Interactive seating for Lexus

December’s Design Week Miami 2024 carried our footprint, especially in the form of a unique scent-related experience. Interactive seating, which enticed visitors not only with its look but also with its smell, became a key element of the multi-sensory installation by design and research studio Crafting Plastics. On the project, inspired by the Lexus LF-ZC concept car, we covered the design and production of the seating hardware.

An experience for all the senses

The entire installation was called Liminal Cycles and visitors were able to explore the innovations of Crafting Plastics and Lexus in the field of personalisation and responsible design. It included seating sculptures inspired by the shape of the LF-ZC’s headrest, releasing a fine mist with a Lexus-inspired scent. They created a multi-sensory haven for visitors to relax in the garden area of the exhibition. The seating was made from Nuatan® bioplastic using 3D printing technology.

Description of the device

Our chief engineer Samuel was faced with an extremely challenging task. He had to design, manufacture, develop software and thoroughly test five interactive seating devices in one month. Integrated into a pre-defined design, these devices were designed to diffuse scent into the environment. Their operation was not continuous – the intensity of the diffuser was dynamically adjusted to the visitor’s distance. The devices had to be completely autonomous, without the need for power cables or scent refills, and ensure operation for a minimum of eight hours. An important part of the solution was a dedicated tablet that allowed the battery status to be monitored, the remaining run time to be tracked and the intensity of the scent diffusion to be adjusted remotely.

Each session was equipped with a separate unit that included a liquid reservoir, battery storage, a pump and a diffuser with four nozzles. The devices were connected via Wi-Fi to an external router that provided control. A custom-cut and sculpted enclosure contained the reservoir, battery storage, and pump. Tubing connected the pump to the diffuser, which was mounted on the inside of the seating grille. The intensity of the scent was automatically adjusted according to the distance of the visitor, which was provided by an optical sensor.

Each unit integrated in the seating contained:

1. The fluid reservoir: The 3 litre capacity ensured enough fragrance for all-day use.
2. Battery storage: A self-contained power supply system without the need for cables enabled autonomous operation for a minimum of 8 hours.
3. Pump and diffuser: Precise fragrance dispensing through four nozzles in a milled aluminum housing.
4. Wifi module: For remote control and monitoring via a dedicated tablet.

Challenges and solutions

The project brought with it a number of technical challenges:

1. Short lead time – Five complete devices had to be designed, manufactured and tested in one month. We managed this pressure through efficient organization and selection of appropriate materials and technologies.
2. Battery life – We used high capacity batteries that ensured autonomous operation throughout the exhibition without the need for recharging
3. Compatibility with American voltage – The devices were tested in Slovak conditions, but at the same time adapted to operate at 110 V, which is the standard in the USA.
4. Wifi Connection Stability – Thanks to a high quality router and testing different scenarios, we ensured seamless connectivity.
   Nozzle issues – Constantly turning the system on and off was causing nozzle clogging, which we solved by placing a fan that always dispersed the residual fluid

Participating in this project was not only a challenge for us, but also an opportunity to show that the combination of technology and design can bring a unique experience. If you are looking for a reliable partner for the implementation of innovative projects, do not hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to help you turn your ideas into reality.