Meet the Creative Tech: Elaine Khuu
Elaine Khuu is a disciplined Creative Technologist and Product Designer who brought lots of enthusiasm and innovative ideas to the table during her time as a LOOMIA Creative Tech Resident. We were privileged to have her on board, and are excited to share more about the Warming Band she worked on using our new parts! Read on to find out more.
Q: What is your background in design, creative technology, wearables, etc?
I studied architectural design in undergrad, and went on to earn a Master of Industrial Design from Pratt Institute. It was during my Master's program that I began to explore creative technology and wearables through the Global Innovation Design program. After graduating, I worked at the educational technology company littleBits, where I delved into designing inventions for kids to make and customize with tech. Currently, I am working as a digital product designer, and continue to work on a variety of projects in my spare time.
Q: What was your favorite part of working with LOOMIA components?
The components were so thin and flexible, I easily made a really streamlined and soft wearable. I also loved how simple it was to attach the LOOMIA components to the fabrics.
Q: What, if any, challenges did you face while making the warming band and how did you overcome them?
There were definitely challenges along the way! Soldering to the Arduino and LOOMIA components, and coding the pressure matrix were my biggest hurdles. A better soldering iron would have helped a lot...Though, I was able to skip soldering to the Arduino by using header pins on a small breadboard. My connections to the LOOMIA components were messy, but they worked! To write code for the pressure matrix, I found some helpful posts online, and was able to ask a friend for additional help.
Q: Who do you see being the end user of this Warming Band?
Anyone who needs portable warmth can use the warming band, or a version of it; but I was specifically designing for women suffering from menstrual cramps.
Q: Favorite feature of the Warming Band?
It's easy to make and comfortable to wear! There are also tons of ways to elevate the build and tailor it to you.
Q: Self-promo time! Where can we find your stuff?
You can see some of my work at elkhuu.com!