Glowbox Artefact
A featureless cube that pulses and glows, responding subtly to touch and proximity.
Context
Scope: Personal build · Solo · Part of SKI
Timeframe: ~4 weeks
Environment: Indoor test space / home studio
Key elements: Behavioural system · Spatial interaction · Silent experience
Role: Concept, hardware, software, interaction design
Project Overview
A GLOWBOX unit pulled from the Signal Kinetics Industries archives. A featureless cube that pulses and glows, it responds subtly to touch and proximity, appearing calm, curious, or withdrawn depending on how it is handled.
The project sits within the wider SKI Archive, a fictional analogue-horror research archive presented through documents, incident reports, and physical artefacts.
Explore the full project site at ski-archive.com.
Intent & Constraints
The intent of this project was to be a simple physical artefact that ties in to the SKI story. It is accompanied by relevant documents from the archive, explaining the GLOWBOX project and giving further context and information about it.
The artefact itself was designed to be simple and unassuming. It makes use of lights and a touch sensor to breathe and pulse and react to basic stimulus from a user.
System at a Glance
- Form factor: Standalone desktop device
- Inputs / sensing: Capacative touch sensor
- Outputs: 40 addressable LEDs
- Control model: Behaviour random within set parameters, changes based on touch input
- Core behaviours: Slow breathing light, subtle variation, withdrawal and recovery based on interaction patterns
Key Tools & Techniques
- Arduino Nano - Small microcontroller able to power the small number of LEDs in the project with spare IO for sensors
- WS2812B addressable LED strip - used sparingly and diffused heavily to create a volumetric glow rather than visible points of light
What Worked Well
- Supporting documentation and storytelling strong
- Effective diffusion of lights through outer shell
- Behaviour feels natural and unforced
Where This Could Go Next
Further development of the SKI archive through additional documents, artefacts, and installations, rather than expanding the GLOWBOX unit itself.
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