String Lights Redesign
The Problem
String Lights are typically only used for holidays or to create a different ambiance in a room. However, when these lights aren't hung up they get tangled and waste space around your home.
Preliminary Sketches & Ideas
All of these ideas solve the problem of lights being tangled but only the phase-changing solution (bottom right) solves the problem of the lights being a waste of space when not hung up.
Prototype #1
For my first attempt at seeing how my concept looked I took my pencil box and attached an LED strip around the entire thing. The interesting aspect of my pencil box is that it is entirely made of zipper allowing it to open into a long string like on the left.
Determining Connection Design
I knew that I didn't what these lights to be constructed using zippers because of their lack of transparency and producing a product fully made of zippers in the long run would be difficult. From here I began looking into different methods of connections; thinking about magnets, buttons, and finally landing on a concept similar to Ziploc. I picked this for two reasons, the first being its user friendly design allows consumers to not have to think about how the product will be reconstructed. Secondly, the ability to mass produce using plastic extrusion allows for a simple and inexpensive design.
Initial Design
From here the class became entirely digital due to COVID-19. So I began 3D modeling how I wanted the LEDs to connect together when they were no longer used as string lights
Final Iteration
The initial design did not account for how the parts would lock in place which explains the addition of the small keyhole shaped pieces on the side. Additionally, the LEDs and plastic diffusion neither had a real spot on the first design now a system in place to keep them from falling out. Overall, this design is more compact and is no longer box and bulky giving it a more aesthetic look.
Slider Design
Next came designing the slider which would serve as the way to transform the product from desk light to string light or vice versa. The slider has a skinny piece going straight down which will open the light and the other side squeezes the LEDs back together.
Hook Iterations
This piece keeps everything within the extrusion secure as well as giving it the ability to be hung in any fashion. My iterations began simple and need to be attached to the product with some type of fastener. As I progresses the hook became self sufficient in that it simply snaps into the end. This not only allows for a more simplistic production but the ability to remove and access inner electronics if necessary. The hole is present on one of the sides to allow for power cord.
Sketches and Rough Prototypes
Once the logistics of the lights were in place, I had to decide on how I wanted the light to look when it was not a string light. I sketched a bunch of different concepts, however, I soon realized that having a light that changes radius or curves in some fashion would no be possible. From there I simply just swirled some lights to roughly see how they looked. I ended up focusing on the cylinder design both as a desk light and potentially as a chandelier.