2025

This was my final project for DES 191B: Speculative Design, where I explored the intersection of technology, emotional wellness, and the natural environment. Set in a near-future world where emotional connection is rare, Aloe imagines a responsive, bioengineered plant that hums, glows, and moves to form a quiet emotional bond with its owner.
I created a story about Leo, a businessman whose lonely life slowly changes through Aloe’s gentle reactions. I researched responsive technologies like MIT’s Elowan, explored different design ideas, and built a world that shows his emotional distance. Aloe’s final design is plant-like, with a friendly face and soft sounds inspired by EVE from WALL·E.
The final outcome was a frame-by-frame animation created in Procreate and edited in iMovie, with original sound design to give Aloe a distinct emotional “voice.” This project strengthened my skills in speculative thinking, narrative storytelling, and blending visual and audio design to evoke emotion. This was a 70-point project, and I scored 69.

Skills — Speculative Design, Narrative World-Building, Character & Environment Design, Frame-by-Frame Animation, Sound Design, Illustration, Emotional Storytelling