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Morpholuminescence

Developed by students from “An Inconvenient Studio”, MorphoLuminescence utilizes an understanding of fashion photography to find its form and provide optimized lighting, enhancing the experience of trying on clothing.  A three-point lighting set up is commonly used by fashion photographers, arranging a bright key light above eye level, in combination with softer fill and back lighting to create subtle shadows and a three dimensional effect.

Comprised of custom laser-cut “petals”, “stems”, and hinges, Morpholuminescence was pre-assembled for testing prior to shipping in pieces to the SPOT ON SCHOOLS exhibition in Florence, Italy. MorphoLuminescence provides variably tuned hue and light intensity levels in order to affect the fitting room experience and adapts its form to accommodate changes in the space.  In its idle state the dimly lit surface of petals hangs free, signaling to consumers that it is ready for use.  Through simple infrared sensors, human presence and variations in the space are analyzed, initiating its state of change.  Differences in height are read by the sensors and interpreted by two Arduino microprocessors which drive servo-motors, in order to actuate the surface.  MorphoLuminescence amplifies the experience of the individual by expanding and contracting, recognizing when a user is bending over or reaching up to remove clothing, only arriving at its state of pose when the consumer is ready.  In this final state, each panel of the surface is backlit with an individual light source. Relative to the ratios of the three-point lighting set up, more illumination occurs where the density of panels increases.  MorphoLuminescence focuses on efficient, optimized lighting for the individual, as well as physically amplifying the experience of change in a fitting room.

Morpholuminescence will be shown at the BEYOND MEDIA festival in Florence, Italy in July.

Team:
Elizabeth Boone
Eric Brockmeyer
Adam Buente
Kyle Perry

Faculty:
Mahesh Senagala
Joshua Vermillion

Partners:
The Morpholuminescence project was made possible by the generosity of the following industry partners:
Buente|Buente Architects, Capstone Real Estate, LHI Lighting Sales, Ridout Plastics, The Estopinal Group, and VPS Architecture

 

 


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  1. Liam Morrow

    Could you guys possibly elaborate on how the mechanics of how the project works? I’m currently a student and working on something similar. I’m curious as to how you managed to shrink the amount of motors you used to only use 4 steppers instead of a motor per piece.

    thanks,
    Liam

    22 May 2010 @ 22:04

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i.M.A.D.E INFO
i.M.A.D.E acts as a catalyst of digital design and fabrication techniques for both industry and education related to architecture and allied arts. Through immersive projects deploying interdisciplinary, applied design and fabrication research, the institute is a conduit between students, design professionals, and the manufacturing sector.
As an institute within Ball State University, i.M.A.D.E supports curricular components offering expertise with state-of -the-art software and devices using simulation, analysis, fabrication, and a rigorous examination of the craft inherent in digital design and production. With strategic industry partners, students test knowledge through team-based projects dealing with the translation of bits into atoms, shifting scales between models, prototypes, 1:1 construction, and the development of solutions to real problems by managing a complex set of design constraints.