where B&W illustrations bloom into color
Primary Goal:
Create a hand-operated, plastic-engineered book where grayscale illustrations transform into full color via some mechanism. A character (e.g., a dog, child, or fairy) moves in sync with the color change, creating the illusion of "bringing life" to the story. No electronics or batteries — only plastic film, and mechanical elements (e.g., sliders, flaps, or rotating discs).
Industry/Client: Private children’s book publisher (specializing in interactive storytelling).
Industry/Client: Private children’s book publisher (specializing in interactive storytelling).
Proposed Mechanism:
A sandwiched gradient transparency film (white-to-clear) that slides between B&W and color layers, seamlessly revealing vibrancy. Character and gradient film loop linked to a single pull-tab, ensuring smooth, simultaneous movement.
• Pulling a tab horizontally transforms black-and-white illustrations into full color
• A central character moves in sync with the color transition, creating the illusion of "painting" the world as they travel.
The same tab that triggers the color change also rotates the wheel to make the character:
•Walk across the page.
•"Paint" the scene (e.g., arm moves in a dancing motion).
• Dance forward.
Scope of work:
Secondary Research & Feasibility Analysis:
Investigated existing mechanical color-transition technologies (e.g., lenticular filters, sliding overlays) to identify gaps and opportunities.
Proposed the gradient-film loop as the optimal solution for smooth, reversible color morphing without electronics.
Investigated existing mechanical color-transition technologies (e.g., lenticular filters, sliding overlays) to identify gaps and opportunities.
Proposed the gradient-film loop as the optimal solution for smooth, reversible color morphing without electronics.
Concept Validation via Animation:
Created a motion animation to visualize the synchronized character movement and color reveal, ensuring client alignment before prototyping.
Created a motion animation to visualize the synchronized character movement and color reveal, ensuring client alignment before prototyping.
Mechanism Design & 3D Prototyping:
Engineered a plastic-and-metal kinematic system (no paper) featuring a horizontal pull-tab driving both the PET gradient film and character motion, on low-friction rails for smooth sliding.
Optimized designs for 3D printing (functional prototypes) while ensuring scalability for injection molding (mass production).
Engineered a plastic-and-metal kinematic system (no paper) featuring a horizontal pull-tab driving both the PET gradient film and character motion, on low-friction rails for smooth sliding.
Optimized designs for 3D printing (functional prototypes) while ensuring scalability for injection molding (mass production).
Why It Stands Out:
Innovation: Combines color transformation + character motion in one gesture.
Novelty: A patent-worthy mechanical solution surpassing traditional paper-based techniques.
Educational Angle: Teaches cause/effect ("My action makes the world brighter!").
Sustainability: No electronics, potentially recyclable materials.
Novelty: A patent-worthy mechanical solution surpassing traditional paper-based techniques.
Educational Angle: Teaches cause/effect ("My action makes the world brighter!").
Sustainability: No electronics, potentially recyclable materials.
Tools and Technologies:
CAD Software: Blender for concept animation and Fusion 360 for mechanical design.
Proposed materials: Plastic, PET sheets, stainless rods, eva, fasteners.
Proposed materials: Plastic, PET sheets, stainless rods, eva, fasteners.