Little Wind Phone Project

For The Little Wind Phone Project, I worked closely with the founder from the earliest stages of the project to develop the design, prototype the concept, and ultimately build the first wind phones installed around Maryland. Because wind phones originated in Japan, I drew from Japanese architecture and woodworking for the visual language, ultimately using the building that houses the Bonsai garden at the National Arboretum for inspiration. My role encompassed the full design and fabrication process, from developing the overall aesthetic and working through design iterations to creating prototypes, determining the best construction methods, and producing the finished units.

A major consideration was finding a balance between an effective brand design and an efficient fabrication process. Working within the constraints of a single sheet of plywood, I designed the Wind Phone boxes to maximize the number of units that could be produced from each sheet while minimizing waste. I designed the joinery and assembly methods to be straightforward and repeatable, allowing the project to scale while maintaining a consistent look and quality. After prototyping and refining the design, I built the first production units and helped establish a process that could be replicated easily. What began as a small local project has since grown into a nonprofit providing wind phones to communities across the country.