able to connect my Makey Makey to my laptop and test some code I wrote for visual effects. It worked really well, and I was happy to see that the controller could trigger the effects I made. In Activity 2, I tried using different materials to make simple buttons for the controller, and they all worked! Each one triggered a different effect, which made me feel excited to build more and push the design further. These successful tests gave me a strong base for the final project.

3. What was challenging?
One of the hard parts in these activities was figuring out which materials worked best with the Makey Makey. Some materials were hard to connect or weren’t very sensitive to touch. It also took time to make sure that each material worked properly and gave the right signal when touched. Another challenge was setting everything up so it looked neat and felt easy to use. Even though these steps were small, they needed a lot of trial and error.

4. How did you explore the lecture content?
I used the lecture ideas to guide what I made in Activity 1 and 2. We learned about interactive media and combining the physical world with digital feedback, so I started by testing simple interactions that followed this idea. I also watched tutorials and examples of Makey Makey projects shared in class, and that helped me figure out how to make my materials respond to touch. These early steps helped me understand how to build real interactions using both physical design and code.

5. How does this website summarize your work go beyond activities 1 & 2?
The website goes beyond Activity 1 and 2 because it shows the final result of all my experiments and design thinking. While those activities were more about testing small pieces—like trying out materials and checking if Makey Makey worked—the website brings it all together into one big experience. It has a working game, fun visual effects, and a handmade controller that all connect together. The website is the final version of everything I was testing before, but now it’s complete and ready to be used by others.

Project 3

Final Project 3 Design

1. How did you engage with the project theme?
I connected with the theme of Design for Living Systems by creating a game that brings together physical objects and digital visuals. I used Makey Makey to turn simple materials like tinfoil, copper tape, and fabric into real game controls. By doing this, I made a version of Tetris that people can play not just with a keyboard, but by actually touching parts of the controller they can hold and feel. This made the game more fun and interactive, showing how digital and physical designs can work together.

2. What was successful?
One thing that worked really well was the Tetris game itself. I was able to use p5.js to make a version of the game that looks simple but is fun to play. When a player clears a line, flowers appear on the screen as a reward, which adds a soft and happy feeling to the game. The Makey Makey controller I built also worked—people could use it to play the game, and it gave them a new way to interact. I was happy that the gamepad, visual effects, and the code all came together in the end.

3. What was challenging?
Making the analog stick for the Makey Makey controller was really hard. I tried different materials to build it, but some didn’t work well, or they didn’t feel nice to touch. It took a lot of time and testing to make something that worked okay. I also had trouble with the code—some ideas like adding celebration animations or making a notice board didn’t turn out the way I hoped. I tried different ways, but they still didn’t work, so I had to find other solutions. Even though these parts were difficult, I learned a lot from trying.

4. How did you explore the lecture content?
I used what I learned from the lectures to help build my project. I watched example videos and looked at other designs that used Makey Makey. This helped me come up with ideas and understand how to connect physical inputs with digital effects. The lessons also helped me write the code and plan the user experience, like deciding what should happen when someone touches a button or clears a line. I learned how to make the design feel smooth and creative by using what we talked about in class.

5. How does this website summarize your work go beyond activities 1 & 2?
The website shows the full game and final design, which is a lot more than what I did in the first two activities. In those earlier steps, I was just trying out ideas, testing materials, and learning how to connect them to the Makey Makey. But the website puts everything together—it has the working game, the flower effects, the controller design, and the instructions for users. It’s no longer just a test—it’s a full experience that people can try and enjoy, and it shows all the work I’ve done from start to finish.