oddly familiar
Index
01—2901Decksaver for OP-1f and OP-XYSynthesizer cover

A 3D-printed PETG cover designed to fit the OP-1 Field and OP-XY synthesizers.
more
02Shy Farting StatueInteractive humidifier

A marble-textured statue doubles as an interactive humidifier. LEDs and a Xiao ESP32 sit inside the PLA body, alongside a programmable mistmaker by David Yang and Cai Shuang.
more
03CandleLED candle

A lamp that recreates the glow of a real candle using stacked acrylic, a NeoPixel, a microcontroller and a potentiometer.
more
04Solar InstrumentsSolar-powered / controlled instruments

A series of solar-powered and solar-controlled instruments that use sunlight to shape sound. Microcontroller programming uses light to control oscillation and effects such as pitch shifting and ring modulation. The builds combine solar panels, light sensors and soft potentiometers.
more
05Loading Cat LED PinLED pin

A wearable loading cat built around a custom circuit board. An ATtiny microcontroller drives the LEDs, and a coin cell battery powers the pin.
more
06BathlightInteractive lamp

A lamp that lights up when its bulbs are immersed in water.
more
07Olympus ÉcruCamera repair

Bringing an Olympus Écru back to life.
more
08Here v2Interactive light bench

Inspired by the warmth of a recently vacated seat, Here makes the traces we leave behind visible. In the original version, a depth camera records visitors’ silhouettes and LED panels play them back after a delay. This archive brings together that first bench and Here v2, exhibited at PASEO 2025.
more
09Reverb + ?Lo-fi spring reverb

A miniature spring reverb built for the Pocket Operator. A bone conductor drives a short spring, while a sliding piezo disc adds a flanger-like effect. The unit shares the instrument’s two AAA batteries, and a single slider blends the dry and wet signals. Expect a distinctly lo-fi shimmer.
more
10flexFXAnalog overdrive unit

flexFX is designed to make tabletop effects more comfortable to use by angling the controls toward the player. A custom flexible circuit board and 3D-printed TPU let the body bend, hold its angle and fold flat afterward. The audio circuit is based on the Klon Centaur transparent overdrive.
more
11Graduation PinLED souvenir pin

I designed and programmed this pin to celebrate graduating from ITP. It brings together the electronics and programming skills I learned during my master’s degree, with an ATtiny microcontroller, a NeoPixel and LEDs on a custom circuit board.
more
12Modular ShelfModular display shelf

A 3D-printed shelf that grows with your collection.
more
13Maltese Snowball MakerSnowball maker

A working snowball maker inspired by a Xiantiao Xiaogou blind-box figure. Modeled in Blender, printed in PLA and finished with spray paint, it brings the character outside for a snow day.
more
14NowSound installation

Pick it up and hear time slow down.
more
15UnboxedLamp

A playful lamp inspired by light bulb packaging, made with Alina Liu. PLA, vinyl, a bulb and a latching switch bring the idea out of the box.
more
16Pigeons in NYCGlow-in-the-dark pigeons

A flock of Halloween-themed pigeons, modeled in Blender and printed in glow-in-the-dark PLA. I distributed them around Central Park in New York City as part of a project to practice 3D modeling.
more
17Quarter / LightCoin-operated lamp

Insert a quarter to switch on the lamp. Each coin increases the brightness and triggers an animation of falling light. A coin acceptor, microcontroller and COB light strip sit inside a structure made from PLA and acrylic.
more
18Sacred for 3 SecondsHand-cranked halo

Turn the crank to power a halo above an In-N-Out hat. The light runs entirely on human effort, using a stepper motor and flexible LED filament to turn the wearer into an In-N-Out angel.
more
19The Trumpet BoyMeme-inspired automaton

A mechanical take on the trumpet-boy meme, built from acrylic, wood and metal wire. The process includes Illustrator drawings, a SolidWorks model and the assembled automaton.
more
20Chill-out StickInteractive sound prop

In Doraemon, the Chill-out Stick calms people when held in front of their mouths. This version, made with Alina Liu, plays a recording supplied by the user when its touch sensor is activated. The electronics sit inside a painted resin body.
more
21Moodmaker OrchestraInteractive sound prop

Made with Alina Liu, Moodmaker Orchestra brings a Doraemon gadget to life. Five buttons play short recordings for moods including happiness, sadness and anger. The client supplied the audio, and the electronics sit inside a painted resin model.
more
22Space AuditionTwo-player rhythm game

Space Audition is a two-player rhythm game in which players use levers to attack each other on screen. The custom plywood cabinet takes a futuristic, minimal form, bringing together the controls, display, speaker and lighting.
more
23Waterloo BridgeProjection-mapping study

