Here are some drawings of the Magic Pixels that we want to share with you.

Here are our first prototypes of the Light Pixels.

First light/seat Pixel prototype.

Our Sound Pixel mock-up's. Imagine a field of these Pixels that you can tune to your own sound transmitter.

The 'radios' are almost there. This is our first test of the sound field. Unfortunately, we have not video recorded this. We should definitely do that for the next test.

Great job - first prototype of the Pixels!!

This is our first test of disassembling used radios. We want to allow some of the Pixels to create a field of sound.

Trying to figure out the programming of the Arduino for the light!

Other testing happening simultaneous to the testing of the Magic Pixels.

First Ardruino test to allow for light in the Pixels to respond to sound. By allowing light to pulse in response to the level of noise around it, the Mobile Media Lab will mark its visual presence and will visualize the energies around it.

The Magic Team is working on the idea that light and sound are forms of media that can be used to create, transform and reshape space.

Frame prototype & closure

A prototype model out of MDF and aluminum. Four aluminum angles sit inside the box frame, creating a space for the pixel to easily slide in. To hold the box in place, a bungee cord system was devised. We didn't like the store-bought bungee cords, so we made our own.

How Do You Begin Designing A Mobile Media Lab?

What do you know about Regent Park? Before approaching the idea of designing this Mobile Media Lab for the youth of Regent Park Focus we've done our best to strip away any misconceptions each of us may have had about the area. Through extensive research we've wiped the slate clean. This was a vital first step towards being able to understand how to approach the project and how to best serve and represent the youth of Regent Park Focus. (See 'Research' Tab)

As a culmination to this project, we may be constructing a Mobile Media Lab but what we're designing is a means for a community, which is currently undergoing immense change, to express itself to its neightbours and to the city of Toronto as a whole via the best way it knows how -- MEDIA!

Partially based on the idea of a post-apocalyptic mass exodus from an area we began this design challenge with the knowledge of what Regent Park was, what it is and what it might become -- asking the question: If you had to leave your community right now, what would you take with you and how would you adapt over time to become mobile?

Through weekly workshops, we've learned from the youth of Regent Park Focus what their most valued possessions are both physical and non-physical. We've also learned about the immense voice that this collective group of youth has and we look forward to giving them the best platform possible to make that voice heard.

- Danielle

Early prototypes

Some early testing for the aluminum frame using bolted connections. It was tricky to get so many nuts and bolts into a small joint.