Designing and Fabricating Polarized Light Mosaics with User-Defined Color-Changing Behaviors

Abstract

Polarized light mosaics are color-changing structures that alter their appearance based on the orientation of incident polarized light. While artists have developed techniques for crafting polarized light mosaics by hand, there exists no design tool and fabrication process that allows makers to create them using standard fabrication hardware.

In this thesis, we introduce the first end-to-end system for designing and fabricating Polagons: machine-made polarized light mosaics with user-defined color changing behaviors. Our system includes an interface for designing and visualizing Polagons as well as a fabrication process based on laser cutting and welding that requires minimal assembly by the user. We define the design space for Polagons, evaluate the achievable color spectrum, and demonstrate how they can enable new applications in fields such as architectural design, data visualization, and fashion.