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Graduates
Yuna Kim
BS in Interaction Design — Interaction DesignCourse:
Physical Computing
Faculty:
Casey Anderson
Term:
2025 Fall
Hold and Release
This Project is an interactive typography experience that transforms a written message into three emotional stages, Hold, Release, and Remember. Using a flex sensor as a subtle physical input, the system captures the moment the user “lets go,” triggering responsive p5.js animations that shift from tension to dispersion to reflection. The project explores the act of holding onto a thought and the emotional transition that happens when we finally decide to release it.
Process:
I began by exploring how physical gestures—such as holding, bending, or letting go—could be translated into emotional states. Using a flex sensor connected to an arduino, I prototyped a simple interaction that detects pressure changes and sends data to a p5.js sketch. I designed each stage using animated typography generated with textToPoints(), experimenting with timing, spacing, and motion to communicate shifting emotional states. Through iterative testing and visual refinement, the experience evolved into a minimal yet expressive interaction that blends physical input with poetic digital behavior.
Learning Outcomes:
Through this project, I learned how to connect physical computing inputs to expressive digital outputs, strengthening my understanding of sensor calibration, serial communication, and interactive p5.js animations. I also deepened my ability to translate abstract emotional ideas into visual motion, refining timing, typography, and transitions to evoke subtle feelings. The project helped me better understand how minimal physical gestures can create meaningful, introspective interactive experiences.
Project Website: