Background
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 15 million Americans work night shifts, which is the night period between 11 pm to 6 am. Shifting work caused sleep displacement and circadian misalignment, which led to mental and physical issues.
Daily schedule Comparison of night shift and day shift
How might we design an effective light source that integrates into night shift workers’ daily life, and enhances their living quality?
Visible Light Spectrum
Source: Webb Space Telescope, Illusrtation: NASA, ESA, Leah Hustak (STScI)
Light and Melatonin
"light can help night- and rotating-shift workers to stay awake, due to suppression of melatonin, although melatonin suppression has been linked to increased risk for certain cancers. The PI demonstrated that short-wavelength (blue) and long-wavelength (red) light increases alertness, although only blue light significantly suppresses melatonin, suggesting melatonin suppression is not required for alertness and performance."
Moreover, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, red light can be used to improve sleeping quality and certain types of work performance, without affecting melatonin levels.
Source: "Lighting Interventions to Reduce Circadian Disruption in Rotating Shift Workers," Mariana G. Figueiro, PhD, and David Pedler.
From RED to YELLOW
Altering the red and yellow lens to create the spectrum between these two colors, allow the luminosity to be used in both task light and ambient light.
An emerging therapy- Red Light Therapy (RLT), mainly affects people's skincare by exposing to red light indoors. Compared to the short wavelength, it is claimed to be a safe health treatment.
A study showed that people exposed to orange light appear with higher cognitive function, than people exposed to blue light.
Yellow light helps people’s skin healing and cell growth.
Research_ Interaction
"Roll the light and turn it on" Light/ Designers: Mingwan Bae, Adrian Min
Artemide/ Eclisse Bedside Table Lamp
Heng Balance Lamp
magnetic balance
Mockups and Testing
The different proximities create different effects, especially the margin of the two colors combination.
Picture on the right: color lens are far from the light source. Other two images showing the effects when color lens are near by the light source.
Final Prototype
Diffuser: 2.3”x 2.7”x 6.7” / Base: 2.7”x 2.7”x 1.5”
A dimmable lamp for night-shift works. Targeting those living in a small living space, the dining area is also used as a living area, and a small table is aimed to be perceived in this small space. They mostly have no companions when they get back home, or even live alone. An interactive lamp triggers the users to build a stronger connection with the space, a ritual, and perhaps enhance their living quality.
BASIC ELEMENTS/ STANDARD SCALE
How Does It Work?
Lighting diagram
Building Process: simply snapping and stacking the interspersed panels.
CIRCULAR SYSTEM
Considering circularity, the lamp diffuser is formed with pieces of small materials, which can utilize the plywood scrape efficiently. Moreover, it is built with a modular system, which creates fixture variations and the flexibility of creating personal references.
There are two potential ways for users to get the product:
1. Online resource. In this case, users get the file and prepare the material by themselves for laser cutting. Pretty much flexible in slicing the materials into the amount that meets their needs.
2. Purchase and get the kit. The package will be a flat package that minimizes the carbon footprint during the logistic process. Once the users get the physical items, they can easily build by themselves.
LIGHT SOURCE
2700K directional led light bulb