Emolleia

Shy Flower

To the little shy flower;
hiding beneath brush "
petals extended
smiles
pink-white colors
for the butterfly she drew

Emolleia is a 3D-printed wearable that dynamically responds to onlookers' facial expressions through motions and light. This project investigates how wearable technology can enhance emotional expression and social interaction, with an attempt to bridge fashion, design and technology.

Drawing inspiration from nature—where animals shift hues and plants transform to communicate or adapt—this project explores the unspoken language of emotions. Emolleia reflects these transformations, enabling users to express emotions through fluid changes in color, shape, and movement.

Three blooming transparent flowers form an accessory that can be worn around the shoulder. With a webcam turned on, the onlooker' s facial expression will be detected and categorized. Each of the three flowers has been equipped with an LED light unit inside to enable color changes, aiding in better expressing the wearer' s emotions.

[ DESIGN SKTCH ]

Three transparent, blooming flowers form a wearable shoulder accessory equipped with a webcam that detects and categorizes onlookers' facial expressions. Each flower contains an LED unit that changes color to better express the wearer’s emotions. The design' s outlook was inspired by the skeleton flower, a unique blossom with transparent petals that turn white when raindrops fall on it. Through this design, I aim to highlight how interaction creates change, just as we live within a delicate web of connections, constantly shaped and reshaped by our interactions with one another.

[ MATERIAL EXPLORATION ]

To achieve natural blooming motions, we experimented with Shape Memory Alloy on paper petals, silicone, and 3D-printed Elastic 50A material. We also tested resistive strings to control motion speed and improve performance dynamics.

[ PROTOTYPE ]

The prototype consists of three main components: flowers, a servo motor casing, and a steel chain to secure the device on the body. Each flower features five 3D-printed petals, made from soft Elastic 50A resin. This material was chosen for its flexibility, enabling smooth bending motions, and its transparency, aligning with the design' s aesthetic vision.

[ USER STUDY 1: ELICITATION SURVEY ]

The study involved 50 participants and assessed personality traits using the I-E scale (27 average, 15 introverted, 8 extroverted). Most participants (69%) responded positively to wearing the device, with one highlighting its potential for mood tracking. Concerns about size and convenience were noted, but social acceptance was promising, with 62% willing to wear it at home and 47% among friends.

Extroverts showed a greater willingness to wear the Emolleia device compared to introverts and participants with average personality traits. The primary use cases involved self-expression (mood, emotions) and notifications (weather, reminders). Most feedback focused on using Emolleia for emotional communication and social interaction, such as monitoring family members’ well-being.

[ USER STUDY 2: CONVERSATIONAL USE CASE ]

This study evaluated Emolleia' s potential to improve conversational efficiency and encourage self-expression. A facial tracking camera was used to recognize seven facial expressions (e.g., happy, sad, surprise) and trigger Emolleia' s motion in three ways: correlated, contrary, or reflecting the onlooker' s expression. Due to limitations from a prior study, only five emotions (happy, sad, surprise, neutral, and disgust) were selected and linked to corresponding motions (a, g, c, d). The device' s color scheme was inspired by Robert Plutchik' s Emotional Wheel, visually representing emotions.

Six new participants (4 female, aged 21-28) was recruited. Most of Participants were from Asia countries. In post-conversation interviews, participants praised Emolleia for encouraging emotional expression and enhancing conversational enjoyment. Some found the device helpful for recognizing others' emotions, while others felt more at ease during interactions. Overall, Emolleia was perceived as a valuable tool for fostering comfort and connection in social settings.