EntoPedia magnetic camera turns insect encounters into digital specimens without capture

EntoPedia Wearable Tool Documents Insects Without Capture

EntoPedia is a wearable digital collection system designed by Junfei Teng to reframe insect ‘collecting’ as documentation, turning everyday encounters into moments of observation, learning, and shared knowledge without physical capture. The project received the 2026 French Design Awards Gold (Professional) in Product Design, Educational Toys & Games, recognizing its approach to ecological education through wearable interaction and community-built datasets. Worn as a compact magnetic pendant, EntoPedia is intentionally styled to blend into personal wear rather than resemble technical equipment so that it can remain quietly present in daily life. When an insect is encountered, the user performs a deliberate two-finger press that mechanically releases the camera module and immediately enters recording mode. This tactile interaction is designed to reduce friction between noticing and documenting, supporting quick, respectful observation in real-world conditions where encounters are brief and unpredictable. Instead of collecting insects through possession, EntoPedia collects them digitally.

all images courtesy of Junfei Teng

EntoPedia app collects Digital Specimens for a Living Insect Map

Using imaging and AI-based analysis, each encounter is captured as a unique digital specimen that preserves visual texture alongside contextual metadata such as time and location. Each record contributes to a shared local dataset, positioning the user not as an owner but as one observer within a broader ecological context. A companion mobile app extends the wearable into a reflective and exploratory experience. Functioning as both a personal field journal and a living map, the app allows users to review their own records, explore seasonal trends to understand which insects commonly appear throughout the year, and discover species being observed nearby via a real-time insect map. Discovery is designed to be cumulative and transparent: when an observation represents the first documented local sighting of a species in a specific area, it is marked accordingly, and subsequent observations retain a visible reference to that initial discovery. EntoPedia by designer Junfei Teng credits early observers and reinforces how knowledge is built collectively over time.

EntoPedia is a wearable system designed to document insects through observation rather than physical collection

EntoPedia is worn as a magnetic pendant, keeping the device accessible during daily movement

a two-finger press releases the camera module and activates recording mode

the compact pendant form allows the device to blend into everyday clothing and accessories

each observation records visual details of the insect in its natural setting

project info:

name: EntoPedia
designer: Junfei Teng