Graduate shows 2016: Royal College of Art graduate Wan Tseng has designed erotic devices that provide a subtle, sensation-focused alternative to traditional sex toys (+ slideshow). 

The Wisp wearables include silicone jewellery that's worn around the wrist and neck, and a set of circular pads that stick onto the skin anywhere on the body. The pads emulate the sensation of light grazes, firmer touches and gently blowing breath.

Unlike most electronic sex toys on the market, they focus on the pleasure of stimulation rather than an end goal of orgasm.

"I designed this sensory collection to help women embrace their natural sexuality," the designer told Dezeen. "If you think about the current sex toy market, it's more intense products like dildos or vibrators, which are focused on orgasm.

"I don't think there's much focus on the area I'm working in right now."

The Wisp collection includes a product called Touch, which uses mini motors and a set of five circular silicone pads that sit on the skin to create sensations similar to touching.

The Whisper toy changes temperature and blows air to recreate the feeling of "a lover's breath".

Both objects have been designed to be placed anywhere on the wearer's skin, allowing owners to customise the toys to their most sensitive areas.

The Air necklace includes an air-blower and a speaker, and can also release perfume. Wearers can use the necklace to play music from their phone via Bluetooth, as well as adding their own favourite fragrance to the jewellery.

The Pulse bracelet allows the wearer to monitor their response to the various Wisp toys by reporting back on levels of arousal. It can also be used to send a partner a discrete message.

Tseng designed the collection of toys after interviewing a group of women with different sexual preferences and carrying out research into the different stages of male and female arousal.

"I want to create a better and more beautiful, personal experience for girls," she said. "You directly attach the accessory to the skin, more like a body tattoo."

"It's a new kind of concept. I think it's not a toy, but more like a communication tool for yourself."

Wisp is on show as part of the ShowRCA 2016 graduate exhibition. Dezeen is media partner for the event, which is taking place at the school's Kensington campus from 26 June to 3 July and also includes "cute" home appliances that poo when they're full.

According to design journalist Rita Catinella, the sex toy market is in the middle of a design revolution as devices become more artistic and sophisticated.

Cheap novelty items once relegated to seedy shops are now "greatly outnumbered by sleek designs made from proven or still-emerging technologies", she said.

Examples of such creative sex toy design include a furniture piece that also functions as a vaulting horse-style fleshlight and a pendant necklace that doubles as a mini vibrator.