Lighting Engines: Personal Relaxation
Studio Fall 2020: Project 4
Assigned task: aiding personal relaxation
When I think of personal relaxation, I think of reading alone on a comfortable chair, hot cup of tea in hand. Some key elements of “personal relaxation”:
- Maybe it’s just the introvert in me talking, but I think personal relaxation and rest in the truest sense only happens when you’re alone. There’s something about having time and a space to yourself that allows you to let your shoulders down and just be. So, I’ll be designing my engine for personal, alone-time use.
- I’m thinking a lighting engine for personal relaxation shouldn’t be too bright-white or harsh, but more mellow and ambient: easy on the eyes.
- Form wise, the words “personal relaxation” bring to mind more curved, flow-y, sweeping, fair lines than rigid shapes and angles.
Research: Color and Inspiration
11/11: Experimenting with Materials and Light
11/12: Class reflection of explorations
Schema of personal experience that shapes expectation: how can I design for peoples’ expectations?
- Different textures: towel, tissue paper, paper towel, etc.
- Different papers create different temperatures
- Adhesives: maybe they don’t have to be hidden, but can actually be used as part of the design
- Overlap of paper
- Some textures diffuse the light, some show more of the bulb form
- Consider the effect the engine has on its environment. Contextual information: what does the light do to the objects in its environment?
- Crimping, folding (bone folder). weaving
- Decorations: 2d embellishments may take away from the 3d form of the engine
- Role of shadows
- Something to keep in mind for sketch modeling: if it’s going to be on a desk, how will the bulb be supported? What about hanging it on the wall?
More exploration: curved folds!
11/13–16: Sketch Modeling
Sketch Model 1: Paper Balloon
My first sketch model was inspired by something actually very close to me personally: in 2015, my aunt launched Solight Design and the SolarPuff: a flat, solar-charged lamp that can be blown up into a cube (much like an origami inflatable ball). After being charged in the sun, it can provide clean, carbon-free light for up to eight hours. Growing up and hearing about my aunt’s work and following her on her journey, was really one of the first times I came to realize the importance of good design and its tangible effects on actual lives.
For example, Syrian refugees often depend on kerosene lamps to travel to their camps. However, these lamps are heavy and expensive, not to mention outright dangerous– toxic kerosene fumes are the cause of death for an estimated 1.5 million people per year. The weightless and collapsable SolarPuff is a much more efficient and safe alternative, even reducing crimes such as child kidnapping or sexual assault in the camps as it provides safer travel. The light is also used in Haiti, where many families and children don’t have access to electricity or sustainable lighting. With the SolarPuff, people can work into the night, increasing economic productivity, and children can do their homework after nightfall without the need for toxic lamps. YAY for good design!!!!!!
Sketch Model 2: Jellyfish(?)
With this one, I had been playing around with making flowy, freehand cuts on a larger piece of paper. I brought two of the ends together, and voila! This interesting form. I then added some reinforcement to the top for the bulb to go through.
However, at this point, I was still just playing around with different cuts and forms, but I had no real direction — so to brainstorm ideas, I made a word cloud for adjectives that I associated with the words “personal relaxation.” Some key words:
- quiet
- gentle
- safe
- kind
- healing
From there, I made another word cloud for objects/places/feelings those same words reminded me of. Some favorites:
- cocoon
- coming home
- being held in a pair of really big hands
- a flame, inspired by the pillar of fire in the Bible —
Making this flame iteration came surprisingly naturally —it almost felt like my hand instinctively defaulted back to a similar system as the flaps I used for my special carrier: having multiple parts connect together in the middle to create a “holder”. For the flaps themselves, I really liked the way the paper folded and moved when I created the lines for my “jellyfish” model, so I recreated those freehand curves within the shape of the flames.
11/17: Class Discussion
Where do ideas come from?
- What is the appropriate scale?
- More curvilinear, organic forms are connected to relaxation, sleep.
- Structures that evoke action, speed, convergence =/= relaxation.
- # of pieces: lesser the better?
- Symmetry vs. asymmetry
- How might I use other surfaces in combination to my light to create bounce light? reflective light
- Height: do I want the light at eye level? Above my head? below? This determines whether I’m going to be making a hanging or standing light
Breakout rooms:
- Talking about our different interpretations of personal relaxation: some talked of laying in bed listening to music, others sitting in a couch.
- Thinking about whether a hanging light or standing light is more appropriate for our task/ individual lights.
- Different types of paper create drastically different color temperature in interaction with different types of light!
11/18: More Sketch Modeling
Today, I revisited some of the other concepts from my word cloud.
