LIGHTLooking beyond the

A report outlining the

INTENTIONPROCESS

METHODOLOGY

for a self-initiated project byADITHI SAROVAR

that explores interaction at homethrough the form of

LIGHT

INTRODUCTION

LIGHTAn essential part ofour everyday life,has the potential to be much more than it is…

Make you want to spend more time with your family?Make you feel safer in your surroundings?Inspire you to work harder? Be an educational device for your children?Help you sleep better at night?Change your mood in an instant?Increase your thinking capacity?

WHAT IF LIGHT COULDTalk to you and understand you?

THE BIG PICTURE• INTENT

• PROCESS

INTENTION

A light source that can elicit the experience of being home, that is intuitive, and does more than just the core function of its existence

This project aims at creating a light source, specifically designed for domestic homes. The intent of this project is to explore the possibility that a light may be the solution that can address different gaps or needs in a domestic environment.

There are numerous studies and articles on the role of light in relation to human beings. We all know what light can do functionally - brighten a room, giving us the effect of the sun even in its absence. But light can drive more than just a function. Lets explore the possibility that light can communicate with us, talk to us and even understand us.

PROCESS

THE BIG PIC THE BRIEF

INSIGHTSTO IDEAS

DEVELOPINGTHE DESIGN SOME PLACE GOOD

THE HUNT FORINFORMATION

PROCESS

THE BIG PIC THE BRIEF

INSIGHTSTO IDEAS

DEVELOPINGTHE DESIGN SOME PLACE GOOD

THE HUNT FORINFORMATION

THE HUNT FOR INFORMATION• INTERACTIONS

• OBSERVATIONS

• ACTIVITY

• OPPORTUNITY

THE HUNT FOR INFORMATION

INTERACTIONS OBSERVATIONS ACTIVITY

Personal stories, experiences and preferences of various individuals

Usage and interaction scenarios within a domestic environment

Likes and dislikes of various individuals based on a set of visuals

INTERACTIONS RECORD ANALYZE RECOGNIZE

INTERACTIONS RECORD ANALYZE RECOGNIZE

INTERACTIONS RECORD ANALYZE RECOGNIZE

People manipulate and interact with light emotionally, but they do so unconsciously

OBSERVATIONS RECORD ANALYZE RECOGNIZE

OBSERVATIONS RECORD ANALYZE RECOGNIZE

OBSERVATIONS RECORD ANALYZE RECOGNIZE

Most houses in India use light only functionally

People manipulate and interact with light emotionally, but they do so unconsciously

ACTIVITY RECORD ANALYZE RECOGNIZE

ACTIVITY RECORD ANALYZE RECOGNIZE

ACTIVITY RECORD ANALYZE RECOGNIZE

Most houses in India use light only functionally

People manipulate and interact with light emotionally, but they do so unconsciously

Majority ‘LIKES’ were for emotional reasons and ‘DISLIKES’ were for functional reasons

WHERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY?

LIGHT, THAT CAN ADDRESS THE

EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF USERS

LIGHT, THAT INVITES PEOPLE TOEXPERIMENT EMOTIONALLY AND FUNCTIONALLY

1.

2.

EMOTION AND FUNCTION• CATEGORIES

• DEFINING ELEMENTS

• UNDERSTANDING CATEGORIES

WHAT ARE THE MAIN EMOTIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES ?

INTERACTIONS OBSERVATIONS ACTIVITY

• Most experiments with light are done to create an ambience of romance• Many users are fascinated with lights that are illusive• Users enjoy the reflections cast by certain kinds of lights• Many users interact with light to create a fun and playful ambience

• The functional lights used at many houses are dynamic in nature• Lights that are more expensive and bought for decorative purposes have a luxurious feel

• Many likes were given for pictures that depicted spaces with romance and luxury • All images that did not reveal the light source were liked as they had a playful and illusive characteristic • Most dislikes were when the light was not dynamic and had no character of its own • Reflections played a major role while positively commenting for images

LUXURY

ROMANCE

ILLUSION

DYNAMIC

REFLECTIONS

PLAYFUL

EMOTIONAL FUNCTIONAL

The basic emotional and functional features sought after in domestic lighting solutions, based on analyzing the interaction, observation and activity results

DEFINEWhat elements make a light emotional and functional?

EFFECTS FORM MATERIAL COLOR

Each emotional and functional feature was analyzed under four main categories of Effect, Form, Material and Color. The analysis was used as a guideline to review and categorize the existing products in the market

