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2026 Galleries // 2026 Spark: Spring Student // Rebug: Discover Nature

Rebug: Discover Nature

Winner - Bronze

Competition: Spark: Spring Student
Designer: Wonjae Kim
Design Type: Brand: Logos, communications , Product & Industrial
Company / Organization / School: Chung-Ang University
Team Members: Wonjae Kim, Jihyun Back, Yewon Lee & Seoyeon Hur

Rebug is a non-invasive digital insect collecting device designed to reconnect children with nature through outdoor exploration. As digital-native generations spend increasing amounts of time engaging with screen-based entertainment, opportunities for direct interaction with the natural world continue to decline. Rebug was created to address this shift by offering a new form of outdoor play that combines children's familiarity with digital technology and their innate curiosity about nature.

The name Rebug is inspired by the term Debug, which refers to fixing errors in digital systems. Reinterpreted in a playful way, Rebug represents a return from digital environments to nature. It encourages children to step outside, observe living organisms, and rediscover the value of exploration, curiosity, and hands-on learning.
Traditional insect collecting has long been a popular educational activity, helping children learn about ecosystems and biodiversity. However, it often involves physically capturing insects, placing them in containers, and removing them from their natural habitats. While educational, these practices can cause stress or harm to living creatures. Rebug proposes an alternative approach that preserves the excitement of collecting while eliminating the need for physical capture.

Instead of trapping insects, Rebug uses the natural behavioral characteristics of different species to attract them for observation. Children can watch insects up close, learn about their habits, and record their discoveries without disturbing the insects or their environment. Each observation is digitally documented, allowing children to build a personal collection based on discovery rather than possession.

The Rebug series consists of three specialized observation devices, each designed around the ecological behaviors of a specific insect. Sugar Mountain attracts ants through sweet scents and food cues, enabling children to observe their movement patterns, teamwork, and communication behaviors. Ripple Sparkle attracts dragonflies using reflective surfaces that mimic the visual conditions they are naturally drawn to, encouraging observation of their flight and hunting behaviors. Bloom Light attracts butterflies through flower-inspired forms and colors, helping children learn about pollination, biodiversity, and the relationships between insects and plants.
By combining physical exploration with digital archiving, Rebug transforms insect collecting into a more ethical and sustainable experience. The digital record of each encounter creates a sense of achievement while reducing the desire to possess or control living creatures. Children become observers, explorers, and caretakers rather than collectors in the traditional sense.

Rebug ultimately aims to foster a deeper connection between children and nature. Through playful interaction, observation, and discovery, it encourages respect for living organisms and promotes environmental awareness from an early age. More than a product, Rebug is an invitation to leave the screen behind, engage with the outdoors, and experience a new way of learning through nature without causing harm.