In this pictorial, we present our development of a simulator for resist slip-casting: a technique for crafting textured ceramics by masking regions of a water-absorbent mold. While actual slip-casting hides material transformations under opaque liquid clay, our simulator uses 3D cellular automata to visualize the deposition process in real-time. We detail our iterative algorithmic development, from simple proximity-based accumulation to a more complex model of diffusion and slumping. Through a research-through-design lens, we further reflect on the fractured flows between virtual and real materials. We annotate the distinct materialities and temporalities the simulator embodies, considering how its departures from the “ground truth" actually heighten our sensitivity to the physical craft. We propose that such making-simulators serve as a form of intermediate-level knowledge, acting as both a design tool, and a mirror for critical reflection on the agency of makers and materials.

Ceramics provide a rich domain for exploring craft, fabrication, and diverse material textures that enhance tangible interaction.In this work, we explored slip-casting, a traditional ceramic technique where liquid clay is poured into a porous plaster mold that absorbs water from the slip to form a clay body.We adapted this process into an approach we called Resist Slip-Casting.By selectively masking the mold's surface with stickers to vary its water absorption rate, our approach enables makers to create ceramic objects with intricate textured surfaces, while also allowing the customization of a single mold for different outcomes.In this paper, we detail the resist slip-casting process and demonstrate its application by crafting a range of tangible interfaces with customizable visual symbols, tactile features, and decorative elements.We further discuss our approach within the broader conversation in HCI on fabrication machines that promote creative collaboration between humans, materials, and tools.

Reconfigurable physical interfaces empower users to swiftly adapt to tailored design requirements or preferences. Shape-changing interfaces enable such reconfigurability, avoiding the cost of refabrication or part replacements. Nonetheless, reconfigurable interfaces are often bulky, expensive, or inaccessible. We propose a reversible shape-changing mechanism that enables reconfigurable 3D printed structures via translations and rotations of parts. We investigate fabrication techniques that enable reconfiguration using magnets and the thermoplasticity of heated polymer. Proposed interfaces achieve tunable haptic feedback and adjustment of different user affordances by reconfiguring input motions. The design space is demonstrated through applications in rehabilitation, embodied communication, accessibility, safety, and gaming.

Electronic composites incorporate computing into physical materials, expanding the materiality of interactive systems for designers. In this research, we investigated acrylic as a substrate for electronics. Acrylic is valued for its visual and structural properties and is used widely in industrial design. We propose e-acrylic, an electronic composite that incorporates electronic circuits with acrylic sheets. Our approach to making this composite is centered on acrylic making practices that industrial designers are familiar with. We outline this approach systematically, including leveraging laser cutting to embed circuits into acrylic sheets, as well as different ways to shape e-acrylic into 3D objects. With this approach, we explored using e-acrylic to design interactive artifacts. We reflect on these applications to surface a design space of tangible interactive artifacts possible with this composite. We also discuss the implications of aligning electronics to an existing making practice, and working with the holistic materiality that e-acrylic embodies.

Paper and touchscreen devices are two common objects found around us, and we investigated the potential of their intersection for tangible interface design. In this research, we developed PaperTouch, an approach to design paper based mechanisms that translate a variety of physical interactions to touch events on a capacitive touchscreen. These mechanisms act as switches that close during interaction, connecting the touchscreen to the device’s ground bus. To develop PaperTouch, we explored different types of paper along with the making process around them. We also built a range of applications to showcase different tangible interfaces facilitated with PaperTouch, including music instruments, educational dioramas, and playful products. By reflecting on this exploration, we uncovered the emerging design dimensions that considers the interactions, materiality, and embodiment of PaperTouch interfaces. We also surfaced the tacit know-how that we gained through our design process through annotations for others to refer to.

Glazed ceramic is a versatile material that we use every day. In this paper, we present a new approach that instruments existing glazed ceramic ware with interactive electronic circuits. We informed this work by collaborating with a ceramics designer and connected his craft practice to our experience in physical computing. From this partnership, we developed a systematic approach that begins with the subtractive fabrication of traces on glazed ceramic surfaces via the resist-blasting technique, followed by applying conductive ink into the inlaid traces. We capture and detail this approach through an annotated flowchart for others to refer to, as well as externalize the material insights we uncovered through ceramic and circuit swatches. We then demonstrate a range of interactive home applications built with this approach. Finally, we reflect on the process we took and discuss the importance of collaborating with craftspeople for material-driven research within HCI.