Commi Board Prototypeverktøy by Kevin Yang

Commi Board Prototypeverktøy by Kevin Yang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award i Jern in Utdannings-, Læremiddel- og Opplæringsinnholdsdesign Competition Category.

JernUtdanning· 2025

Commi Board Prototypeverktøy

by Kevin Yang

Client: Royal College of Art

A' Design Award i Jern Winner in Utdanning Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #170975

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Commi Board Prototypeverktøy

Commi Board er en modulær, app-integrert prototypeplattform som kobler teoretisk læring med praktisk anvendelse. Designet for lærere, studenter og teknologientusiaster, gjør den det mulig for brukere å simulere mikrokontrollerfunksjoner på smarte enheter. Med en trinnvis læringsplan, fellesskapsdrevet app og fleksibel modulær design, forenkler Commi Board prototyping og gjør elektronisk eksperimentering mer tilgjengelig.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award i Jern

Commi Board Prototypeverktøy er vinner av A' Design Award i Jern, en prestisjefylt anerkjennelse som tildeles gode design som oppfyller de profesjonelle og industrielle kravene man forventer av veldesignede skaperverk. Jernvinnere viser stor dyktighet, høy spesialisering, ekspertforståelse og kreativ kapasitet hos skaperne. Commi Board Prototypeverktøy forventes å være et høyt ansett, beundret og verdsatt skaperverk som er praktisk og nyskapende. Dette designet, som har vunnet A' Design Award i Jern, integrerer bransjens beste praksis og har kompetente tekniske egenskaper knyttet til kunnskap og talent. Commi Board Prototypeverktøy respekteres for sin grundighet og er utformet for å gi forbedringer i livskvalitet som bidrar til å gjøre verden til et bedre sted.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Commi board is a modular, app-integrated prototyping platform that connects electronic knowledge with practical implementation. Unlike traditional tools, it allows users to simulate microcontroller functions directly on their smartphone, making prototyping more accessible, interactive, and efficient. With real-time circuit testing, AI-driven coding, and a structured, step-by-step educational experience, commi board supports users of all skill levels to prototype faster, experiment freely, and bring ideas to life with ease.
Dimensions & Packaging: Commi Board (Installed): 62mm W x 98mm L x 18mm H
Commi Board (Detached Board): 62mm W x 82mm L x 8mm H
Tags: Education tools, Prototyping, Breadboard, Neuro-linguistic programming
Production Technology: Commi Board contains PCB design, IoT frameworks, and USB-C 3.2, BLE, and Bluetooth protocols all for efficient GPIO communication with smart devices. By utilizing mobile-based computational power, it can simulates most microcontrollers. It supports four programming methods: AI-driven NLP, puzzle-like visual programming, Scratch-like visual programming, and a full IDE. The app features a project community, online libraries for components, and cloud-based project loading, ensuring high performance and accessibility.
Design Challenge: The biggest challenge in developing Commi Board was simplifying PCB design while ensuring reliable GPIO communication. Creating a compact, modular PCB integrating USB-C, BLE, and Bluetooth from scratch required multiple iterations. Limited access to PCB SMT also posed obstacles. The first theoretical prototype revealed instability and contain issues. While Bluetooth and USB-C connections were tested, the API-to-software integration remains in the mock-up stage, guiding future development.
Research: Commi Board's research focused on human-centered design and accessibility in electronics prototyping. The goal was to create a mobile-first tool that simplifies PCB schematics and testing. Through BOM list comparison and my cohort’s need for easier prototyping, we found GPIO communication to be a cost-effective alternative to high-power microcontrollers. Usability tests and expert feedback shaped development, while open-source resources enabled the first theoretical PCB prototype. Results combined the needs for AI-assisted prototyping, electronic education, and DIY prototyping.
Inspiration: Commi Board was designed by the need to make electronics prototyping more accessible and interactive. Inspired visual programming, staged education, and AI-based neuro-linguistic programming, it simplifies theoretical learning with real-world application. As mobile devices are the most accessible platform for coding, Commi Board enhances prototyping by allowing users to test circuits and validate code in real-time on their phone, ensuring a hands-on, customizable experience for all skill levels.
Project Duration: The project started in June 2024 as a student project at Royal College of Art, London, UK.
Operation Flow: Commi Board simplifies electronics prototyping by allowing users to design, test, and run circuits directly on the back of their smartphone. Users place components on the board, connect via USB-C or Bluetooth, and interact through the mobile app. They can program using AI-assisted coding, visual blocks, or a full IDE. Real-time feedback and visual placement guide to help each step. With cloud storage and a project-sharing community, Commi Board learns and loads projects with ease.