LIORA
"How can I make light therapy for seasonal affective disorder more approachable and integrated into daily life while maximizing its benefits?"
Unlike other lamps currently on the market that evoke associations with medical equipment, Liora blends into domestic environments, alleviating potential embarrassment or stigma that is unfortunately associated with mental health treatment. Its design integrates functionality and aesthetics by seamlessly transitioning between therapeutic and ambient lighting modes.
What is seasonal affective disorder?
SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is a type of depression that tends to start and end at the same time every year, most commonly in fall and winter.
SAD is triggered by a drop in daily sunlight exposure
Around 5% of the population have SAD, but up to 20% have a milder form of seasonal depression
*main influencer of seasonal affective disorder is geography
What is light therapy and how is it effective?
Light therapy mimics outdoor light which can cause chemical changes in your brain, helping to alleviate symptoms of SAD, reduce the production of melatonin, and promote the production of serotonin. Light therapy can be a great alternative to medication for some people.
How can I make light therapy more approachable and integrated into daily life while maximizing its benefits?
My solution
The therapy lights pictured above are very medical and sterile looking. This can discourage people from purchasing a therapy lamp for several reasons: It will stand out in their home and won't match their style, it may make them embarrassed when guests ask about it because it looks so out of place, and they may not want to invest in a lamp that doesn't have any other function when therapy time is done. This is what I think a light therapy lamp should feel like.
Constraints, considerations, and details
While sketching I kept in mind some important constraints. The lamp needs to be able to house a specific type of lightbulb used for light therapy. The user needs to be able to sit about 2 feet away from the lamp. The light emitting surface needs to be big enough to emit 10,000 LUX of light.
Some considerations and details taken into account include making the lamp multifunctional. The user can transform the therapy lamp into an ambient lighting source. It was important to include an element of interaction with the lamp, making it more engaging and intriguing for the user. The shade that is flipped back for therapy time and brought to the front for ambient lighting has a texture, making it more inviting to touch.
Final prototype
Wooden base, fabric cord, brass hardware, and a 3D printed shade
