monty charlotte

preston



About


Systems & Communities

-> Dating in Older Adults
→ Wobble Maze
→ Art on [ Ledger ] Market
→ Thesis: Entangle!


Objects & Experiences

→ Snuffy
-> Biometric Wearables
→ Zine by Boys Club
-> BAGGS



Biometric Wearables



A Concept Collection for an Internet Community



Exploring privacy, form-factor and style alternatives to connected wearables like the Oura ring for Boys Club—an online/offline community of smart-dumb people interested in emerging technology and internet culture. 



Duration:

January, 2025

Client:

Boys Club
Credits:

Evin McMullen: Concept Direction
Monty Preston: Industrial Design
Alana Yolande: Graphic Design







How might wearable tech form factors better reflect individual style in a future where
smaller, faster component parts liberate us from chunky circuitboards?







Background: The Data Manifesto



In January, Boys Club worked with Privado.iD co-founder, Evin McMullen*, to explore the future of privacy and biometric wearables.

In The Data Manifesto, Evin underscores that the future of connected devices will put an end to data-farming by corporations, instead prioritizing privacy in the delivery of recommendations and self-knowledge to individuals using wearable technology.



*Evin McMullen (@provenauthority on X) is a vocal proponent of blockchain enabled privacy solutions. Privado.iD establishes a Unified Identity layer that emphasizes privacy, user control, and interoperability, to lower the cost of trust across industries and revolutionize how individuals and organizations interact in connected spaces.





Research

I started by looking at the smallest popular wearable product on the consumer market today—the Oura Ring—to get a sense of required components. Then I looked at facial anatomy to understand what jewelry types could reliably take a pulse from facial blood vessels, and where they would have to be placed. 

Given the dense network of blood vessels near the nasal septum, called ‘Little’s Area’, a septum ring was proposed. Designs were explored for the helix and ear lobe, as well as lip, which have accessible areas of blood flow. 








Form Exploration

I examined how septum rings, ear cuffs, and grill/tooth jewelry are secured in place, finding opportunities where sensors could make contact with the skin and measure blood flow underneath. Sketching directly on top of faces helped me to consider the broad variations in facial features before moving into Rhino3D.






Final Collection:


Ear Cuff


 For its lightweight and hypoallergenic properties, platinum was chosen to make up the body of the jewelry, and encase the sensors and circuitry. 

Ear Cuff sits on the wearer’s ear of choice. Interior LEDs rest against the inner and outer helix, and use PPG sensor technology to measure blood flow in the ear. Ear Cuff houses an accelerometer and temperature sensor, providing accurate and continuous biometrics data.


Dimensions: 5.8mm w x 10.7mm h x 6.1mm d

Features: 2 LEDs, accelerometer, temperature sensor

Materials: Platinum cuff and sensor encasement 










Tooth Cap

Tooth Cap sits on the wearer’s left canine. A formed sensor bar rests above on the upper gum, and uses PPG sensor technology to measures blood flow in the upper lip. Sensor bar houses an accelerometer and temperature sensor, providing accurate and constant biometric data.


Dimensions: 8.6mm w x 12.2mm h

Features: 1 LED, accelerometer, temperature sensor 

Materials: Platinum tooth cap and sensor bar




Special thanks to Shiyu (Lynn) Zhang for their support with this model.



Septum Ring

Septum Ring sits inside the wearer’s nose. Sensor bars make contact on both sides of the nasal septum, and use PPG sensor technology to measure blood flow. In addition to red and green LEDs, sensor bars house an accelerometer and temperature sensor, providing accurate and continuous biometric data.


Dimensions: 16 gauge, 10.8mm w x 12.5mm h 

Features: 2 LEDs, accelerometer, temperature sensor 

Materials: Platinum septum ring and sensor bars










Collection Drop


The collection was dropped on IG and X on Feb 6th, 2025, to 10k+ views. The full deck with Evin's Data Manifesto is available here.





~ Always a work-in-progress~