(Archive) Merlett: A Struggling Creature

Concept

Merlett explores emotional connections with materials and machines. Vent tubes, usually industrial and rigid, are transformed into a fragile, worm-like artifact that moves, vibrates, and responds to touch. It challenges traditional design by prioritizing expressivity and ambiguity over utility.

Interaction

Visitors engage through hand movements: plucking, tracing, interlocking, or caressing, which trigger haptic, visual, and auditory responses. These interactions range from discomfort to empathy, creating a space for reflection on care, connection, and human–machine relationships.

Process

The design followed a material-driven and research-through-design approach. By experimenting with aluminum and plastic vent tubes, layering movement, sound, and tactile feedback, Merlett became a dynamic, performative object with life-like qualities. Ambiguity and unpredictability guided the iterations.