Project Description:
The Luminaire project was an exploration of tangible interactions and user experience through the design of a lighting product. Working in teams, we were tasked with researching our user(s) and context to develop a cohesive team "brand" that considered elements such as Colour, Material, and Finishes (CMF). Each member of the team designed their own unique lighting product that adhered to this brand, ensuring that all products were identifiable as part of the same design family. The project focused on creating a lighting product that used interactions to drive a defined user experience without the use of switches or buttons. In addition, all designs needed to account for Australian manufacturing, sustainability, design for disassembly, and the right to repair.
The design process involved the creation of personas based on user research, the development of a shared design brief, and an emphasis on sustainability, ergonomics, usability, and interaction. Each student maintained a personal Design Development Record (DDR) to document their research, concept exploration, and prototype development, ultimately producing a full-scale working prototype and a product hero board that adhered to the team brand.
My Role in the Project:
Research and Design Brief Development: I actively contributed to the research phase of the project, collaborating with my team to understand the people, activities, contexts, and technologies (PACT) relevant to our lighting product. Together, we developed the design brief, which outlined the shared goals and user requirements for our lighting solutions.
Design and Creation of the Geometric Wall Light: For my individual contribution, I designed and created the geometric wall light, a product that aligned with our team's brand and embodied the core principles of interaction and user experience. The light features a unique design that uses geometric shapes to create a visually engaging and functional piece. I focused on sustainability and ease of disassembly, ensuring the product was suitable for Australian manufacturing and followed the principles of right to repair.
Wave Feature with Arduino and Sensors: A key interactive feature of my design was the incorporation of an Arduino-controlled wave sensor system, which allowed the light to be turned on and off with a simple hand gesture. By coding the Arduino to work with the sensors, I created a seamless, button-free interaction that enhanced the user experience. This wave gesture feature was essential to meeting the project’s requirement for interaction-driven user experiences.
Through my contributions to the team’s research, design brief, and the development of the geometric wall light with the innovative wave sensor feature, I helped shape a project that explored cutting-edge lighting solutions with a focus on sustainability, user-centred design, and technological interaction.
