[中文版]
Ever since Death Stranding 2 in 2025, I became a huge fan of the game’s actor, Norman Reedus. I absolutely adore his physical performance and the pure tenderness he shows toward BB in the story.
Since Comic Con is rarely held in Hong Kong and features Norman Reedus as a guest, I immediately bought a ticket for the “Meet the Stars” photo op. Hearing that Norman really appreciates fan art, I decided to use my quirky INTJ brain to sew something a little special.
Here is a log of how I brainstormed with AI (Gemini) over the past few days to bring this little gadget to life.
They say the “Mirroring Effect” of AI simply mimics the user’s own thinking patterns, tone, and vocabulary, making it feel like you are just talking to yourself. However, as the AI automatically roleplays the user’s ideas, it allows the user to reflect and refine things from a whole new perspective. It’s a genuinely great brainstorming session.
Note: For more on the Mirroring Effect, please refer to my other blog post: The Mirroring Effect.
Gemini AI even noted that my design closely resembles a system design.
Haha, that is classic me: seemingly flashy on the surface, but practically structured to lower technical barriers, minimize workload, and enhance scalability for easy modifications down the road. The final product looks simple yet completely eye-catching. In short, it’s just a very “Annie” style.
For this handcraft project, I designed a completely “Plug & Play” system where all the parts and the hat are detachable.
- Dynamic Deployment of Dual Expressions: In theory, it can support two-sided expressions. You just pull it out, flip it over, and plug it back in to change the face. This structural architecture elevates the plush from a mere decoration into a highly interactive piece.
- Geometric Minimalism: Designing the plush with sharp, boxy “geometric aesthetics” aligns perfectly with current trends while simultaneously lowering the difficulty of design and production.
Sometimes, both AI and humans find INTJs a bit hard to predict. It’s actually not that hard—just push both imagination and logical reasoning to their absolute extremes, and the INTJ mindset becomes easy to grasp. Simply put, it is simplicity pushed to the extreme.
In reality, felt cloth art and “Plug & Play” are very common elements in everyday toys. But combining them together creates an unexpected vibe and interactivity. Most importantly, it severely cuts down on the number of sewing stitches (pure laziness), haha.
Moving into the late-stage polishing phase, I wanted to give the plush a blushing effect. Gemini AI instantly suggested using actual makeup to blend the color, but I chose to cut out small circles of pink felt and patch them directly onto the cheeks. While I was at it, I also casually added a pink heart right next to my name, haha.
As for the purple phone strap attached to one of the plushes, it is a play on a Cantonese double entendre. “Gwaa Jyu” (掛住) is the action of hanging something up, but it can also mean “to miss someone” or “you are on my mind,” adding a tiny touch of romance to the physical object.
I can’t wait to hand over this “physical deployment” to Norman himself right after our photo op. I truly hope he loves it~
Looking forward to this Saturday! See you there!💕