Heart Donor

imagined emotional translation device (2022)

Heart Donor is a fictional emotional translation apparatus that communicates fluctuating feelings of affection in the form of an inflating heart-shaped balloon. The fictional value behind Heart Donor is involuntary honesty, which has the intent of increasing efficiency in relationships. If emotional data is available constantly and in real time, uncertainty should be reduced—allowing action to be taken more frequently and with heightened precision. The result is a humorous commentary on the futile pursuit of rationalizing human behavior.

Process

When starting this project, I first observed mundane object in my daily life such as receipt machines, fire extinguishers, and lockers. I listed the values each of these designed objects has and reflected on how they can be reversed into fictional ones. After some brainstorming, I selected my fictional value to be involuntary honesty.

Next, I chose to use the method of answering a question with my design. In this instance, I selected the question "what is love?". Through sketching and group critique sessions, I came up with the Heart Donor concept.

early device sketches—printing section and harness

Since Heart Donor is an interactive artifact, I decided to use animation as my primary medium. After modeling and rendering the basic form in Fusion360, I used Photoshop to animate the inflating balloon. Finally, I added audio and text to the video in iMovie. As an accompanying piece of this project, I created a user manual for the Heart Donor.

The purpose of having a user guide is to further emphasize the interaction as a calculated, commercial experience rather than an organic exchange. I chose to reference IKEA manuals for the general style of the handbook since they have an easily recognizable look.

Fusion360 device render

Outcome

The final piece is an animation that simulates the intended interaction along with an accompanying user guide. When watching the animation, make sure to have your sound on.

final animation with audio