My Final Project
I'm excited to continue my studies in Fabricademy 2026 and Fab Learning Academy within Fabacademy 2026. I will continue building on my final project with Fabricademy here within Fabacademy. Doing this will allow me to create a more tech forward final project for Fabricademy and a more artistic and comunal final project with Fabacademy. I believe that both of those approaches will also help in the development of a educational framework for Fab Learning Academy.
Inspiration
I want to create A single artifact that recruits, teaches, and showcases bio-materials + interaction design. In the USA, school pride is shared across boundaries. It is felt by current students, alumni, and even Kindergarten students that love watching the big game on saturdays with their community. A longstanding tradition within this experience is the prescence of visual representations of pride for a school. Historically, that has been represented by school mascots. The mascot of Fort Valley State University is the wildcat and is modeled from a species of species of cat found specifically in North America and frequently across the state of Georgia. My final project creates an interactive artifact that showcases what is possible within the FVSU Fab Lab as relates to the community and world around it.
I decided to completely change my project once I began Fabacademy and realized that I would not be experiencing the three Academany courses in the way I originally hoped
Without going too far into details, this year has been one battle after another, professionally and personally. My final project is a result of those battles. I was inspired to create this work while searching for support. My own search was the catalyst and guiding light moving forward.
I'm an artist and an entrepreneur.
I was born an artist but became an entrepreneur as a student and single mother at Howard University in Washington, DC. I needed ways to sustain myself and my child while simultaneously chasing the dream of graduation. I spent sleepless nights in the computer lab attempting to juggle all of the above. This is in the early 2010s when entrepreneurship was still very tethered to degrees in business from the best schools. While juggling motherhood and classes and two jobs, I was contacted by a friend to help with that year's homecoming. Howard University's homecomings are a BIG deal. She'd hired a photographer from Miami who had been delayed because of flight changes. I was the only other person she knew locally with a camera. I was shocked when she reached out to me but excited, and I told her I'd give it a shot. That year was the year Drake made a surprise apperance. The images of him on stage with a red Howard University sweater on are mine, as every other photographer was trampled by the excited crowd. I wrapped that year's homecoming up with a long list of celebrity interviews and timeless photos to add to my resume. The work was created for STARVED magazine (Culture Starved) created by Bola (Olubola) Olusanya.
As i mentioned before, entrepreneurship was still a space for graduates of business programs for the most part. Especially if you were an entrepreneur that would make enough money to sustain yourself and your family. Bola, was creating a space for entrepreneurs that highlighted these struggles and also praised their innovation across different mediums. STARVED Magazine did a wonderful job but she also took it a step further in the initation of Howard University's "Howards Very Own" (Howard University's first entrepreneurship club) which allowed entrepreneurs and small business owners across the DMV to showcase their work and increase their businesses. She is also the founder of Naija Made (Naija Made Me), a platform for Nigerian artists and innovators. I learned how to make my first website, how to market, and how to present myself as an entrepreneur through my friendship with her. We would spend all night in the computer lab on campus building our brands and businesses side by side. Me looking over her shoulder and asking her questions endlessly and her happily explaining it all. She was a student in the School of Business at Howard University so I couldn't have had a better teacher.
Because of that initial resume builder at Howard's Homecoming, my business immediately skyrocketed. I became the photographer for a long list of celebrities, athletes, business owners, students, aspiring artists and more right as instagram and "influencing" became popular. Cell phones were still a bit away from providing high quality photos for quick social media marketing and I was well known for being able to take your picture at 1pm and have an IG ready edited and scaled photo for posting no later than 1:30. Because of this I was often hired by top entertainment companies and was even offered modeling opportunities because of this. I also eventually was hired as a fashion designer by a client once they saw some of my work and taught myself how to make every textile you can imagine.
I continued to grow and scale in every direction alongside my friends and collegues, and I'm grateful that we stayed in touch and continued collaborating over the years. This was my first experience with what I now consider micro incubation or comunal incubation. Years later I would become the Director of Startup Macon, an entrepreneurship ecosystem builder for entrepreneurs and small busisness owners in my hometown. I leaned on my own experiences and what I gained from the influence of my community at Howard University to build a program that was impactful. During my time as Director, I learned of the opportunity to become the manager of a Fab Lab being created at Fort Valley State University. After an inspirational conversation with Chevron Energy's Karen Rawls, I was excited to toss my hat in the ring. I wanted to know if spaces like Fab Labs really could make almost anything and how that could impact my hometown, especially entrepreneurs. I got the job and it's been 3 years since I began.
