‘Radical interfaces’ wanders beyond the conventional boundaries of interaction design by rethinking the
utilitarian frameworks that dominate the design industry. It aims to discover the playful and open-ended
spirit of making by combining unconventional web applications, DIY (Do It Yourself) electronics, and
atypical graphic design methods that prioritize experimentation and individuality. It approaches interfaces
as playgrounds rather than tools.
Through five core prototypes - a font that you can physically pump air into, an Excel styled spreadsheet
as a drawing tool, a 3D application that uses words as coordinates, typing with a rotary phone, and an
animation pipeline for a dot-matrix display, I try to articulate ‘radical’, by addressing issues of openness,
materiality, criticality, and reflection.
This research combines mutually informed research through design and observational analysis by
developing prototypes, documenting their evolution and reflecting on their intended and unintended
uses, allowing for analysis focused on their reflective and critical potentials.
By building open source and malleable tools that can be built upon, re-purposed or even reinvented,
‘Radical interfaces’ aims to refresh our relationship with technology from being passive consumers to
active makers.