Xiangzhi Zhao

The design of this series revolves around the concept of "transforming energy into a poetic exploration of the physical world." Guided by suggestions from the Stem Player design team, a series of three products was created.

A "Torch"

The first design draws inspiration from the scene of primitive humans holding torches while exploring the wilderness. A burning wooden stick directly transforms energy into light, and this light became the most crucial resource for early humans to explore the world. In this design, the flashlight functions as an external light source. It has no complex features, nor does it require a switch—just plug it into a power bank and it lights up, much like the primitive torch. When the light source is depleted, darkness returns, marking the end of the exploration.

A One-Way Compass

The second product offers a poetic experience of randomly exploring hidden corners of a city. Once plugged into a power bank, the device randomly selects a destination and displays a letter clue through a central 4×4 LED matrix. It is powered by an external battery to ensure user privacy—simply unplug the battery and the device completely shuts down. Each time the battery is reconnected, the device resets entirely, without continuing the previous journey. Thus, every exploration is a once-in-a-lifetime encounter, a unique and unrepeatable experience.

A Time Container

The third product is inspired by the water clock, establishing a direct connection between energy consumption and the passage of time. As the device operates, LED bulbs continuously consume power, visually displaying the flow of energy from the power bank into the “container” where it gradually accumulates. Users can clearly perceive the reduction of electrical energy as synchronized with the passage of time. I aim to give the concept of time a more tangible, physical form—so that in witnessing the slow depletion of power, one can also experience the poetic beauty of time gently slipping away.