Embedded Files
Inspired by Abdolrahim Tooranian's Hug Me
We designed Blushy to be as simple as possible, technically and visually, so that the experience is immediate. There are no instructions. No voice. Just presence, perception, and projection.
Inspiration and Reflection
Inspiration and Reflection
One of the most thought-provoking ideas I came across is Hug me: a creature that looks soft and inviting but reacts defensively when someone gets too close. At first, it seems warm and safe, but the moment a person reaches out, spikes emerge, making touch impossible. This contrast between appearance and reaction reminded me of the way people navigate intimacy. We want connection, yet invisible barriers like fear, uncertainty, or past experiences often stop us from letting others in.
The inspiration from Anouk Wipprecht’s Spider Dress is particularly interesting because it takes defensive mechanisms and makes them both functional and symbolic. The dress not only protects the wearer but also visually represents how our personal space shifts depending on our internal state.
Expanding the Idea
Expanding the Idea
Building on this concept, I imagined a more interactive version of this creature. Instead of just changing shape, it could use color, sound, and movement to express different emotional states:
Gentle approach → Creature glows warmly and hums softly.
Sudden movement → It stiffens, darkens, and emits a warning vibration.
Prolonged absence → It becomes dull and passive, as if ‘losing interest’.
This would create a more complex interaction, making people think not just about what they do, but also how they approach the creature.
What It Teaches Us
What It Teaches Us
This project isn’t just about designing a reactive object. It’s a thought experiment on human relationships. How do we respond when someone pulls away unexpectedly? Do we respect personal space, or do we take distance as rejection? By interacting with the creature, users would experience an unspoken dialogue, one that mirrors the delicate balance between closeness and boundaries in real life.
This idea fascinates me because it turns a simple interaction into something emotional. A creature without words can still express hesitation, comfort, and fear, making us reflect on the ways we seek or avoid connection. Maybe the key isn’t to force closeness but to move at the right pace, understanding that distance, too, is a part of communication.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse