Anouk Wipprecht designed the electronics that made a Formula 1 trophy light up on the podium. This December, she will show you how to build and program your own light-up cat ears at ALPHA Camp at Maker Faire Shenzhen 2026.
You do not need any experience with electronics or coding. Anouk will guide you from your first solder joint to the moment your LEDs light up.
December 12–13, 2026 · Vanke Cloud Design Commune · Nanshan District, Shenzhen, China
From the Podium to the Workbench
At the Dutch Grand Prix in August 2026, the winner lifted a Delft-blue ceramic trophy that lit up on the podium. Electronics inside the trophy used real-time speed and motion data from the race cars to create geometric patterns of light across its surface.
Anouk designed, soldered, and programmed the system herself. This December, she is bringing a project you can make and wear to ALPHA Camp.
A Designer Who Treats the Body as an Interface
Anouk Wipprecht is a Dutch-born artist, designer, and engineer. Her work spans wearable technology, robotic fashion, interaction design, and performance art. She has presented work at Ars Electronica, judged a CODAME hackathon, spoken to Lima’s city government, and participated in an architecture exhibition in Mexico City.
Anouk builds electronics into garments so they can sense what is happening and respond. Her best-known works include the Spider Dress, Smoke Dress, and Synapse Dress.
The Spider Dress uses sensors to detect when someone gets too close. Its mechanical arms then extend to protect the wearer’s personal space. Other garments she has designed can respond to signals such as heart rate, stress levels, and even brain activity.
Her HYPNOTIZE DRESS uses a brain–computer interface to capture data about the wearer’s focus and performance. Eight small circular screens display that data in real time. As the wearer’s state changes, so does the pattern on the dress.
Build Your Own Light-Up Cat Ears
Anouk has spent years teaching through hands-on projects. For the Kitty Ears Workshop, she is developing a kit inspired by her original electronic cat ears. It combines 3D-printed parts, a circuit board, LEDs, and a Seeed Studio XIAO microcontroller.
You will solder the components, write and upload code for your own LED animation, and take home a pair of cat ears you can wear.
Guided session · Approximately one hour
Experience level · Beginner-friendly, with no prior experience required
What You Will Learn
- The basics of wearable electronics and the Seeed Studio XIAO microcontroller
- How to solder electronic components onto a circuit board
- How to write and upload code to animate LEDs
- How to bring electronics and fashion design together in a wearable project
Whether you are a curious beginner, a maker, a cosplayer, or an aspiring FashionTech engineer, there is room for you at the workbench.
What Else Can You Make at ALPHA Camp?
ALPHA Camp is a space for hands-on learning, experimentation, and collaboration at Maker Faire Shenzhen. Bring a question, an unfinished project, or a skill you want to share. You might sit beside an experienced fabricator or meet the person who helps you finish your next build.
Around 40 workshops and skill-sharing sessions are planned across two days. Explore laser cutting, advanced soldering, 3D printing, and AI-powered hardware alongside makers with real project experience. Around 70–80% of the program is designed around hands-on practice.
Your Two-Day Early-Bird Pass
Places in the Kitty Ears Workshop are limited. Once you have your pass, use the dedicated booking system to reserve the sessions you want to attend. Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday–Sunday, December 12–13, 2026 |
| Venue | Vanke Cloud Design Commune, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, China |
| Early-bird price | $ 59.9 per person |
| Regular two-day price | $ 89.9 per person |
| Savings | $ 30 |
| Early-bird deadline | November 20, 2026 |
| Availability | 100 early-bird passes only |
What Is Included?
- Two days of ALPHA Camp access. Explore around 40 workshops and skill-sharing sessions across both days.
- Your own NFC maker badge. Activate it at check-in, tap it for access, and use it to complete challenges and level up your virtual pet.
- Practical workshops led by experienced makers. Work with people who have used these skills on real projects.
- Lunch on both days. Your pass includes an on-site lunch each day.
- A certificate of completion and a maker passport. Complete the workshop and challenge requirements to receive your certificate at the event. Use your passport to collect stamps at participating exhibitor booths.
- Maker merchandise. Take home a sticker pack, a custom woven tote bag, and other event merchandise.
- Priority workshop reservations and access to the ticket-holder community. Book your preferred sessions early, get program updates, and connect with other participants before the event.
