Theremin Wearable Bag
Wearable Technology Design & Fabrication
Objective: Create a wearable electronic theremin instrument that the user can play in any environment.
Result: A fully functional handbag with a battery-powered theremin circuit board and speaker built into it.
Type: Solo Project
My Role: Designer, 3d fabricator
Duration: 4 weeks
Tools: Circuitry, Laser Cutting, Sewing, Patternmaking
Project Overview
Vision and Function
The Theremin Bag has a theremin circuit and speaker built into the bag, while also being a fully functional bag that can carry the wearer’s objects. The Theremin Bag allows the wearer to creatively express themselves through sound, communicating their mood and emotions.
Process
Circuit
In order to make the circuit feel aesthetically integrated with the bag’s design and materials, I put a piece of perforated leather between the PCB and the electronic components so it looked almost like the components were sewn into the leather.
Ideation
After trying out a theremin and being fascinated by how it makes sound without being touched, I decided to try to integrate a simpler version of a theremin into some sort of a wearable.
First I considered sewing a theremin into a garment, but because theremins work with capacitance, it was important that there be some distance between the theremin and the user so the theremin would work properly. Putting the theremin on a bag seemed like an interesting solution to try.
I tinkered around trying to design and build a simple theremin myself, but I wasn’t satisfied with the results. Then I came across a very cool design by David Levi and decided to use that with some modifications, and to design an original bag around it.
I researched hand bag design and trends, and a variety of materials, and ideated ways to attach the theremin to the bag.
My final sketch shows how I combined different materials (metallic foil printed linen, acrylic, circuitry, speaker, and trimmings) to create the theremin bag.
Patternmaking
To make the bag, I made a paper pattern based on my sketch and sewed up a quick muslin prototype to figure out the right order to sew all the pieces together. I then prepared the shell fabric by fusing a stiff interfacing to the backside. I cut out the pattern pieces for the bag exterior shell and the lining.
Laser Cutting
Using Illustrator, I designed the acrylic mounts that would go on the front of the bag and would hold the circuit board and speaker. I used the Universal Laser Cutter to cut out the pieces in thin black acrylic. I cut small holes around the outer edge of the mounts so I could hand sew them to the bag. I cut additional holes in the middle of the mounts for the speaker and circuit board to fit into.
Fabrication
I machine sewed the bag pieces together, hand sewed the acrylic mount to the front of the bag, attached the theremin, then sewed in the bag’s lining which has a pocket for the battery pack.