Learning about the fab network and incorporating its teachings into my community has felt very similar to learning about business and watching entrepreneurship among influencers and students grow at and around Howard University. Within the Fab Network you have individuals who are extremely talented and knowledgeable. Naturally, not everyone you meet is interested in seeing you grow; however, there are some gems that remind me of my dear friend Bola. Those individuals make it easy to see a future beyond what is presented commercially into a world that allows you to explore your natural talents and move them into a space of innovation and ownership.
My hope is that this device is a 'pocket sized Bola' for anyone interested in innovation. A cheerleader, a guide, a reminder of connectedness. I lost my friend in 2021. I've carried her in my heart every moment since then. I've leaned on the memory of her encouragment during times of isolation and confusion. I clearly remember her belief that none of us are alone in those feelings and communities can be created not only to highlight that fact, but provide guidance through and into a space of creation. I miss her deeply and dedicating my final project to her efforts is an honor.
My final project is a system that integrates haptic feedback and prompting to guide innovators through the conceptual and into reality.
Research
I've had to do a lot of research in modeling techniques, sensors, motors, and bio engineered materials.
"From the first, I made my learning, what little it was, useful every way I could." - Mary McLeod Bethune
Final Project Requirements List
| Requirement | Description | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| What does it do? | The wearable provides haptic feedback. The console stores information. The two devices communicate wirelessly and provide users a way to move through innovative iterations while timestamping their ideas. | $N/A | Link to Systems Integration Week |
| Who's done what beforehand? | I was inspired by these designers and former Fabacademy Students | $N/A | Link to Page of Instructors who Assisted |
| What did you design? | I designed the console, the wearable, the PCBs for both the wearable and the console, the online interface and application that stores information. | $N/A | Links to Electronics Design Week, Interface and Applications Week and Computer Aided Design Week. |
| What sources did you use? | I utilizd sources from previous fabacademy graduates. | $N/A | Link to previous graduates. |
| What materials and components were used? | PLA, 100% Cotton, PCB A [Xiao nRF52840-SMD, LCD Screen, Keyboard, ]. PCB B [Xiao nRF52840-SMD, Mosfet, Diode] | $.15, $.50, $.15.00, $10.00 | Links to Components |
| Where did they come from? | The FVSU Fab Lab, Amazon, MicroCenter | $N/A | Links to Sources |
| How much did they cost? | See Section Above for Individual Costs, Total Project Cost | $100 | N/A |
| What parts and systems were made? | the wearable was made, the console was made, the PCBs were made | $N/A | N/A |
| What processes were used? | CAD and CAM processes were used, see documentation for more information | $N/A | Links to Software and Weekly Documentation |
| What questions were answered? | Can an integrated device provide innovators support in the creation of concepts and products. | $N/A | N/A |
| What worked? What didn't? | Every week had problems that needed resolutions. Please see each week for more details. This page also provides more information within the 'problems' section | $N/A | N/A |
| How was it evaluated? | Honestly, this was an extremely lonely process. | $N/A | N/A |
| What are the implications? | I hope that this project represents the begninning of conversations that bridge the needs of individuals with the needs of innovation. | N/A | N/A |
CAD Processes
2D Modeling
Hand Drawn Sketches
Modeling in Software
Inkscape
Inkstitch
KiCad
3D Modeling
Fusion 360
Prusa Slicer
BOM
Materials
Note: Materials List will be updated as the project progresses
| Qty | Description | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | 22.00 $ | https://amazon.com/testoe | One Color |
| Bio Engineered Resin - Recipie by Heaven Whitby | 22.00 $ | https://amazon.com/testoe | |
| Bio Engineered Silicone - Recipie by Heaven Whitby | 22.00 $ | https://amazon.com/testoe | |
| Material four | 22.00 $ | https://amazon.com/testoe |