Transforming Nighttime Navigation Through Intuitive Illumination
With Light
The darkness of night presents a universal challenge: the need for light without disrupting our natural sleep patterns. As someone who frequently navigates through dark spaces, I've experienced firsthand how traditional lighting solutions force a choice between harsh brightness and dangerous darkness. Standard nightlights remain static and impersonal, while phone flashlights require fumbling with bright screens. This nightly dilemma inspired WITH Light – a solution that respects our relationship with darkness while providing illumination exactly when and where it's needed.
Contextual Motion Sensing
App-Enabled Control
Detachable Portable Light
Sleep-Optimized Illumination
Understanding the Problem
The need for better nighttime lighting emerged from a striking reality: 73% of adults regularly wake during the night, yet current lighting solutions either blind us awake or leave us stumbling in the dark. This challenge is particularly evident in our most common nighttime journey—the bathroom visit. Despite 69% of men and 76% of women making this trip nightly, they're forced to choose between disrupting their sleep with bright lights or risking their safety in the dark.
WITH Light bridges this gap by introducing a two-part lighting system: a motion-sensitive base that provides gentle ambient illumination, and a detachable companion light that offers portable guidance. This dual approach ensures you're never left in the dark while preserving your body's natural sleep rhythms.
User Research Methodology
To understand the fundamental gaps in nighttime lighting solutions, WITH Light's discovery phase combined targeted home studies with extensive user interviews and expert consultations. The research focused on four carefully selected participants for week-long home observations (including light-sensitive sleepers and frequent night risers), complemented by 22 interviews for broader insight validation. Sleep scientists and IoT specialists were consulted to validate technical feasibility and understand biological lighting impacts.
The methodology began with passive observation using sleep journals and environmental monitoring before introducing any lighting concepts, ensuring unbiased insights into natural behaviors. Each home study documented nighttime routines, pain points, and current technology usage, with particular attention to moments where existing solutions forced compromises between sleep quality and safety.
This systematic approach revealed three critical insights:
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While 89% of people had some form of nighttime lighting solution, none adequately balanced accessibility with sleep preservation
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Motion-activated lighting was often disabled due to poor sensitivity and timing
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Most participants (73%) had developed complex workarounds for nighttime navigation, indicating a clear unmet need
Environmental light measurements and sleep quality tracking helped establish optimal parameters for nighttime illumination: 3-10 lumens with color temperatures below 2700K provided the best balance between visibility and sleep preservation. Our discovery phase focused on understanding not just how people use light at night, but how they wish they could use it.
Nighttime routines shadowing participants
Environmental lighting analysis in various settings
Consultations with sleep scientists on rest & light
Technical workshops with IoT and lighting specialists
The Research Approach Prioritized Four Key Areas
Key Research Findings
User Behavior Patterns
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Most users improvised with phone lights despite knowing they were too bright
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People developed complex routines to avoid turning on main lights
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Navigation patterns were consistent but lighting needs varied
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Existing smart lighting solutions were often abandoned as too complex
User Pain Points
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65-70% of people reported anxiety about nighttime navigation
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Bright and sudden lights triggered prolonged sleep disruption
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Current motion sensors lacked nuance in activation and sensitivity
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Common solutions required too much cognitive effort when half-asleep
Market Context
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28% of Americans actively seek better sleep solutions
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Smart home adoption is growing but simplicity and intuitiveness are key
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Gaps identified in existing sleep-optimized lighting solutions
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Strong demand for non-disruptive nighttime navigation aids
Primary Persona & User Journey
Implementing the Solution
WITH Light emerged from a clear insight in our research: while traditional lighting is ubiquitous, it often fails due to being either too bright or too cumbersome to use at night. Our research with users like Sarah and James revealed that people don't need more light—they need smarter light. By combining motion-sensitive illumination with a detachable portable light and intelligent software, WITH Light creates a natural lighting experience that adapts to users' nighttime routines.
