Designing With & For the Sun
How do we use time and solar energy to visualize the ever-changing solar landscape surrounding us?
How can we relate to it in a tangible way?
Solar Constellations explores these questions through a solar tracking artifact that maps the shifts in sunlight at a specific time and place. The outcome is an ever-growing collection of distinctive patterns that reveals a new representation of the unseen nature of the sun.
Briefing
Our team's goal was to elevate public awareness of solar energy’s transformative potential, sparking questions about its impact on energy habits. Inspired by individual interpretations, including personal explorations like artistic printing with sunlight, we framed two guiding questions for our research:
What should we explore further?
and
Who are we designing for?
Initially aimed at younger audiences, our focus shifted toward creating the Solar Constellations device as an artistic exhibit suitable for art communities and researchers. This led us to explore themes such as solar energy as art, its invisible forces, communal impact, cultural significance, and even its perception by non-human life.
Design Process
Early Explorations
Option 1
Solar Printing
We considered using Cyanotype to print 3D objects for users to take home but discarded the idea due to feedback on its short-term unreliability. The consensus was that it wouldn't enhance the solar energy experience, as the focus would shift to other materials.
Option 2
UV Photography
Uncover the invisible realm of nature through sun light using UV light and special photography lenses that can read the patterns of nature that are formed through the invisible parts of light and sun rays.
Option 3
Visualizing Wavelengths
The goal of this was to merge the play we get from this experiment with experiment number 2 to visualize the effects of taking away a certain wave length and showing how much energy / light lies in within the rest of the spectrum.
Mapping Solar Landscapes with......?
Birth of Solar Constellations
We explored various mechanisms to achieve the poking motion needed for the needle's impact on paper, ultimately deciding on a main concept. With tasks like focusing on building and visualizing the device, and refining the code to control movement more accurately, we had our work cut out for us.
After researching Arduino possibilities and drawing inspiration from mechanisms like sewing machines, we sought guidance, leading to the discovery of a solenoid device that perfectly mimicked the desired motion. With this breakthrough, we quickly began sketching and planning our final structure collaboratively.
Feedback Session
During feedback sessions with designers and peers, we received praise for our work but encountered a pivotal question: Could our device map a full day, and what would the dotted spirals represent? This sparked key design discussions, including whether to capture average solar intensity instead of real-time data and the possibility of using a wireless, detachable solar panel for greater flexibility. These questions guided our next design decisions.
Featured in
Our design has not only sparked conversations but also garnered recognition, being featured twice! First, it found a place in Dr. Angella Mackey's ongoing research paper “Becoming Solar”, showcasing its relevance in the academic sphere.
Then, it made a splash at Things Con 2023, where it captivated audiences and highlighted its innovative potential. We’re thrilled to see our work resonate in such meaningful contexts!
