Atreyu is a design research project to explore toolkits that facilitate interactive prototyping for designers. Atreyu is a modular system for prototyping interactions by sketching code without programming. No programming skill is required to create hardware interactions.






5 months


Interaction Designer

Atreyu is designed as a modular grid of inputs and outputs in which designers can establish their own interactions.  The black wire temporarily connects two IO modules (white) to establish a relationship between them. After the wire is removed, the master module (red) remembers the relationship between the input and outputs. Black modules are passive, and only transmit signal and power.

A person using Atreyu
Example of Atreyu in use

The research focused on creating structures and how to establish interactivity within the system. A grid of up to 30 modules could be connected with each other, allowing designers to build interactive structures. By connecting different IO modules, designers can experiment with different behaviors without writing code.

Storyboard of Atreyu, an initial sketch of the concept

One of the initial sketches of Atreyu

Atreyu was iteratively designed through 5 iterations. Each iteration refined the concept, gradually shifting from proof-of-concepts that demonstrated the technical principle, to an aesthetically refined toolkit ready to be used by designers.

A rough prototype of Atreyu, demonstrating the technical principle
Proof-of-concept prototype of Atreyu from the 3rd iteration.
Custom PCBs were designed that allowed the integration of an Arduino Nano, several connectors, and a custom IO shield to connect a dedicated input or output component. Each module was self-contained and could be attached anywhere in the network.

Custom domain specific icons, designed for Atrias

In the final iteration, 3D-printed embodiments for the printed circuitboards were designed. This helped each module to be robust and self-contained. Additionally, each IO module had their own graphic design to indicate how to use them (buttons, knobs, sensors, logic).

Technical diagram of the embodiment of Atreyu

Component examples in Figma that also have a React counterpart

At the final exhibition, Atreyu was demonstrated. The design was robust enough to be used, reused, and to create interactive structures. The system can be used to quickly sketch in hardware, allowing designers to demonstrate their idea in reality.

Photo of people using Atreyu, taking from above looking down on them.
A picture of Atreyu on a table. Different triangles connected to each other, forming a grid.

Atreyu was published at TEI 2011. Even though the system had its limitations (large form-factor, difficult connectors, only simple logic relations), it demonstrated that sketching in hardware has great potential in the (interactive) design process.

A person using Atreyu on a table. The background says: explore your interactions

Atreyu in use, the system remembers relationships between modules


Ainhoa Ostolaza
Alice Mela
Palma Fontana
Thijs Waardenburg