In a remarkable feat of innovation, a software engineer from Maryland has ingeniously transformed Dunkin’s promotional “I Dough” ring box into a playable handheld gaming device. The project, inspired by her passion for cozy gaming and the popular Tamagotchi, has gained considerable attention online, showcasing the intersection of technology and creativity in the realm of DIY projects.
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Brianna, who identifies as a “cozy gamer,” initially created the device in response to Dunkin’s National Proposal Day campaign. This initiative, which encouraged couples to share their unique proposal moments, coincided with the release of limited-edition Wedding Cake Munchkins, for which customers received the whimsical “I Dough” ring box. Designed to hold a donut hole rather than a traditional ring, the box quickly became a popular item, selling out in numerous locations.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Brianna recounted how inspired she was by the high-quality design of the ring box, which featured gold embossed lettering and meticulously crafted stitching. “They’re so high quality, so heavy,” she remarked, expressing her reluctance to discard the boxes. Instead, she kept them, eventually conceiving the idea for a gaming device.
With two of the ring boxes gifted to her by her mother, a dedicated collector of promotional items, Brianna set to work. Armed with an Arduino ESP32 microcontroller, buttons, and an RGB OLED Module screen, she created “Latte Mania,” a café-themed game where players manage coffee shop orders through mini-games. Her coding journey, which began at just 13 years old with a project proposed to her father, was reignited in this latest challenge.
“I thought, what if I made a game?” Brianna explained her thought process. “I just started coding as I thought about it.” This level of spontaneity and creativity paid off; she pulled an all-nighter, coding and assembling the device over the course of a weekend. “I barely slept,” she confessed. “I just had ideas and was coding, coding, coding.”
The final product captures a nostalgic feel, with design elements reminiscent of retro handheld devices. It also reflects a growing trend among hobbyists known as “cyberdeck” technology, where individuals construct bespoke, portable computing systems for unique functions. While Brianna jokingly noted her uncertainty about fitting into the cyberdeck category, she acknowledged the influence of that community on her project.
Her dedication to coding and innovation does not end with Latte Mania. Brianna has previously developed another handheld game called “Mochi,” where players nurture a virtual pet. “I really wanted to make another soldered, small, tiny, cute project,” she said, highlighting her desire to create more engaging gaming experiences.
Looking ahead, Brianna is contemplating the possibility of making Latte Mania accessible online, a move that would allow others to enjoy her creation without having to build their own device. “I can’t make a bunch of these to send out,” she noted, “but I can make it accessible on the web.”
The success of Dunkin’s promotion has proven to be serendipitous. The company’s efforts to connect with customers through a unique promotional campaign provided a solid foundation for Brianna’s inventive response. The viral nature of her creation reflects a broader movement in the gaming community towards personalisation and DIY tech, encouraging others to explore the possibilities of coding and hardware integration.
“I think if you know how to code, you should leverage that,” Brianna encouraged aspiring creators. “Make your own software—something that’s custom to you. I think that’s really cool.” As DIY technology becomes an increasingly popular outlet for individual expression, Brianna’s story serves as an inspiring reminder of how creativity can flourish when imagination meets innovation.