Cassidy’s Website


Creative Project  / Curatorial Project  /  More





  • TBD Tools

  • May 2025

  • 3d printing, 

Tools & Skills
Product Design, 3d Modling, 3d printing, Casting,  Model Making


TBD Tools are a series of reconfigured everyday objects, transforming them into ambiguous forms that exist between the alien and the intimate. While these objects contain recognizable elements, their functions remain undefined, encouraging viewers to imagine their purpose rather than being told explicitly. Through interactive elements, material choices, and semiotic cues, I invite audiences to engage in an open-ended dialogue with the objects, constructing their own interpretations. By embracing estrangement, ambiguity, and alternative functionalities, my practice resists the fast-paced, utilitarian approach to design. Instead, these objects encourage slowness and contemplation. Rather than offering immediate clarity, they prompt curiosity—viewers find themselves speculating on how the objects work and what they might be used for. As they approach and engage, the meaning of the piece continuously unfolds, reshaped by each viewer’s perception and interaction.



















Technology

We used two Arduino Nanos and connected them via Bluetooth to enable wireless communication. The “foot” mechanism is driven by a servo motor, which moves at a small angle each time the controller is toggled.

Inside the remote controller, we managed to fit an Arduino Nano, a 12V battery, a toggle switch, an on/off switch, and an LED indicator. The slots in the upper and lower casing allow the two parts to align and lock together smoothly and securely.
















Porcess

We wanted a general representation of a “foot,” so we designed the main body with an iconic, cartoonish foot shape. To create the leg, we measured the average lower leg length and constructed it using a paper roller. The top part is connected to a servo motor. We minimised the infill of the "foot" to make it lighter, ensuring that the large suction cup remains stable while the bottom part moves back and forth. We also decreased the moving angle for better control.

We developed multiple iterations of controller and tested prototypes using cardboard and 3D printing. Our goal was to design a user-friendly, intuitive controller that connected with the main device in terms of shape, color, and material. So we ended up chose a rounded controller that shares the same rounded angles the cartoonish style as the "foot". We also added a touch of green to both the device and the controller to create a sense of friendliness and helpfulness, as well as liveliness and engagement.