PUNK PUFFER 

In class when we were shown the Punk style studs/spikes, I don’t know why I realized I’d never thought of how easy it would be to acquire those materials. As someone with some recycled/thrifted leatherware that I’ve wanted to work with, a world opened up! In conjunction with a soft robotics assignment, I decided to try and make an Inflatable Punk Puffer Fish.

My First steps were to collect materials, this butcher’s style skirt would be great. I wasn’t planning on it but pictured in the upper left is a bag I also ended up using material from; it’s leather is significantly stiffer which provides a different effect.

I foolishly was not documenting during this process, but the next step was very simple as  well: I cut the leather and then randomly applied spikes and two “eye” studs to see what would happen. I then sewed the enclosure shut and placed a balloon attached to a tube inside. Fitting for the punk theme and as this was my first prototype, I sealed the two layers of leather with sewing pins rather than a more permanent solution. 
Here is this first round in action.

For my second attempt, I decided to try and construct a stiffer bottom so that it didn’t turn into a round object but more just the top half. The process was much the same, except I was unable to create any seams with the sewing machine as this leather was quite thick. 

As you can see in *this video* , the ballooning effect is still present. However the design does feel cleaner and punker too. As I move forward with this project I want to create a solid, sturdy base/pedastal for this little guy. I will also look into puppetry mechanics rather than inflation. I think the aesthetic and my ultimate goal (simple, decorative art toy) will be lended to better as a device to be controlled by hand.