We are social animals. A sense of belonging and connecting with others is crucial for our happiness. In a crowded train or bus, we are physically and uncomfortably close to other urban commuters, and we rarely feel connected with them. We might even feel hostile when someone accidentally steps on our feet or pushes against our shoulders. It’s unrealistic to ask commuters to simply start chatting with one another, but what if we can create a sense of interconnectedness amongst them? Borrowing nature’s wisdom of emergent behaviours, we've designed a simple and versatile light-emitting wearable accessory that uses colour, frequency and intensity to visualise the type of content you’re consuming and your destination. Like how fireflies synchronise their glows to find their tribes, we want to use this accessory to transform commuting into a social experience. Helping you see the connections you have with the other commuters, dispelling the sense of isolation and perhaps even triggering a conversation or two.

FYRFLY - Design concept

FYRFLY is designed to be a small and discrete accessory that can fit in with a wide range of fashion styles and clothing types. Allowing you to have the small light on you wherever you go, whatever you wear. FYRFLY’s ability to work with almost any type of clothing is achieved with two snap-fastener eyelets, one at either end.