This week focused on continuing physical fabrication and preparing for the upcoming Halves presentation.

Our foam flowers arrived, and we began attaching wires to them so they can be easily installed onto the entrance arch. At the same time, we started dyeing the flowers to better match our visual palette and overall art direction.

On the digital side, the art team updated the flower models, and the programming team is preparing to test these updated assets in the experience. We also began experimenting with multisensory elements by borrowing a scent machine from a faculty member and exploring how to integrate it into the installation.

For hardware, we continued prototyping by 3D printing components, including an updated watering can prototype for interaction testing.

We were also fortunate to receive a donation of synthetic soil from a local plastics company. Designing a digging interaction in the CAVERN has been challenging, as we want to avoid damaging the space or creating a mess. This material provided a practical solution, allowing us to prototype the digging interaction in a way that is safe, reusable, and easy to maintain, while still preserving the tactile quality we were aiming for.

Overall, this week was largely focused on preparing for Halves—making sure we have a presentable and functional version of the experience that communicates our direction clearly.