Special Interest

Brainstorm: Prototyping as Research

Mica Bendezu

30 Sep 2025 — 2 min read

The product of a self-guided brainstorm session.

After pilot testing a co-design brainstorming activity, I decided to use the activity on myself to generate ideas that address or encapsulate high-impact recreation at state parks. Some of the ideas I generated in this activity were useful or inspirational to me when creating more developed conjectures.

Clothing/gear cleaning

Poster/signage designs, sketches of a clothes cleaning station and a 'hitchhiker' deposit box.

Sketches of signage meant to educate people on how invasive species spread.

Souvenirs

An interactive map and 'souvenir' dropbox meant to reduce the spread of invasive species.

More in-depth sketch of a 'hitchhiker deposit box' and station, meant to educate visitors on what invasive species are and stop their spread.

Littering and waste disposal

Slogans for anti-littering signage, and a sketch of a fun trash bin.

Off-trail hiking/biking

Signs and symbolic trail blockers meant to keep people on official trails and educate them on why they shouldn't walk off trail.

Wildlife

Signs that would teach people not to approach or follow animals.

No generative AI was used in the creation of this post or its content.

Survey

Distributed to parents in the Mamaroneck School District, specifically families of students at Central Elementary School. The school has approximately 550 students, and the survey was designed to reach the parents of those children. Parents were instructed to complete the survey with all of their children in mind, considering differences

WonderView

Wonder View is an immersive light experience designed to keep children in the backseat visually and educationally engaged. Built-in tablets on the back of the front seats allow children to interact by choosing from categories such as stargazing, cloud watching, and plane viewing. Once a category is selected, a colorful

Ambient Drive Control

Ambient Drive Control is a family-friendly feature designed to enhance every car ride by shaping the atmosphere around passengers’ needs. Inspired by research into how lighting, color, acoustics, textures, and subtle scents can profoundly influence human experience, this feature allows users to select from curated moods, including: Sleepy, Energized, Chatty,

Sensory Seam

Sensory Seam is a tactile haven for children, designed to help them relieve tension, regulate emotions, or simply stay mentally stimulated. By interacting with built-in fidgets or tracing their fingers across textured surfaces, children can engage their sensory needs in calming and playful ways. My initial research at the Wexner