Megumi Fujikawa / RCA Interaction Design
glowing places: interactive lighting for large public spaces
This two-year design study looks at how individual patterns of activity can influence the ambient quality of light in public environments. Commercial lighting of large public spaces such as shopping malls, airport terminals and railway stations tends to be dull, static and applied indiscriminately. Currently, there is no way for people in these spaces to control or influence the lighting ambience. This project set out to explore new ways for people to interact with public lighting.
The core concept of illuminated seating units that glow, dim, flash and change colour in reaction to the patterns of people sitting on them was developed following user research at Brent Cross Shopping Centre in the first year. In the second year of the project, new functions were programmed and developed. One new version adds a third colour to the previous system - the seating pulses blue when alone, yellow when someone sits on it and glows pink if they turn to face someone sitting next to them. Colour Picker is another version that turns the same colour as the clothing worn by the person seated on it.
Further concepts were developed on an architectural scale, allowing small, personal movements to directly affect the ambience of larger public spaces. Lighting Curtain creates a sense of privacy between two adjacent spaces by reflecting or refracting light onto a physical screen, building a ‘barrier of light’. This concept can be installed as windows or partitions in different architectural spaces. Plans were also made for nine interactive chairs to be placed in the reception area of an office building with floor lights that mimic the behaviour of the chairs.
more on the first year of the project
