DATE

27 May - 5 June 2025

DATE

September 2024

DATE

27 May - 5 June 2025

BMO Micro:Bit Pet

BMO is a character-based micropet built around emotional interaction. Inspired by Adventure Time, I wanted to design something that goes beyond code. Something that smiles when you clap, flinches when you shine a torch, and shuts down when you remove its battery. This wasn’t about creating a robot. It was about giving personality to a piece of plastic and wire. The goal was simple — make it feel like BMO is really there with you.

UX/UX Design

UX Research

Roles

Creative Technologist · Interaction Designer · Physical Prototyper

Category

Physical Computing · Interactive Prototyping

Client

Singapore Polytechnic – School of Media, Arts & Design

Tech Stack

Micro:Bit

Microcontroller | Java + Python

Rhino 3D

CAD Modeling

Figma

UI/UX Design

DaVinci Resolve

Video Editing

Overview

Overview

BMO reacts in real time to how you treat him. Every emotion, from happiness to fear, is mapped to physical sensors connected to a Micro:bit. When triggered, the device sends signals to a Figma prototype that animates BMO’s expressions.

The system uses a light sensor, crash sensor, magnet sensor, sonar sensor, and a custom copper battery circuit. Each trigger feels personal and intentional. Shine a light and BMO panics. Tap his back and he frowns. Bring his controller close and he lights up again. It’s a loop of action and emotion, where every response feels earned.

Snorax is a speculative smart pillow designed to combat student sleep deprivation through habit-forming UX, environmental control, and interSnorax is a speculative smart pillow designed to combat student sleep deprivation through habit-forming UX, environmental control, and interactive emotional check-ins. It merges wellness technology and human-centered design to promote better rest, improved focus, and healthier digital habits.active emotional check-ins. It merges wellness technology and human-centered design to promote better rest, improved focus, and healthier digital habits.

Key Features

Emotional States and Triggers

  • Fear – Triggered when ambient light drops below a threshold. BMO looks scared, as if he’s afraid of the dark.

  • Sadness – Activated by a crash sensor when BMO is tapped or smacked. He shows a frown with teardrop eyes.

  • Dead – Occurs when the copper battery is removed, breaking the circuit. BMO’s face goes blank with X-eyes.

  • Happy – Triggered by a magnet placed near his body. He smiles and lights up.

  • Heart Eyes – A button press makes BMO blush and beam with love.

  • Anger – Detected by a sonar sensor when BMO is lifted. His eyebrows slant and he looks upset.

  • Game Mode – After heart eyes, holding the button activates a retro game screen styled like Space Invaders.

Thoughtful Transitions

I used a currentInteraction variable to prevent multiple emotions from overlapping. Reactions last a few seconds before returning to idle, creating natural emotional pacing.

Output

  • Fully 3D printed working prototype

  • 7 animated emotional states built in Figma

  • Real-time emotional feedback using light, sonar, crash, magnet, and button sensors

  • Functional copper battery system with on/off logic

  • Physical controller and mounting system

  • Playable BMO Invaders mini game, triggered from emotional state and controlled physically

  • Full documentation of logic, interaction mapping, testing, and emotional UX principles

  • Final video showcase of all interactions, transitions, and game

Physical Build and Interaction

BMO’s body was fully 3D printed based on measurements around the Micro:bit. I designed a custom top-loading battery slot with clear affordances to show users where to interact. The copper battery could be removed like a physical "off" switch.

Inside, all sensors and wires were carefully routed to make sure every interaction felt clean and responsive. From the outside, BMO looks like a playful little screen with arms. But the way he reacts gives him a sense of life.

Snorax is a speculative smart pillowSnorax is a speculative smart pillow designed to combat student sleep deprivation through habit-forming UX, environmental control, and interactive emotional check-ins. It merges wellness technology and human-centered design to promote better rest, improved focus, and healthier digital habits.

Our research uncovered that many students face chronic sleep disruption caused by late-night screen use, stress, noise, and uncomfortable environments. The lack of sleep not only harms focus and mood but has long-term effects on health.
Snorax responds to this by embedding wellness features into a pillow—making better rest a seamless part of everyday life.day life.

What I Learned

Designing BMO taught me that emotion doesn’t come from complexity. It comes from care. Every sensor value, every animation delay, and every material choice made a difference. I had to think like a system designer, a storyteller, and a builder — all at once.

More than anything, this project changed how I think about interaction. It’s not just about what a user clicks. It’s about how something responds, how it makes them feel, and how it communicates silently through motion, timing, and personality.

Snorax is a speculative smart pillowSnorax is a speculative smart pillow designed to combat student sleep deprivation through habit-forming UX, environmental control, and interactive emotional check-ins. It merges wellness technology and human-centered design to promote better rest, improved focus, and healthier digital habits.

Our research uncovered that many students face chronic sleep disruption caused by late-night screen use, stress, noise, and uncomfortable environments. The lack of sleep not only harms focus and mood but has long-term effects on health.
Snorax responds to this by embedding wellness features into a pillow—making better rest a seamless part of everyday life.day life.

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24-26 Feburary 2025

3 Day Hackathon | Inclusive Design

hey@brayden.sg

Experience is key

Get in touch.

Whether it’s designing an interface, building a brand, or crafting a visual story. I’m here to help bring your ideas to life in a way that connects.

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hey@brayden.sg

Experience is Key

Get in touch.

Whether it’s designing an interface, building a brand, or crafting a visual story. I’m here to help bring your ideas to life in a way that connects.

Let's Connect