Published -
March 31, 2025
Role: Sculptor
Tools & Materials: Foam cutter, foam, clay, foam glue, armature wire, liquid latex, fabric, acrylic paint
Timeline: 1 week
Brief: Transform a household electronic by creating a "skin" that gives it personality.
I chose my hairdryer as the base and sculpted a foam skin inspired by Birdo from Mario. I shaped and carved the foam to fit the form, reinforcing the structure with embedded armature wire before assembling the head.
To create a cohesive texture, I mixed neon pink acrylic paint into liquid latex and coated the foam for a smooth, flexible skin. The eyes were sculpted from foam, refined with clay for depth, and painted with liquid latex and acrylics for detail. Finally, I crafted Birdo’s signature bow from neoprene fabric, painting and attaching it to complete the look.
This was one of my favorite projects from my animatronics course, as it reinforced my love for physical prototyping and fabrication. The balance of technical problem-solving and playful creativity made it a joy to work on, proving that even a simple household object can become something unexpectedly delightful.