A custom acrylic bridge serves as the model for a projection-mapping study in MadMapper. The work explores both light confined to the bridge and a wider composition inspired by Claude Monet.
more
24BreathBalloon installation

Created with Alina Liu, this commissioned installation uses balloons to represent breathing and celebrate the fragility of life. A structure made from PLA and acrylic houses the balloons, a pump, a valve and a microcontroller.
more
25ReflectionTide-driven light installation

Made with Jessica Shen, Reflection combines projection mapping and LEDs. A custom TouchDesigner setup takes real-time tide data as its input and controls the installation’s light.
more
26Oiiai CatInteractive meme installation

Oiiai Cat turns the spinning-cat meme into an interactive installation. When someone comes near, the cat spins amid rainbow LEDs and plays music. The build uses a printed lithophane, a DC motor and a microcontroller.
more
27GlassesGlassblowing studies

A selection of objects from my glassblowing practice in 2023–2024.
more
28KIND Bar AlarmInteractive alarm clock

An interactive alarm clock with a 3D-printed body, microcontroller, speaker, amplifier and servo motor.
more
29PlayStation × Reebok PhoneInteractive telephone

An interactive telephone built with a microcontroller, amplifier and limit switch. The transparent handset leaves the internal electronics on view.
more
All projects
THROUGH THE VIEWFINDER
Photography
Some things I stopped to look at.
Decksaver for OP-1f and OP-XY
Synthesizer cover
A 3D-printed cover for the OP-1 Field and OP-XY.

Made to fit
A 3D-printed PETG cover designed to fit the OP-1 Field and OP-XY synthesizers.
In detail



Materials & credits
- Material
- PETG
Shy Farting Statue
Interactive humidifier
A marble-textured statue with a misty little secret.

A little character.
An interactive humidifier in the form of a shy, farting statue. The marble-textured PLA body houses LEDs and a Xiao ESP32, with a programmable mistmaker by David Yang and Cai Shuang.
In the making

Materials & credits
- Body
- Marble-textured PLA
- Light
- LEDs
- Controller
- Xiao ESP32
- Programmable mistmaker
- David Yang & Cai Shuang
Loading Cat LED Pin
LED pin
A tiny loading cat you can wear.

From pixels to a pin
The loading cat takes shape as a wearable circuit board, with LEDs driven by an ATtiny microcontroller and powered by a coin cell battery.
In detail

Materials & credits
- Components
- PCB, coin cell battery, LEDs, ATtiny microcontroller
Related links
Bathlight
Interactive lamp
A lamp that lights up when its bulbs are immersed in water.

A little light, a little water
Bathlight is an interactive lamp whose bulbs light up only when immersed in water.
A glass vase and acrylic tubes bring the interaction into view. The lamp uses inductive LEDs, with parts made from PLA and PETG.
In detail



Materials & credits
- Materials & components
- PLA, PETG, inductive LEDs, glass vase, acrylic tubes
Olympus Écru
Camera repair
Bringing an Olympus Écru back to life.

Back to life
A repair project that brought an Olympus Écru point-and-shoot camera back to life. The photographs and videos document the camera and the soldering work involved.
Materials & credits
- Process
- Soldering
Here v2
Interactive light bench
A bench that holds on to traces of its visitors.

Someone was here
You find a seat on the train, and it is still warm. Someone was here. That small trace of another person became the starting point for Here: a bench that invites people to sit, watch and leave a trace of their own.
The first version captures the silhouettes of people sitting on the bench, then plays them back through embedded LED panels. The delay can range from one second to a few hours. A depth camera and custom openFrameworks software make those passing moments visible again.
This page brings together the original bench and Here v2. The second version was exhibited at PASEO 2025; the project has also been shown at the ITP Winter Show and Time Exhibition.
In detail








Materials & credits
- Materials & tools
- Acrylic, plywood, aluminum sheet, LED panels, Mac mini, PC, depth camera, openFrameworks
- Exhibitions
- PASEO 2025; ITP Winter Show; Time Exhibition
Reverb + ?
Lo-fi spring reverb
A little reverb for the Pocket Operator. Very lo-fi.

