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

Physical Computing · Interactive Prototyping

Client

Singapore Polytechnic – School of Media, Arts & Design

Tech Stack

Micro:Bit

Microcontroller | Java + Python

Micro:Bit

Microcontroller | Java + Python

Micro:Bit

Microcontroller | Java + Python

Rhino 3D

CAD Modeling

Rhino 3D

CAD Modeling

Rhino 3D

CAD Modeling

Figma

UI/UX Design

Figma

UI/UX Design

Figma

UI/UX Design

DaVinci Resolve

Video Editing

DaVinci Resolve

Video Editing

DaVinci Resolve

Video Editing

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.