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2026 Galleries // 2026 Spark: Spring Student // POLA - Astronomy

POLA - Astronomy

Winner - Platinum

Competition: Spark: Spring Student
Designer: Chaemin Kang
Design Type:
Company / Organization / School: Hongik University, Korea Design Membership+
Website: https://www.behance.net/cham_in
Team Members: Chaemin Kang & Hyunsung Kim

POLA is an interactive astronomy education device designed for children who live in cities where the natural night sky is difficult to experience. Today, many children learn about space through screens, books, or static educational content. While these methods can provide information, they often make children passive viewers. POLA was designed to bring the wonder of the night sky back into the child’s own room and turn astronomy learning into a physical, emotional, and memorable experience.

The product consists of a main body and a remote controller. The main body projects the real-time local night sky onto the child’s room, using the user’s location to reflect the sky above them. Instead of presenting space as distant information, POLA brings it into a familiar domestic environment. When the device is not being used for exploration, it functions as a soft Dreamlight, creating a calm atmosphere in the room.

The remote controller is designed like a small telescope. Children hold it, move around the room, and aim at projected stars. This action changes the learning experience from simply watching stars to actively searching for them. When a star is discovered, the remote provides haptic feedback, giving the child a clear sense of achievement. This tactile response helps turn a digital projection into a sensory and physical moment.

POLA also uses the idea of Electronic Assisted Astronomy to make environmental barriers part of the interaction. For example, children can shake the remote to clear visual obstacles such as light pollution or clouds. This gesture helps them understand that the night sky is affected by real environmental conditions, while also making the experience more playful and engaging.

The design language of POLA is soft, friendly, and safe for young users. Rounded forms, soft grip areas, child-safe materials, and magnetic docking make the device easy and comfortable to use. Its UFO-inspired body and gentle light expression create a sense of wonder without feeling too technical or intimidating.

POLA is not just a star projector. It is a guide that helps children explore, move, observe, and discover. By turning a bedroom into a gateway to the universe, POLA encourages curiosity, self-directed learning, and the joy of finding something with one’s own senses.