A spring behind the sound
I love making beats and sounds on my PO-33, but I kept missing one effect: reverb. So I built a miniature spring reverb to clip onto the back.
A bone conductor drives the spring, and a sliding piezo disc picks up the vibrations. Moving the disc back and forth produces a flanger-like effect. The short spring gives it a distinctly lo-fi shimmer.
The custom PCB connects through the Pocket Operator’s headphone jack and shares its two AAA batteries, so there is no need for an extra power supply. A single slider on the front blends the dry and wet signals. The ABS and PLA enclosures are 3D-printed, with small pops of color.
The project received an honorable mention in Teenage Engineering’s PO10DIY contest.
In detail












Materials & credits
- Materials & components
- PCB, extension spring, bone conductor, piezo disc, headphone jacks, potentiometer, PLA, ABS, metal plate
- Recognition
- Honorable mention, PO10DIY contest
Related links
flexFX
Analog overdrive unit
Controls that tilt toward you, then fold flat.

A better angle
I designed flexFX to make tabletop effects more comfortable to use. The knobs angle toward the player, while the unit keeps a slim, compact profile.
A custom flexible printed circuit and 3D-printed TPU let the body bend and lock at an angle during use, then fold flat afterward.
The audio circuit is based on the classic Klon Centaur transparent overdrive.
In detail










Materials & credits
- Materials & components
- PLA, flexible PCB, TPU, spray paint
Graduation Pin
LED souvenir pin
A small celebration of everything I learned at ITP.

Made for graduation
I designed and programmed this pin to celebrate graduating from ITP, bringing together the electronics and programming skills I learned during my master’s degree.
The custom PCB carries an ATtiny microcontroller, a NeoPixel and LEDs, with slide and tactile switches and CR2032 batteries. I wore it to graduation.
In detail






Materials & credits
- Components
- PCB, ATtiny microcontroller, NeoPixel, LEDs, CR2032 batteries, slide switch, tactile switch
Modular Shelf
Modular display shelf
A 3D-printed shelf that grows with your collection.

Room to grow
A modular shelf for books, magazines and synthesizers, designed for a 250 × 250 × 250 mm print bed. The PLA sections connect with magnets, so the shelf can extend as your collection grows.
Materials & credits
- Materials
- PLA, magnets
Maltese Snowball Maker
Snowball maker
A familiar little dog, ready for a snow day.

From character to snowball
Inspired by a Xiantiao Xiaogou blind-box figure, I made a working snowball maker to welcome winter. I modeled it in Blender, printed it in PLA and finished it with spray paint.
In detail




Materials & credits
- Materials & tools
- PLA, spray paint, Blender
Now
Sound installation
Pick it up and hear time slow down.

A shift in perception
Now is a sound installation that makes time feel slower when you pick it up and listen. Lift it to your ear and it senses the movement, transforming live audio from your surroundings with custom effects. COB LED strips respond alongside the sound.
In detail



Materials & credits
- Materials & components
- PLA, microcontroller, COB LED strip, spray paint
Unboxed
Lamp
A lamp that takes its cue from light bulb packaging.

Out of the box
Made with Alina Liu, Unboxed turns the packaging around a light bulb into inspiration for the lamp itself. The design combines PLA and vinyl with a bulb and a latching switch.
In detail


Materials & credits
- Materials & components
- PLA, vinyl, latching switch, light bulb
- Collaborator
- Alina Liu
Pigeons in NYC
Glow-in-the-dark pigeons
A few extra pigeons for New York, with a Halloween twist.

Out in the city
I modeled a Halloween-themed pigeon in Blender, printed a flock in glow-in-the-dark PLA and distributed them around Central Park in New York City.
The project was a chance to practice 3D modeling and send the results out into the world. The photographs follow the pigeons through the park, into a restaurant and onto an ice cream truck.
In detail







Materials & credits
- Materials & tools
- Glow-in-the-dark PLA, Blender, magnets
Candle
LED candle
The flicker of a candle, recreated in acrylic and light.

A familiar glow
Candle recreates the glow of a real flame with stacked acrylic and a NeoPixel. A microcontroller and potentiometer complete the lamp.
In detail

Materials & credits
- Materials & components
- Acrylic, NeoPixel, microcontroller, potentiometer
Quarter / Light
Coin-operated lamp
Drop in a quarter to turn up the light.

One coin at a time
Insert a quarter to switch on the lamp. Each coin adds brightness and sets off an animation of falling light.
In detail

Materials & credits
- Materials & tools
- PLA, COB light strip, microcontroller, acrylic, coin acceptor
Sacred for 3 Seconds
Hand-cranked halo
A halo powered entirely by the turn of your hand.

A halo powered by hand
Turn the crank to power a halo above an In-N-Out hat. The light runs entirely on human effort, using a stepper motor and flexible LED filament to turn the wearer into an In-N-Out angel.
In detail


Materials & credits
- Materials & tools
- PLA, flexible LED filament, stepper motor, In-N-Out hat
The Trumpet Boy
Meme-inspired automaton
A familiar meme, rebuilt in acrylic and wood.

