Home
Speculative DesignSilent Vinyl Record | Design for Justice
Hustling Stamp | Social Design
Trapped by Freedom | Explore Humanity

Virtual Production
After Humanity: Echoes of Ijen
Exhibition Design
Blowing Dandelions | Data Visualization
Business Plan
Tomorrow Taipa | Social Service
Event Poster
She Rewires




CV
About 
Instagram & Rednote
 

Speculative DesignDec.2024 - Jan. 2025 Individual Work
TRAPPED BY FREEDOM
OVERVIEW
From ancient Greece to the present day, humanity’s longing for freedom seems never-ending. Are we truly chasing ‘freedom’ itself, or are we lost in an idealized vision and fantasy of it?

In this work, I use a mechanical device to control the movement of shaving tools as they carve into clay, shaping the pottery. Through this unexpected interaction, I invite people to experience the uncertainty one faces in the pursuit of freedom, and to reflect on what their own version of freedom truly means.
DESIGN CONCEPT
Clay is extremely malleable, and shaping it is a process that feels both free and under control. I chose clay as the medium to express the tension between freedom and certainty. 

To explore this, I designed a mechanical system that replaces the participant’s hand with programmed motion during the trimming process.

Througn the unexpected texture of the clay, I want people to reflect that freedom is more than just having complete control. DESIGN MATERIAL 4 Types of Clay: 

• Porcelain Clay
  
• Stoneware Clay
  
• Yellow Earthenware Clay
  
• Red Earthenware Clay
  

Mechanical Systems:

• 2 Stepper Motors
  
• Dual-axis Driver Board
  
• 2 A4988 Drivers
  
• XY Axis Linear Rail
  
• Arduino UNO board
  

4 Trimming Tools:

• 4 Tools with jagged edges
  
• Brush-style trimming tool
  
• Tools with steel wire brush    
  
• Tools with steel wire brush

1. PURSUIT OF FREEDOM It seems like humanity's longing for freedom never ends... 
2. HOW PEOPLE VIEW FREEDOM?   "Freedom is having the right to refuse."

"I used to skip class, thinking it was cool, but now I realized that was just avoiding reality—it wasn’t real freedom.”
  "Freedom is a state of having no boundaries in the mind.”   
"During my academic journey, I don't feel a lack of material things, but an inner emptiness, and this lack of freedom has lasted for a long time."

“Do you feel free now?
In my freedom satisfaction survey, only 1/6 people thinks they are free, while the rest feel constrained and believe their sense of freedom is long gone.

INSPIRATION:
Humanity craves freedom, yet it seems like freedom is always out of reach.
Are we chasing 'freedom' itself, or are we lost in an idealized vision and fantasy of it?
3. IS IT REALLY POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE FREEDOM?I prepared an unstructured interview to find out how people perceive freedom. 
I began with the question: Do you believe freedom is truly attainable?

Mainstream Society

"I haven't escaped society's pressure for a 'good job' and 'stable life.'

Restricted But Safe

"At first, I hate this rigid, structured way of life, but over time, I lost the courage to pursue.... It gradually became my comfort zone."

Self-handicapping

"...I love photography, but...would be financially unstable."

"Traveling world is the ultimate freedom for me, but what if I run out of money?"

INSIGHT 1:

People engage in self-handicapping when pursuing freedom, assuming that it comes with uncertainty and overwhelming responsibilities they cannot bear.

Self-handicapping

4. DOES FREEDOM MEAN HAVING EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL?





5. CLAY RESEARCH 6. DESIGN CONCEPT

The Life Cycle of Clay

Humanity's Pursuit of Freedom

Design Idea

What if we change the path of trimming to allow people to experience the uncertainty faced when pursuing freedom?

Design Concept

I designed a mechanical system that replaces the participant's hand with programmed motion during clay trimming. Users can choose the trimming tool, but the final texture may not match their expectations, as the tool's movement is program-controlled.

This unexpected texture reflects that freedom is not just about control; it also involves making decisions in uncertainty and accepting responsibility for the consequences.


7. EXPERIMENT & METHOD

4 Types of Clay

4 Trimming Tools

Clay 

Trimming Tools

Textures

Motion

8. TECHNICAL DESIGN & CODING

Hardware

Function

2 Stepper Motors:
Provide precise horizontal and vertical movement.





Dual-axis Driver Board: Coordinates and controls the synchronized movement of the two stepper motors.




2 A4988 Drivers:
Supply power and control signals to each stepper motor.

Circuit Diagram

Coding

Trimming Tool

Adjustments

© 2025 by Chuyao Dong. All rights reserved.