Assistive Technology

Solo Project

20 weeks

The need for attractive, accessible lighting that supports users with mobility challenges.

Problem

Accessible lighting is essential for individuals with mobility challenges to enhance safety and independence. These lighting solutions should be easy to use, with features like motion sensors and voice activation, while also being aesthetically pleasing to create welcoming environments.

Offer stylish, easy-to-use lighting designed for people with mobility challenges.

Solution

The Sun-drop Flower project offers a solution to the lack of aesthetically pleasing assistive lighting by merging art and functionality. It provides dynamic, accessible lighting designed to support individuals with mobility challenges, enhancing both the visual appeal and usability of living spaces.

Old

While motion-sensor lights have been around for decades, they often prioritize function over aesthetics.

New

This gap between utility and design inspired me to create a solution that combines both, making assistive technology functional and visually appealing for the home.

White Paper Research

Client Interviews

Conducted interviews with the senior client facing mobility challenges to gather insights on their needs, preferences, and pain points related to everyday tasks and assistive technology.

The Competition Had no visually appealing Choices

Competitive Analysis + The Gap

These companies may offer similar functionality, but the Sun-drop Flower stands out by integrating both artistic design and practical assistive features.

Joseph Enterprise

Lutron

I-Home

Creator of the Clapper

68 years old | retired interior designer

Eleanor Hayes

User story

Hi! I’m 68 years old, a retired interior designer living in a downtown apartment. I lead an active lifestyle, hosting small gatherings and enjoying interior decorating, always prioritizing style in everything I own. While I’m comfortable with technology, I prefer simple, intuitive devices. Due to some mobility challenges from arthritis, I struggle with twisting knobs to lamps or Pulling the string light, making it important for me to find solutions that blend functionality with elegance.

  • Maintain a beautiful, stylish living space while ensuring it remains functional and accessible.

  • Find products that enhance comfort without compromising on design.

  • Use tech that is easy to interact with and seamlessly fits into her home aesthetic.

Goals

  • Many assistive devices are clunky and unattractive.

  • Lighting solutions that are practical tend to be too industrial or basic, lacking elegance.

  • Difficulty finding home products that combine both functionality and beauty.

Pain Points

Process

For the Sun-drop Flower project, I drew inspiration from nature and used fabric petals and wire to create the lamp. With Julian Grubb’s help, we tackled challenges like hiding electronics and balancing weight. After iterations, I finalized a design that matched my vision and followed the Double Diamond Design process.

Tools

Design Software: For mood boarding and Organizing thoughts

3D Printer: Used for fabricating the electronic housing

Sewing Machine: For sewing the fabric petals of the flower

Arduino: For programming interactive features like lighting and movement.

Copper Sheets and Wire: For crafting the lamp structure and motor cover.

Sketches

Soldering Iron: For connecting electronic components securely.

Skelton

Testing electronics

Biggest Challenge + Improvement

The toughest challenge in the Sun-drop Flower project was overcoming the weight distribution for the copper cover. Ensuring it was both stable and balanced while maintaining an elegant design required several iterations. After testing different approaches, we found a solution that supported the copper cover without compromising the lamp's functionality or aesthetics

Final Copper Hood desgin

Final Designs