Personal Projects Drive Learning
Long before taking on client work, I was designing and building for myself. These personal projects became the proving ground for a lot of the skills and subject-matter knowledge I now bring to CEGAN Consulting. These are some of my personal favorites, some of which have further information through my personal design brand Futility Designs.
Name Cards That Leave an Impression
Name cards are usually an afterthought at a wedding. Designed for my own wedding, they became part of the decor and a parting gift. Each card lit up only when a guest sat down, glowing white to blend in, then turning green when their table was called for dinner. A hidden control knob at each centerpiece let guests unlock playful lighting effects, cycling through pastel colors, and as dinner turned to dancing, every card shifted into a livelier party mode.
Guests took their cards home afterward, each with its own built-in microcontroller so the lighting could be customized as a keepsake. Years later, I still hear from guests who kept theirs on a desk or shelf. Proof that a small detail can leave a lasting impression
A Magic Wand
This project started as a gift for a niece: turning a reused amusement-park wand into a device that casts real spells at home. The Glyph Reader uses a small IR sensor to catch the wand's drawn pattern, then responds with lights and sound effects tuned to whichever spell was cast.
Linked into a smart home system, those same spells can control lights, music, or heating. Real magic, performed with the flick of a wrist
Motorsports Data Logging
Rather than buy an off-the-shelf data logger for some hobby racing, I built my own. One that's robust, expandable, and not locked into proprietary software. It connects to a car's CAN bus to capture onboard data, plus a private bus for custom sensors like multi-zone tire temperature and suspension angle, with everything configurable to log as much or as little as needed.
Data can be processed and visualized right after a session, letting drivers compare laps and pinpoint exactly where techniques differ. It's not groundbreaking technology, but building it ourselves was a hands-on way to master high-speed CAN bus integration and reliable data logging design.
Art Through Light
LEDs are fun. But often they’re limited to in your face effects and out of place aesthetics. For my own homes I wanted lighting that performed the duty of functional lights first, and offered fun for the times that called for it. Each installation is fully functional as normal home lighting, but at your call will break out into colorful displays, ambient background color, or a full on party companion with audio reactive modes.
It's a balance of function and form, built with artistic intent.