Outcome & Reflection
The completed trophy achieves a balance between formality and warmth. Soft curves, natural translucency, and the embedded digital layer give the award both physical presence and emotional weight. Its modular components celebrate individual uniqueness while reinforcing collective belonging; a lasting token of appreciation from institution to individual.
This project served as a comprehensive exploration of how to design for symbolism, interaction, and recognition. The collaborative process highlighted the importance of open dialogue, shared critique, and active iteration. It also revealed the potential and limitations of unfamiliar materials, reinforcing the importance of material testing and lifecycle awareness.
Communication played a critical role throughout; from managing internal team dynamics to presenting the project externally. These experiences helped sharpen the ability to articulate meaning clearly and adapt messaging to different audiences.
More than a trophy, the project became a learning framework: an opportunity to explore purpose-driven design, integrate technology meaningfully, and reflect on the responsibilities of recognition. It marked a shift toward seeing objects as carriers of memory, identity, and shared value.
Skills Used
- Team-based ideation and collaborative development
- Public speaking and external communication
- Material exploration and testing (plaster, silicone, resin)
- Rapid prototyping and form iteration
- NFC integration and digital interaction design
- Conceptual storytelling through object form
- Process documentation and presentation design