Sketch Model 4: “Holding”
Sometimes when I think of rest, I think of being held in a pair of really really big hands — warm and safe and gentle (like my little drawing below!) I knew it would be stretch to try and make an actual realistic paper sculpture of a hand (nor did that seem like it would make a very appealing lamp), but, I wanted to gain some inspiration from the form and lines that a hand creates when it’s kind of in this cupping/holding position:
I kind of started out by drawing these abstract forms that mimicked the general form of my hands, and then evolving more and more to something that would work physics-wise and that would hold a bulb.
I ended up making this sort of S-shaped, half-sphere structure with strips mimicking fingers coming together! The naked form is actually surprisingly simple: on a piece of newsprint, I cut a hole for the bulb to go through, and then cut lines like rays around it. I connected half the rays to create half a sphere on one side, and then half a sphere on the other:
The colors were such a pleasant surprise!!! A lot of people said it reminded them of a sunset:)
I also tried cutting another hole on one of the spheres to try hanging it upside down:
Sketch Model 5: Cocoon
Another object I immediately thought of at “relaxation” was a cocoon, as it represents very quiet, sacred, hidden-away rest.
I began by trying to make a general form with wire and then covering it with paper (newsprint again):
but it just began to get very messy, and I realized the overlap I was going to have to make with all the long strips of newsprint was going to make it look a little patchy: so, I switched gears and tried wrapping the paper instead:
11/19: Group discussions with Steve, Stacie
- Capturing the movement, the feeling of the things “personal relaxation” reminds us of, not just the literal form.
- When does capturing the form of an object add to the light, and when does it take away? Renee’s house vs. Chelsea’s wave
- If my light is inspired by a certain object (hand, flame, cocoon), how can I capture the relaxing essence of that object without just making a hand/flame/cocoon?
Nick, Alice:
- Break down, analyze what it is about that form/object that I’m drawn to gives it that relaxing impression.
- Does the form + light in junction cause relaxation? Instead of “this object relaxes me. Let me make a model of it and stick a light in it”
- Lighting environment will also reflect color temperature of the light, so consider that.
Making a Decision
I really enjoyed my “hand” model — especially the range of colors the newsprint made with the light on! However, the structure wasn’t stable enough to hold the bulb up on its own, nor was the newsprint very durable. Plus, the bulb is very exposed from one side. I also liked the cocoon idea, but thought the concept of being in a cocoon might be more appropriate for a sleeping-lamp then a relaxation-lamp. Also, I began to think I might want to hone in on a standing light instead of a hanging one:
The way I myself “personally relax” is by reading and journaling: even better if it’s with a nice hot cup of tea (earl grey is my favorite)! Usually I would like to do it in the morning, but lately it’s been more in the afternoon or at night, since classes start so early in the day. It’s my way of getting away from the hustle and bustle of every day life, taking intentional time to get alone and be still when it seems like there’s so much to do all the time. It allows me to re-focus on what’s important, re-posture my heart for the day. I want to make a light that would allow others to do the same!
I’m also still really intrigued by the idea of alluding to a real flame, I know sitting in front of the fireplace or having a candle nearby is always a very warm, ambient, almost spiritual experience (and why candles are always so representative of relaxation!). I feel like few people can sit by a fireplace or light a candle for a while and leave feeling anxious or hurried, without feeling more relaxed, more re-centered.
Pictures of (paintings of) flames to reference:
11/22: Peer Review Model
For my next model, I decided to stick relatively close to my first “flame” iteration, but change up the scale, as the first model was too bulky/tall to use as a little table lamp. I made the “flames” 9 inches instead of 12, and all of the base flaps shorter as well (flame flaps: 4 to 2 inches, inner flaps: 5 to 4.5 inches)
Things that worked:
- The size is much more appropriate for the task, and it helped to make the form more enjoyable as well. If my first model looked more sculpture-like and grand, my newer one is much more friendly, approachable, and overall cuter :)
Things to figure out:
- Making the base sturdier
- Adhesive alternatives? Right now I’m just using clear tape, but I think I want to opt for something more seamless/invisible for the final product
11/24: Peer Review
I got feedback that the form was enjoyable and intriguing — they also said it reminded them of a pokemon as well as a character from Howl’s Moving Castle, which I’m pretty happy about, I’m thinking it means my light gives off an endearing, character-like impression:) They also liked the communication of the light-emission function through the flame form and the ambience of the light it provides.
I got crit that the sharp-ness of the top of the form contrasts with the “calm-ness” of the context, and that I might want to try rounding it out some. However, I don’t know if I agree: I feel like making the top round would make it look kind of blunt(?) and take away from the flame-ness of the light, confusing the communication of the form.
