I chose to draw in the style of Nendo, whose iconically playful drawings illustrate the functionality of an object, often metaphorically or figuratively. Instead of focusing on the logistics of the object, this style lended me the ability to think more conceptually and consider analogous mechanisms.

Some ideas were out of scope and I ultimately landed on a flat form. The next step was to explore possible interactions that acted as switches for a flat lamp. One possible direction was a pop-up book type of functionality. For this, I created paper prototypes.

Another direction was a less rigid material which lent itself to different gestures.

My favorite idea was a handkerchief-sized textile pulled up or pinched at the center to switch the light on. It would create a structure that did have a footprint, but when switched off, it was flat and could be stored anywhere. I also imagined it to be soft to create a different relationship to the common household appliance.

I sketched different possibilities to house the electronics to bring this idea to life—the components needed to be small enough to support the illusion of softness and inner glow.

Some versions included a switch sewn into the corner or hidden, textured buttons. To test out a couple of ideas, I created a few rough prototypes with string lights. These didn’t offer enough control over placement.

The breakthrough was when I learned that I could use two magnets as a switch. This mechanism was exciting because the gesture wasn’t compromised by buttons. The packaging considered these factors: magnet size and strength; LED size, quantity, and brightness; battery size and power.

I found micro LEDs called NeoPixels from Adafruit to accompany the magnets. To bring it all together, I used conductive thread to daisy chain the LEDs. I connected them to the Adafruit Trinket 5V mini controller and the smallest and flattest battery I could find that would still power these components: a 3.7V lithium polymer battery. The magnets had to be strong enough to stick through the fabric but not too strong that the fabric would rip while trying to peel the magnets apart. The ones I used were on the large side and very flat.

The magnet switch worked very well! However, sewing the components together was trickier than I thought because the connection was less reliable than solder. I could only get a few of them to turn on by the end of the project.

I created a name and designed a logo and poster for this project in a different class. I chose the name elan, which means momentum or dynamism in French. The upward direction of the gesture conjured a sense of liveliness.

For the logo, the focus was on connecting the accent to the L to mimic the apex of the light when it’s on. The typeface had to communicate a kind of fantasy or whimsy.

My goal with the poster was to communicate all of élan’s metaphors and overlay the lamp into these contexts.

As a designer, most of my projects are solution-focused, which can sometimes feel restrictive. I enjoyed coming up with an exciting idea and just making it. 

Prototyping required a very different mindset from illustrating so I wish I had started prototyping a little earlier. The conductive thread might have worked better with a more solid line and clear polish, which I read helps secure the connection.

Possible next steps are in the realm of material exploration. I worked on thin fabric for prototyping, which ripped easily. Other possibilities include 3D knits and weaving in the NeoPixels during the construction of the textile.