GoodNightLight

Team: Alicia chhay || Macy Chong || tara song
Timeline: 12 weeks, 2018
Role: User researcher, conducted context-mapping study and sensitising activities, videographer, prototyping
Tools: Sketch, Photoshop, Premier Pro, illustrator

Problem Area

Our problem area works in relation to children who have developed a fear of the dark. Research done suggested that approximately 25% of children experienced problems in some aspect of sleep, and a large contribution to these statistics derived from night terrors. It was also found that 70% of children reported night time fears, which can progress into resistance to sleep, difficulty initiating sleep and increased nightmares. These statistics ultimately suggest a necessary focus to be placed on the topic of night time fears and concerns for children. Thus, our design solution aims to comfort children and provide them with a sense of security during the night.

Research

Children are an entirely different user population with their own culture, norms and complexities. This denotes that various ideas must be taken into consideration to appeal to this user group. These include:

An understanding of common trends and issues that families with young children may have
An understanding of features that may reduce a child’s concern and anxiety in a night time context
Observing pre-existing products that serve as a solution

The main points deriving from research include:

Inspiration

Our device was largely inspired by the organic and characteristic traits of already existing night lights
There is a stark difference between nightlights for children and adults in terms of design and function. Trends in pre-existing designs for children tend to include: organic shapes and simple commands

Interaction Model FlowChart

Arduino Components

The device intends to incorporate characteristics of both a nightlight and torch, understanding this we needed to consider the components that should be readily available and used for the device to function properly

Design and Functions

The proposed device incorporates features of a nightlight and a torch:

ambient light (night light) —> Vertical (upright)

colour of light can be changed accordingly to user preference → dimming light according to the light levels in bedroom - saves energy

directional light (torch) —> Horizontal (held by user)

light intensity can be controlled through motion

Feature: User can turn the device left or right to dim or brighten the light (torch function)

To allow children to adjust brightness which provides a sense of control within a context of fear - reducing discomfort

Feature: Changing light colours (torch + nightlight function)

Option to change colours through tapping the main body of the device - the colour of light remains the same colour when using the torch function

“ The refractive properties of our optic nerves are affected by colours differently, thus it is important… the initial colours allow the nerves to adjust properly in the darkness.”

Consistency in function: design precedents of children’s nightlights from research, many utilise the tap function to either turn on device or change colour

“Mixed systems are confusing to everyone” (Norman, 1988)

3D Modelling

We then used 3dMax to create the physical product of our night light. First we started of with sketching what we wanted our nightlight to look like, and then we planned out the measurements and started to design it on 3DMax.

First Iteration:

This was our first iteration, we we're focusing on how the parts would all fit together, as we have hinges that need to slide together and pegs at the bottom that need to connect to the base so that it would stay on.

Second Iteration:

For our second iteration we liked the curved feature of the nightlight, but thought that it needed more kid like features, also we realised that it was a bit too small to fit the Arduino parts in so we decided to make it bigger, we also decided to add a base feature to make the torch more prominent