Psyphantys -
The Soul Revealer
The Project
Psyphantys reinterprets the Ouija board as a dialogue between sound and image. Instead of symbols, responses emerge as fluid, vibrating patterns generated on a Chladni plate — forms that can be seen and heard simultaneously. Touch becomes an active force: the participant’s contact subtly alters the system’s behavior, shaping both the frequencies and the shifting figures that appear.
Named after psychophantēs, “soul‑revealer,” the installation creates a shared, ambiguous space where interpretation remains open and meaning is continuously negotiated between human gesture and vibrating matter.
Project Type: Interactive Installation
Project Format: Group project (3 designers)
Role: Interaction Designer, Programmer
Tools: Arduino, Visual Studio Code, Co-Pilot
The Concept
We set out to design an object that would let users engage with a mutable “spirit” — a presence that transforms through touch. This led us to a box that harnesses the Chladni phenomenon, allowing participants to “summon” ever‑changing patterns shaped by vibration and frequency.
Echoing the logic of a Ouija board, Psyphantys becomes a site of spectral communication: an encounter with a presence expressed not through letters, but through sound, resonance, and form.
Prototyping and Testing
We began with conceptual and digital explorations before moving into physical prototyping. A first cardboard model helped us understand proportions, ergonomics, and the placement of interaction points. In parallel, we experimented with Chladni plates to replicate the phenomenon ourselves and determine how different materials and frequencies would behave.
These early tests informed the structure, the interaction model, and the technical constraints of the final installation.
The Physical Interaction
The primary interaction takes place through two sets of buttons on the top surface, designed for dual participation. One user controls the frequencies transmitted to the plate, while the other adds sound effects — creating a layered, collaborative exchange. Each button is connected to a touch sensor with distinct settings, ensuring that every gesture produces a unique sonic and visual response.
A second layer introduces a ritualistic dimension: participants insert material into the machine, choosing both type and quantity. These choices directly influence the patterns formed on the vibrating plate, and the material can later be collected and reused. The result is a continuous dialogue between touch, vibration, and form — an experience that is both auditory and visual.
The Code
My role focused on building the interaction layer. I programmed the touch sensors, defined how each button triggered specific frequencies or sound effects, and shaped the system’s real‑time responses. I also contributed to the logic that drives the visual patterns, ensuring that sound, vibration, and user input remained tightly interconnected.
This work required balancing responsiveness, stability, and expressive range — allowing the installation to feel alive without becoming chaotic.
The Exhibition at Saceba
Psyphantys was installed on the third floor of the disused Saceba cement factory in Morbio Inferiore (Ticino, CH). We placed the piece in a dim, secluded corner to heighten its atmosphere, letting the industrial silence amplify the work’s ritualistic tone. The device rested on a table draped in black fabric, surrounded by candles and black and red sand — elements that reinforced the sense of an encounter with something both mechanical and otherworldly.
Presenting the installation in such a raw, resonant space allowed me to see the work through the eyes of its participants. Watching people experiment with the frequencies, materials, and shifting patterns revealed how interaction can shape interpretation in real time. It was a moment that deepened my understanding of experiential design: how sound, touch, and environment can converge to create meaning, and how ambiguity can become a powerful tool for engagement.
Selected Works
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Copyright © 2026 Isabel Mercedes Parini.
All rights reserved.
