Weekly Assignment 4

In your blog, post about the species in nature that inspired you, along with any additional sources of inspiration. Explain the two stages of the physical transformation you chose and how this reflected in your project. Include a short video performing with your wearable, where we clearly see how it transforms from one stage to another. Finally, discuss the concept of your wearable and how it relates to your understanding of identity and self-expression through clothing. Reflect on how your idea connects with themes from the documentary Paris is Burning or the insights you gained from last week’s assigned readings.

Inspiration

The species I choose is called the Sanderia malayensis (a kind of jellyfish). The two things that fascinate me most about the jellyfish are, first, the rhythmic motion of its bell and tentacles as they move underwater, and second, the toxicity hidden beneath its elegance.

Its body expands and contracts gracefully as it glides through the water, and its tentacles flow in unpredictable patterns with the subtle movements of the sea. This natural rhythm of “breathing with the ocean” reminds me of the human body’s own continuous cycles — inhalation and exhalation, stillness and motion. This is a sense of rhythm that I would use as inspiration.

Sanderia malayensis is like a glass flower blooming in the water. Its tentacles that can extend up to two meters long, shimmering with a faint glow as they drift in the water. But beneath this beauty lies a hidden trap for prey. Along its long tentacles are clusters of white stinging cells, ready to strike. Any creature drawn too close will be captured and poisoned. This harpness beneath gentleness is the second characteristic.

Two Stages of Transformation

Breathing & Color Change

My wearable design is a headpiece. While browsing online, I saw a type of sensor that can detect a person’s pulse or breath. As the wearer inhales and exhales, the sensor can send different values to Arduino, and by using these changing values, a transformation can be generated. I plan to place this component inside the translucent umbrella-like part of the jellyfish, and use code to make LED lights change color according to the wearer’s breathing rhythm. This creates a visualization of breathing, which is a rhythmic beauty similar to the jellyfish’s gentle expansion and contraction in the sea.

Movement of Tentacles

I really like the way a jellyfish’s tentacles move as it swims through the water. Their motion is irregular and beautiful, but they are also dangerous because the tentacles are the jellyfish’s way of hunting. Therefore, I plan to use lightweight threads to simulate these tentacles and string small sequins along them. When the wearer moves, the threads will sway gracefully, capturing the beauty of the tentacles in motion. However, if someone tries to touch them, they will be slightly pricked by the threads.

Concept & Self Expression

My wearable explores one of the most natural yet mysterious human instincts — breathing. Without conscious awareness, our bodies are constantly performing this rhythmic movement. The subtle rise and fall of the chest is a motion essential for life, yet almost invisible. Similarly, the Sanderia malayensis expands and contracts its body underwater, which represents both its way of breathing and its way of moving. By imitating the jellyfish’s body rhythm, I want to visualize the act of breathing, revealing the rhythm of life and transforming the way humans interact with their surroundings.

At the same time, I also want to express the sense of boundaries in human relationships through my wearable. The jellyfish’s tentacles are lined with stingers and venom. If another creature gets too close, it may result in harm. This mirrors human interaction: when personal boundaries are crossed, it can cause emotional or even physical discomfort for both sides. Through this wearable, the wearer can define their own “safe social distance.” If someone attempts to touch the “tentacles,” representing personal boundaries, they will experience a small form of “pain,” while the wearer becomes more alert.

Reflection

I think my concept of wearable reflects my reading response last week on wearable techniques. "I think the most appealing aspect of wearable technology is its ability to change perception and alter the way people interact with the world." This is what I'm thinking of while I was designing this wearable, which is to change the way how human beings behave and interact with the world around them. Through this breathing transformation, the wearable allows the wearer to see and feel their own physiological rhythm. Also, WT can transcend traditional notions of fashion and identity. Instead of emphasizing gender or social categories, WT often focuses on the individual’s emotional state and inner experience. This is what I'm trying to achieve through my wearable. My design does not aim to beautify or decorate the body but to express the invisible boundary between the self and others and the distance that defines personal space.

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