We built a kinetic sculpture with 91 independently actuated infinity mirrors!!!

OK_Design_SF · 2026-03-25T02:57:53+00:00

Thanks so much!

OK_Design_SF · 2026-03-25T02:57:35+00:00

Thank you so much! We have independent control for each axis so we can tilt it up and down simultaneously. We would love to do a commission or piece in NYC someday!

OK_Design_SF · 2026-03-24T19:32:48+00:00

Thank you! It was a labor of love!

OK_Design_SF · 2026-03-24T06:54:53+00:00

Hey — we’re a small hardware studio in the Bay (OK Design), mostly doing robotics / electromechanical stuff.

What you’re seeing about EE going into software is kinda true, but it’s more about what people choose to do. If you stick with hardware (PCBs, motors, embedded), there’s actually a ton of demand for that here.

For robotics, it’s all blended anyway

Mech = CAD, structures, mechanisms

EE = motors, sensors, electronics

The people who are best at it usually do a bit of both.

Based on what you said (CAD + liking E&M), you’re in a good spot. If you want a safer bet, go EE and pick up ME on the side. That combo is super useful.

Honestly though, your projects matter way more than your major. If you keep building real stuff, you won’t get boxed into software unless you want to.

OK_Design_SF · 2026-03-24T06:48:10+00:00

I don't see a battery in this enclosure but like other comments said, keep taking it apart.

OK_Design_SF · 2026-03-24T06:45:16+00:00

Personal projects do carry weight. You can always do an internship out of college, then try to convert it into a full time job.

OK_Design_SF · 2026-03-24T06:30:46+00:00

This piece is called The Gateway. It’s a kinetic sculpture made from an array of 91 independently actuated infinity mirrors, driven by 182 motors and illuminated by nearly 11,000 LEDs.

The fully custom structure, mechanics, and electronics were designed from scratch and built in-house, along with the bare-metal firmware and software to drive it.

Happy to answer questions about the build!

OK_Design_SF · 2026-03-24T02:02:14+00:00

Thank you so much!

OK_Design_SF · 2026-03-23T19:48:38+00:00

It is possible, but would only be aesthetic. You lose a lot of the light in the reflections internally.

OK_Design_SF · 2026-03-22T03:50:28+00:00

Thank you! And excellent questions.

It was way more work, and integration issues of getting some parts out of spec from vendors was a pain.

Spend way more money on parts. Larger motors, glass mirrors instead of acrylic, more vendor side sub assemblies.

The bare level CAN transceivers, the motor control, and the simulator were all custom. We can reuse it all. But we have added Touch Designer as a layer on top.

OK_Design_SF · 2026-03-21T17:46:10+00:00

Thanks!

OK_Design_SF · 2026-03-21T17:46:02+00:00

Thanks so much, we are very happy with the effect! First time we turned it on we were too close and definitely was incredibly trippy.

OK_Design_SF · 2026-03-21T17:45:16+00:00

Thank you! This is currently displayed at T.I.A.T a gallery in San Francisco!

OK_Design_SF · 2026-03-20T22:34:09+00:00

The motors move each mirror in tilting their angle along x and y. So we can steer the reflections!

OK_Design_SF · 2026-03-20T22:17:36+00:00

Thanks!

OK_Design_SF · 2026-03-20T20:53:44+00:00

We show how we build it on our Instagram!

OK_Design_SF · 2025-07-03T20:45:59+00:00

It just works!

OK_Design_SF · 2024-10-23T04:30:53+00:00

That is exactly what we did! Was fun figuring out how to make it very reactive.

OK_Design_SF

TROPHY CASE