UNDERSTANDING LUXURY

EFFECTS FORM MATERIAL COLOR

• Discreet Lighting• Yellow Ambiance

• Contrasts of Light and Shade• Spot Lights• Blends of

White and Yellow

• Technology Innovation

• Lamp Shades• Concealed

Lights• Minimal Geometry

• Sculptural• Orbs

• Paneled Lighting

• Chandeliers• Intricate

Patterns• Organic

Shapes

• Illuminated Objects

• Lights and Mirrors• Glass• Organic

• Hand Made• Reflective

• Gold• Silver• Crystal• White

• Hand Painted

UNDERSTANDING ROMANCE

EFFECTS FORM MATERIAL COLOR

• Dark and Dim• Discreet

Lighting• Reflections on

Water• Enhanced

Shadows• Starry Specs

of Light• Flowers and

Light

• Serial Sets• Orbs and

Domes• Hanging Lights

• Roses

• Candles• Soft and

Organic• Fabrics

• Stained Glass

• Subdued Gold• Red

• Purple / Lilac• Powder Blue

• White

UNDERSTANDING ILLUSION

EFFECTS FORM MATERIAL COLOR

• Fantasy• Light on Color• Playful• Optical

Illusions• Interactions• Magical• Confusion• Exaggeration

UNDERSTANDING FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS

DYNAMIC REFLECTIONS PLAYFUL

• Movements of Light

• Multiple Applications• Effects of Reflections

• Organic Feel

• Sharp Shadows

• Blends of Colors

• Surfaces• Colors with

Light

• Re-made• Humor• Colorful

• Fun/Comical

ANALYSIS• IN THE MARKET

• THE SITUATION

IN THE MARKET

LUXURY ROMANCE ILLUSION

PLAYFULREFLECTIONSDYNAMIC

IN THE MARKET

LUXURY ROMANCE ILLUSION

PLAYFULREFLECTIONSDYNAMIC

LUXURY ROMANCE ILLUSION

PLAYFULREFLECTIONSDYNAMIC

LUXURY ROMANCE ILLUSION

PLAYFULREFLECTIONSDYNAMIC

LUXURY ROMANCE ILLUSION

PLAYFULREFLECTIONSDYNAMIC

IN THE MARKET

IN THE MARKET

LUXURY ROMANCE ILLUSION

PLAYFULREFLECTIONSDYNAMIC

THE SITUATION

•Abundance of mass produced functional lighting•Most lights fall in the emotional category of luxury and romance•There is a clear lack of lighting solutions in the illusive and playful section• Illusive and playful lights are not commercialized due to very specific consumer targets

What does the mass want ?

FUNCTIONALITY …But what after that?

THE OPPORTUNITY• DEFINING THE PRODUCT

• WHAT ARE ILLUSIVE LIGHTS?

• WHY DO WE LIKE ILLUSIONS?

DEFININGTHE PRODUCT

CORE

ACTUAL

AUGMENTED

Ambient Lighting

Create Mystery and Illusion

Interactive Medium to BringPeople Together at Home

WHAT ARE ILLUSIVE LIGHTS ?

WHY DO WE LIKE ILLUSIONS ?

Illusion makes people think of what's beyond the realm of possibility. It makes us feel like we have more control over our lives than we really do.

The human mind is designed to look for patterns, to identify connections between life’s experiences. People like to see something unusual and out of the ordinary as It distracts their mind from the truth.

THE DESIGN• GUIDELINES

• TIME LINE

• DELIVERABLES

DESIGN GUIDELINESEMOTIONAL FUNCTIONAL

VISUAL AND PHYSICAL INTERACTION

Should visually draw the person towards the object

Should invite the user to physically interact with it

AIMED AT THE YOUNG WORKING GEN AND THE NEWLY MARRIED

They are interested in investing in new technology and experimenting with new trends. The youth also have the highest spending power

The younger generation and newly married couples look for something more meaningful in their newly set up space

DULL AMBIENT LIGHTING

To create a relaxing and stress free ambience quite unlike that outside of home

To create a personal connect between the user and the object. Anything too bright may push the user away

PLACED IN A COMMON AREA OF THE HOME

A space where all the members of the home spend time together

A space that is open to all, where one feels the need of social interaction

LUXURY PRODUCTFor those who are willing to spend for a product that offers more than just light

An object of conversation and social distinction

TIME LINE

APRIL MAY JUNE JULY

THE BIG PICTURE

THE BRIEF

THE HUNT FOR INFORMATION

INSIGHTS TO IDEAS

DEVELOPING THE DESIGN

SOME PLACE GOOD

I am here

CONCEPTS

Science, Technology and Illusions

Color and Light Theories

Principles of Gestalt

Designing for the 5 Senses

DELIVERABLES

Concept Sketches

CAD Model

Mock Ups

NEXT STEPSINSIGHTS TO IDEAS

PROCESS

THE BIG PIC THE BRIEF

INSIGHTSTO IDEAS

DEVELOPINGTHE DESIGN SOME PLACE GOOD

THE HUNT FORINFORMATION

INSIGHTS TO IDEAS• BREAKING DOWN THE BRIEF

• MOOD BOARDS

• PRODUCT CONCEPTS

BREAKING DOWN THE BRIEFThe guidelines defined in the previous stage had to be broken down into more actionable details. This was done by thinking through each guideline and mapping out how it could be physically or visually incorporated into a product solution

BREAKING DOWN THE BRIEFThe brief was broken down in to four main chunks around which ideas would be conceptualized and built. Mood boards and word mapping for each chunk defined what factors would help achieve the desired results

MOOD BOARD TECHNOLOGY

MOOD BOARD COOL QUOTIENT

MOOD BOARD ILLUSION

MOOD BOARD EMOTION

THE END