Tag: Arduino

  • Thread and Roses

    Thread and Roses

    2026, Capstone Fashion Collection

    Advised by Dr. Jinku Kim. Special thanks to Dr. Dan Novy and Professor Michael Burton for their expertise, Charlotte Kramer for modeling and helping with exhibit design, and John Horwath for documentation

    A fashion collection examining the history of women in the United States’ textile and garment industries in the 1900s-1910s. The garments in this collection use motors, LEDs, and microcontrollers in order to bring the garments to life. This collection was meant to combine the skills in emerging technology, fashion, and storytelling I had learned throughout my time in college. I wanted to shed light on the work of women in textiles in the past and the present and inspire audience member to take actions to help garment workers today.

    The Process

    For the textile portion of the project, I started by designing the garments – taking inspiration from the style of the early 1900s. I then used Clo3D to model the garments to fit my precise measurements. This allowed me to experiment with patterning with minimal material waste. I then laser cut the patterns and did final physical mockups using thrifted materials. I used both domestic and industrial machines when creating the final garments. I utilized “crazy quilting” and appliqué techniques to emphasize the hand-crafted aesthetic I wanted the collection to have.

    Meanwhile, I was also working with Arduino IDE and Arduino UNO and Flora microcontrollers in order to create technology-powered outfits. I also utilized LEDs, DC motors, and servo motors in order to realize my vision.

    The Collection

    With lots of trial and error, I landed on three ideas that helped tell the story of garment work in the 1910s.

    First, I designed an outfit to represent the dangers the girls faced. It has rotating wheels attached to a skirt and shirt. Both wheels have scenes of garment work on them, one representing the practice of piecework and one representing the long hours women were forced to work. The skirt has a representation of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire appliquéd on it.

    Next, I wanted an outfit which explored the way women fought back against this maltreatment. This outfit consists of a “crazy quilted” skirt, and a shirtwaist with light up sleeves. These sleeves are powered by a touch capacitive sensor, meaning that they begin to glow when the audience member holds hands with the model. This is meant to represent the power of unity in the garment workers’ fight against oppression.

    Finally, the last dress investigates the relationship between the clothing consumer and the clothing creator both in the past and today. This outfit consists of an elegant dress and overdress. The overdress uses servo motors and a wire skeleton to lift up at the touch of a button to reveal a patchwork design honoring the many people who create each and every one of our clothes.

    The Zine

    I did a lot of research for this project, and I felt it was vital to give the viewer a crash course on textile history in order to understand how we have gotten to this moment in fashion production. I designed and Riso printed this zine in order to give a background on the history of the garments to the audience. I also printed the back of every zine, so it folds out into a poster with tips on how you can help garment workers today. I also included hand drawn diagrams of how to do basic repairs and stitches on your own clothes.

    Exhibition

    I exhibited this piece on April 30th, 2026 and May 1st, 2026 at the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts. I wanted the space to feel cozy and inviting and to honor the women throughout history who have worked with textiles. I used yarn to connect the three garments and give the audience a direction through the exhibit. My sister and I modeled two of the garments and the third was displayed. I also had a sewing and fiber crafts circle where viewers could sit and practice the sewing tips contained on the back of their zines.

    Poster image credit to the Kheel Center. Other sources and image credits available here: https://go.unl.edu/thread_roses_zine_sources

  • “Enceladus” Production Design

    “Enceladus” Production Design

    2025, Short Film

    Director: Isaiah Griffith

    Producers: Isaiah Griffith, Marley Hewitt, Simon Podliska, Dito

    Production and Costume Designer: Eva Kramer

    Enceladus is a short sci-fi film exploring corporate control of resources and water scarcity. The main set piece and structure was built previously by my peers as part of their immersive experience Capstone project. My job was to adjust, decorate, and add props and set pieces to transform the immersive experience into a film set that better reflected the script. I examined the script and redesigned the submarine set in order to fulfill the needs and the story and reflect the lived in feel of the submarine. I designed both the updated layout of the set and several new machines that were key to the plot. As the Production Designer, I led a talented Art Department team. I organized and assigned tasks, communicated between my team and the Director and Producers, and also designed and sourced the costumes for the film. I also assisted on set to make sure that the set and costumes stayed consistent. Throughout this process I worked with Arduino, Adobe Illustrator, and Procreate, as well as with physical tools and materials.

    Photo by Keren Carlson @kerencarlsonphotography
  • Carousel Skirt

    Carousel Skirt

    2024, Wearable

    Project by Eva Kramer with technical support from Professor Dan Novy (University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts)

    Inspired by a historic carousel in Colorado, I designed and developed a wearable carousel skirt using digital fabrication techniques. I replicated the spokes of the carousel in Adobe Illustrator to create the structure of the skirt, then I laser cut these pieces from plywood and hand painted them with help from my friends. I experimented with 3D printing the carousel animals, but I landed on laser cutting animals and hand painting them as well, matching the rustic aesthetic of the panels. I used LED lights to give light to the carousel and a speaker to play carousel music. I also designed a belt mechanism to rotate the carousel around the waist using a continuous rotation servo motor programmed with Arduino. I modeled this in Rhino and 3D printed a small test version to display at Spring 2025 Open Studios at the Johnny Carson School for Emerging Media Arts in Lincoln, NE.