However, I do want to work on stabilizing the base and figuring out a better adhesive-situation.
Note to self: I AM THE OUTCOME OF MY PROJECTS
ALSO, quick side note: yesterday these “pampshade” bread lamps (made from real bread!) popped up on my radar and I was stunned!!
11/30: Refinement
Trip to the art store, purchases: double sided tape, super glue, foam-core.
My lightning engine stands up on its own and the physics works out, but it’s a little on the flimsier side, because it is just railroad paper.
My first idea was to just attach a circle of foam-core at the bottom, to give it some more weight/sturdiness at the base:
It worked, but it was just a little … random. It really did look like I just slapped a thing of foam-core at the bottom that had no other relationship whatsoever to the rest of the structure.
Then, I tried making the whole inner base/bulb-holder out of foam-core:
and made a new model where I inter-locked the flaps of the paper-flame-light with the foam-core-base (if you look closely, you can see how the inner-base fits around and comes up through the flaps of the paper-flame-structure)! It definitely made my light a lot sturdier.
I also replaced the regular tape with double-sided tape, so that the adhesive wouldn’t be visible from the outside.
Things to do:
- Figure out final adjustments, make final light.
- Craft note: remember to roll the flame shapes before cutting the slits, so they’ll curve nicely around each other instead of sticking straight out.
- Take pictures! aka make tea:)
12/1: In Class Work Day
I talked to my group about my concern about the top of the light being too open and the bulb being visible from directly above. They suggested that I try bringing the corners of the flap together and having a completely “closed” light.
I knew from past experimentation that the shape of my flaps made them basically impossible to connect by their edges themselves, but I made a quick model to try taping the corners closer to each other, so that the light was more enclosed:
It worked, but I honestly kind of liked the “open” model a little better. This one felt too obvious(?), almost like it spells out “I’m supposed to be a flame!!!!” too blatantly. I think I enjoy the variance, more abstract quality and intrigue of the “open” model more. And even though that leaves the problem of the top-exposed bulb unresolved, I decided it was a compromise I was willing to make for the sake of having a more beautiful form — plus, it’s not much of a concern for my specific context: when sitting down at a table journaling/reading, you don’t ever really see the light from above.
Group feedback: Steve and Stacie
- Integrating base into rest of the engine: the engine should look cohesive, like one structure — instead of a separate base structure simply supporting the “main” structure.
12/1: Making the Final Model
Refining the base: the foam core base was definitely an upgrade from the paper base, but it was very wobbly and had to be secured with tape, because the “legs” were parallel to each other and had no other support. So, I decided to try again with a third leg, so that the triangular shape would make it structurally sound.
It worked! The third leg made it super sturdy, it interlocked just right with the paper structure, and the spot where the fourth “leg” would have been was perfect for putting the bulb through!
From there I set out to make my final model! I ended up having to make three in total — the first two just didn’t bend/interlock quite the way I wanted them.
FINAL
I’m very happy with my final product!! I think the way the curves overlap with each other mimic the movement of fire really well, so I think it’s successful in alluding to the warm, ambient experience of sitting in front of a fireplace/with a candle, and it stays true to the original pillar of fire inspiration. I think it might just be one of the most beautiful things I’ve made, and genuinely something I will enjoy using — for exactly what I made if for: personal relaxation!
Things I learned!
- It’s okay if my final product looks similar to earlier explorations: I was a little concerned that my light hadn’t “evolved” enough from my first sketch model of the flame idea, but I realized that the journey and process don’t always have to be so obvious or drastic: I really loved the way that first model turned out, so I stuck with it, adjusting and refining details along the way to end up with the final product that I did. Also, I explored a good amount of other paths and concepts even after that first flame model, and I think the fact that I ended up choosing that one as opposed to all the other ideas really does give my decision more its merit.
- Although others’ feedback is crucial and insightful, it isn’t the end-all-be-all and I don’t always have to do act on every single piece of feedback I get. When I got feedback that I should try making the top/corners more round, I heard and understood and appreciated their point, but I knew I wanted to keep the communication of the tapering shape, so that’s what I did. Yes, I want to make something that considers the concerns and suggestions of others, but I also want to make something that I myself can be happy and satisfied with.
- I really enjoyed all the initial sketch model explorations I did in the beginning: from the hand to the cocoon to the jellyfish to the flame to even the little paper balloon: and it was really fruitful, too, as I ended up continuing with one of them! I think it was a much better (and more enjoyable!) process than for example my special carrier, where I was really concerned with logistics and kind of got tunnel vision on a specific idea very early on. I want to keep exploring and playing around especially at the beginning of the design process so that I have a breadth of ideas to pull from — and so that I can have more fun!