From meme to mechanism
I turned the trumpet-boy meme into a moving automaton made from acrylic, wood and metal wire. The design process included Illustrator drawings and a SolidWorks model.
In detail



Materials & credits
- Materials & tools
- acrylic, wood, metal wire, glue
Chill-out Stick
Interactive sound prop
A real-life take on Doraemon’s calming gadget.

From cartoon to object
In Doraemon, the Chill-out Stick calms people down when held in front of their mouths. Made with Alina Liu, this version plays a recording supplied by the user when its touch sensor is activated.
A microcontroller, speaker driver and touch sensor fit inside the painted resin body.
In detail





Materials & credits
- Materials & tools
- 3D-printing resin, microcontroller, speaker driver, touch sensor, spray paint
- Collaborator
- Alina Liu
Moodmaker Orchestra
Interactive sound prop
Press a button to give your mood a soundtrack.

A sound for each mood
Made with Alina Liu, this working version of a Doraemon gadget plays five short audio clips for moods such as happiness, sadness and anger. Each clip has its own button, and the client supplied the recordings.
In detail




Materials & credits
- Materials & tools
- 3D-printing resin, tactile switch, microcontroller, speaker, spray paint
- Collaborator
- Alina Liu
Solar Instruments
Solar-powered / controlled instruments
Instruments that use sunlight for power and sound control.

Playing with light
A series of solar-powered and solar-controlled instruments that use sunlight to shape sound. Microcontroller programming uses light to control oscillation and effects such as pitch shifting and ring modulation. The builds combine solar panels, light sensors and soft potentiometers.
In detail

Materials & credits
- Materials & tools
- PLA, acrylic, solar panel, soft potentiometer, LDR (light-dependent resistor), microcontroller
Space Audition
Two-player rhythm game
A two-player rhythm game in a futuristic arcade cabinet.

Music and competition
Space Audition is a two-player rhythm game in which players use levers to attack each other on screen. The custom plywood cabinet takes a futuristic, minimal form, bringing together the controls, display, speaker and lighting.
In detail


Materials & credits
- Materials & tools
- Plywood, speaker, amplifier, spray paint, display, microcontroller, NeoPixel, acrylic
Waterloo Bridge
Projection-mapping study
An acrylic bridge catches light inspired by Monet.

Light on the bridge
I designed and built an acrylic bridge to experiment with projection mapping in MadMapper. The study explores both light mapped to the bridge itself and a wider projection inspired by Claude Monet.
In detail


Materials & credits
- Materials & tools
- Acrylic, projector, MadMapper
Breath
Balloon installation
Balloons that evoke breathing and the fragility of life.

A fragile balance
Created with Alina Liu, this commissioned installation uses balloons to represent breathing and celebrate the fragility of life. A structure made from PLA and acrylic houses the balloons, a pump, a valve and a microcontroller.
In detail



Materials & credits
- Materials & tools
- PLA, acrylic, balloons, microcontroller, pump and valve
- Collaborator
- Alina Liu
Reflection
Tide-driven light installation
Real-time tides translated into light.

Following the tide
Made with Jessica Shen, Reflection combines projection mapping and LEDs. A custom TouchDesigner setup uses real-time tide data to control the light.
Materials & credits
- Materials & tools
- Plywood, NeoPixel, frosted acrylic, metal standoff, TouchDesigner, microcontroller
- Collaborator
- Jessica Shen
Oiiai Cat
Interactive meme installation
Come closer: the cat starts spinning.

A meme in motion
Inspired by the spinning-cat meme, Oiiai Cat spins amid rainbow LEDs and plays music when someone comes near. The build combines a 3D-printed lithophane, a DC motor, a microcontroller and sound electronics.
In detail

Materials & credits
- Materials & tools
- 3D-printed parts, microcontroller, speaker, amplifier, NeoPixel, DC motor, screws, magnetic pogo pin connector, lithophane (generated with “makemylithophane” by Bambu Studio)
Glasses
Glassblowing studies
A few experiments in blown glass.

Working with glass
A selection of glassblowing experiments from 2023–2024.
In detail


Materials & credits
- Materials & tools
- Glass
KIND Bar Alarm
Interactive alarm clock
A custom alarm clock for KIND bars.

The build
KIND Bar Alarm combines a 3D-printed body with a microcontroller, speaker, amplifier and servo motor.
In detail





Materials & credits
- Materials & tools
- 3D-printed parts, microcontroller, speaker, amplifier, servo motor
PlayStation × Reebok Phone
Interactive telephone
A transparent phone fitted with custom electronics.

