Skyline

Inspired by the evocative experience of driving into Melbourne City at dusk when the skyline is alive with the warm glow of fading sunlight and the first city lights begin to twinkle this project sought to translate that transient, atmospheric moment into a tangible, holdable object. The intent was not simply to replicate the view, but to distill its emotional resonance and spatial essence into a crafted physical form that invites personal interaction and reflection.

Conceived as an exploratory design piece, the project served as a multifaceted learning journey into the potentials of 3D rapid prototyping and embedded technology through Arduino coding. The process began with deep observation and emotional connection to the cityscape’s dynamic qualities: its layers of light and shadow, the interplay of natural and artificial illumination, and the shifting perspectives experienced during the drive. This informed the conceptual framework, focusing on how to evoke a sense of place and time through materiality and light.

The translation from inspiration to prototype involved mastering 3D modelling software to create precise, layered structures that captured the silhouette and depth of the skyline. Rapid prototyping technologies enabled the transformation of digital designs into physical objects, allowing for iterative refinement of form, texture, and scale. Integrating Arduino technology added an interactive dimension, animating the piece with programmable lighting effects that mimic the changing twilight hues and city lights, creating a dynamic sensory experience that unfolds in the viewer’s hands.

Through this hands-on exploration, the project bridged craft and technology, highlighting the powerful potential of combining digital fabrication with embedded electronics in creating emotive, experiential design objects. It serves as a testament to the value of experimental design practice, where the process of making is as important as the final artefact deepening technical skills while opening new avenues for storytelling and sensory engagement. Ultimately, the piece invites users to hold not just a model of a cityscape, but a poetic fragment of a lived moment.