wispour lamp
human centered design
role: designer & researcher
team: 2 researchers
timeframe: 4 weeks
tools: Keyshot & Fusion 360
How might we create a living space that is healthier and homier for the average New England college student in the USA?
Team
Project Scope
How do you define health?
01
I collaborated with my classmates Yue (BFA ‘25) and Ellary (BFA ‘25) on research before narrowing down what product I wanted to design.
Yue Zhou
Ellary Jenkins
Linlin Yu (Me)
Interviews
30-60 min tours led by four college students across multiple campuses and majors.
Why are dorms modified?
Surveys
My team put out a survey online and garnered 20+ responses related to brightness levels, light temperature, types of lighting products, and habits.
When do users need light?
Collage Activities
I printed out dorm layouts and invited roommates to describe their room. I asked them to walk through their daily activities and paste the stickies on photos and maps.
How is a shared space arranged?
Research Methods
02
L.E.
" I would never use the school lighting. Hurts the vibes "
S.L.
" At night, I turn off all cool lights. I also shut my curtains for my roommate who lives in darkness "
S.C.
" Consider blackout curtains! I have to put a quilt over my head if I want to sleep more in the morning. "
R.M.
" I personally think lots of small lamps genuinely makes a huge difference in how you feel "
J.J.
" A curtain would allow me to be more considerate to my roommate while respecting my own schedule "
S.A.
" One strong, warm lamp should light up my room. I don't wanna see the lightbulb, just the reflection off the wall "
User Insights
03
40+ students in New England and worldwide
15+ schools including WPI, BU, Northeastern, Berklee, Tufts, Temple, USC, Ritsumeikan, University of Amsterdam, East China University, CMU, Drexel, UNC Asheville, UMich, Brown, & RISD
10+ majors including Journalism, Cello Performance, History, Comp Sci, Literature, Sociology, Communications, Applied Math, Biochemistry, Theatre, Biology, & Fine Arts
Lack of dorm lights or harsh direct lights force students to cope with darkness
Product Preferences
Unevenly lit spaces encourage personal lighting and adjustments
Types of lamps people have
Setting Analysis
04
“ The desk lamp I use is nice because it’s tall enough and adjustable to my liking ”
Michael @ RISD
“ I don't like the color changing ones, but I like the simple, ‘this is a white light. You can make alterations to its brightness level’ lights in my room ”
Brooke @ Northeastern
“ LEDs provide such a soft warm light! My room last year was more of an intimate and private feeling because of LEDs ”
Chloe @ Temple
“ I fall asleep listening to music with my phone light on... I know blue light’s not good for you, but I need something! ”
Kayla @ WPI
What do students prioritize?
Students buy table lamps that are cheap, height adjustable, brightness controlled, and reliable for studying. For that reason, I focused on mass market over pro market research.
Popular desk lamps from $10 to $50
Positive ratings vs. Price
# of features vs. Price
Purchases vs. Price
Insight
Most students are willing to pay $50 for a reliable 14-inch tall LED desk lamp with a minimal but sleek design and simple brightness features. Consider longevity, mass manufacturability and brand association.
Market Analysis
05
Deep Dive Research
(Click to enlarge)
Design Brief
Market Research
Research Summary
06
“Too many components”
Rings and circles are the main visual language to provide a friendly, floaty feel.
Mechanical movements allow for portability, a charging stand, and angle adjustments.
What is the weight distribution? How does the bulb attach? Do dorm lamps need to be portable? Considering mechanical parts, what is the cost of manufacturing ($$$)?
“It feels flimsy…Can I touch the metal?”
Metal ”works like” model - bent aluminum, MDF, E12 LED candelabra bulb 2700K plug-in lamp
Is it customizable enough? Is the material too sharp?
“It’s handy!”
Distributed weight evenly.
Angled lampshade to focus task lighting onto a standard 42 inch wide desk.
How are wires incorporated? What are the different adjustability options? Cost to manufacture (will students buy it?)
Prototypes
07
wispour
get into the flow
✓ Streamlines daily tasks for the college student
✓ Hybrid of cool light flow and warm wood glow
✓ Creates space for relaxing, working, & sleeping
Final Design
08
Angled lampshade
Curved stems for ambience
Weighted wooden base
Inset power button with gradual brightness control
Specifications
Cost: $60/pc
Warm white light
Replaceable LED bulb to mimic candlelight
Brightness 200 to 400 to 600 lumens
Matte white metal body
Spin formed steel lampshade with spot welded stem
Bolted stem on cut groove wood base
Dimensions 5 x 14 in
Weight 1.5 lbs
Takeaways
Through case studies, hands-on activities, and living space walkthroughs I hope I was able to define my product’s selling points: a useful, beautiful, and accessible product that will last throughout the college journey.
In the future, I want to broaden my understanding of manufacturing techniques and materiality to create a more sustainable and friendlier table lamp. I believe I can push further the limits of tactile making.
Thank you for viewing!