The build
An interactive telephone built with a microcontroller, amplifier and limit switch.
In detail

Materials & credits
- Materials & tools
- Microcontroller, amplifier, limit switch
THE WORKING SHELF
Library
Things to learn from, play with, and keep using.
32 resources

Light & interaction
Workshop · exampleSlides, a small exercise, and further reading.

Light colour mixer
Interactive tool · demoA small browser experiment with RGB light.

Decksaver for OP-1f and OP-XY
archives · Synthesizer coverA 3D-printed cover for the OP-1 Field and OP-XY.

Shy Farting Statue
archives · Interactive humidifierA marble-textured statue with a misty little secret.

Loading Cat LED Pin
archives · LED pinA tiny loading cat you can wear.

Bathlight
archives · Interactive lampA lamp that lights up when its bulbs are immersed in water.

Olympus Écru
archives · Camera repairBringing an Olympus Écru back to life.

Here v2
archives · Interactive light benchA bench that holds on to traces of its visitors.

Reverb + ?
archives · Lo-fi spring reverbA little reverb for the Pocket Operator. Very lo-fi.

flexFX
archives · Analog overdrive unitControls that tilt toward you, then fold flat.

Graduation Pin
archives · LED souvenir pinA small celebration of everything I learned at ITP.

Modular Shelf
archives · Modular display shelfA 3D-printed shelf that grows with your collection.

Maltese Snowball Maker
archives · Snowball makerA familiar little dog, ready for a snow day.

Now
archives · Sound installationPick it up and hear time slow down.

Unboxed
archives · LampA lamp that takes its cue from light bulb packaging.

Pigeons in NYC
archives · Glow-in-the-dark pigeonsA few extra pigeons for New York, with a Halloween twist.

Candle
archives · LED candleThe flicker of a candle, recreated in acrylic and light.

Quarter / Light
archives · Coin-operated lampDrop in a quarter to turn up the light.

Sacred for 3 Seconds
archives · Hand-cranked haloA halo powered entirely by the turn of your hand.

The Trumpet Boy
archives · Meme-inspired automatonA familiar meme, rebuilt in acrylic and wood.

Chill-out Stick
archives · Interactive sound propA real-life take on Doraemon’s calming gadget.

Moodmaker Orchestra
archives · Interactive sound propPress a button to give your mood a soundtrack.

Solar Instruments
archives · Solar-powered / controlled instrumentsInstruments that use sunlight for power and sound control.

Space Audition
archives · Two-player rhythm gameA two-player rhythm game in a futuristic arcade cabinet.

Waterloo Bridge
archives · Projection-mapping studyAn acrylic bridge catches light inspired by Monet.

Breath
archives · Balloon installationBalloons that evoke breathing and the fragility of life.

Reflection
archives · Tide-driven light installationReal-time tides translated into light.

Oiiai Cat
archives · Interactive meme installationCome closer: the cat starts spinning.

Glasses
archives · Glassblowing studiesA few experiments in blown glass.

KIND Bar Alarm
archives · Interactive alarm clockA custom alarm clock for KIND bars.

PlayStation × Reebok Phone
archives · Interactive telephoneA transparent phone fitted with custom electronics.

Shy Farting Statue
Firmware · interactive humidifierRelease notes and firmware when available.
No matching resources.
Try a different tag, year, or search term.
WORKSHOP / EXAMPLE CONTENT
Light & interaction
A small starting point for making an object respond.

Three small steps
- Look at a behaviour in an everyday object.
- Connect an input to a visible response.
- Give that response some character.
Materials
The slides and browser exercise are ready to explore. A downloadable handout can be added here when the workshop content is published.
01 / OBSERVE
Start with
a small gesture.
What does an object do when someone gets close?

INTERACTIVE TOOL
Light colour mixer
Three channels. One colour. Move a slider to try it.
RGB / 0–255
A screen preview; physical LEDs will look different.
How to use this tool
Change each channel to explore additive colour. The hexadecimal value updates with the preview.
PRODUCT UPDATES
Shy Farting Statue
Release notes and downloads, in one place.
No public release yet.
Firmware will appear here with its version, supported hardware and release notes when it is ready.
view archiveA SMALL STUDIO, A CURIOUS MIND
Making room
for play.
Hi, I’m Tian.
Light and sound are my favorite mediums. I make immersive, playful art that people can connect with and enjoy without needing much explanation.
My background spans mathematics, economics and music, along with NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP).
I work across 3D design and modeling, PCB and circuit design, projection and pixel mapping, microcontroller programming, woodworking and CNC.
For my résumé or project inquiries, get in touch.
tian@tian.art404 / OFF THE SHELF
This one wandered off.
The project may have moved. The Studio Index is a good place to look.
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