Initial Drawings & Concepts
Design Decisions
Based on research insights, the team developed a system of interconnected tags with specific features:
Context Awareness
Advanced motion detection with sensitivity
Gradual brightness transitions (0.5-3 seconds)
Usage pattern learning
Automatic dimming and shutoff
Physical Integration
Ergonomic dome design for easy gripping
Magnetic attachment system
Sleep-optimized warm lighting
Silent operation
User Interface
Minimal interaction requirements
Customizable settings
Battery level monitoring
Usage statistics
The Base Light
Responsive motion detection
Gradual illumination transitions
Sleep-science informed color selection
The Portable Element
Ergonomic, intuitive form
Magnetic connection system
Simple, one-handed operation
The First Iteration
Initial User Testing
Light intensity disrupts sleep cycles - users need gentle illumination that preserves their night vision and melatonin production
Sleep-optimized lighting with automatic brightness adjustment
Navigation needs change throughout the night - users require different lighting solutions for different activities
Detachable companion light with magnetic base for portable illumination
Motion sensitivity is personal - users need control over when and how their lighting activates at night
Customizable motion detection with adjustable sensitivity and zones
Battery anxiety affects usage - users need confidence their light will work when they need it most
Smart power management with app monitoring and magnetic charging system
Feedback highlighted several critical insights & led to those defining core features of the system and app
Physical Integration
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Ergonomic dome design for easy gripping
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Magnetic attachment system
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Sleep-optimized warm lighting
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Silent operation
Context Awareness
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Advanced motion detection with customizable sensitivity
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Gradual brightness transitions (0.5-3 seconds)
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Usage pattern learning
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Automatic dimming and shutoff
User Interface
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Minimal interaction requirements
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Customizable settings for light, hue, timing and sensitivity
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Battery level monitoring
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Easy to use with simplified controls
The Second Iteration
Through user testing and feedback, the second iteration of WITH Light evolved to be more accessible and user-friendly. The most notable physical changes address users with limited mobility - the portable component now features ergonomic finger holds for easier gripping, while the base incorporates a rounded holder top that naturally guides the portable light into position. These thoughtful modifications ensure comfortable use even for those with reduced dexterity or strength.
The technical heart of WITH Light saw significant advancement with the replacement of the PIR sensor with an active ultrasonic sensor. This upgrade enables more precise motion detection capabilities and customizable sensitivity areas, moving beyond simple on/off zones. The enhanced sensing technology provides a more reliable and adaptable experience, responding accurately to users' movements while minimizing false activations.
Complementing these physical and technical improvements is a new companion app that brings granular control to every aspect of the light. Users can fine-tune brightness levels, adjust color temperature, set custom sensitivity thresholds, and monitor battery levels of both components. The app introduces automated timers and usage tracking, ensuring that WITH Light adapts perfectly to each user's unique nighttime routine while maintaining its intuitive, minimal-interaction design philosophy.
Experience the App
The prototype here is a dynamic interactable element that let's you get first hand experience of the UI of the app
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Initial Setup (2 min)
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Add a lamp
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Try the dashboard card
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Light Control (2 min)
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Turn the lamp on or off
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Switch between color presets
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Fine-tune motion sensitivity
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Set custom automatic timers
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Pick up the lamp (emulated by the red button)
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Lessons & Insights
WITH Light began as an exploration into nighttime illumination challenges and transformed into a comprehensive study of how thoughtful design can enhance our relationship with darkness. Leading this project from initial research through multiple iterations revealed profound insights about creating products that respect both our biological needs and daily routines. The journey taught me how seemingly simple problems - like navigating in the dark - require deep understanding of human behavior, technical constraints, and accessibility considerations to solve effectively.
From Complexity to Simplicity
While we aimed to create a sophisticated lighting solution, success came through focusing on intuitive interaction. Starting with basic motion detection and portable lighting, we carefully integrated advanced features like ultrasonic sensing and app control only where they genuinely enhanced the user experience.
Designing for Accessibility
The development process revealed how universal design principles could make nighttime navigation better for everyone. Our focus on accessibility - from ergonomic grips to customizable sensitivity - created a more inclusive and effective product for all users, not just those with specific needs.
Technology Serving Human Needs
Some of our most innovative solutions emerged from balancing technical capabilities with human factors. For example, the challenge of providing reliable motion detection while maintaining user privacy led to the development of our localized ultrasonic sensing system, which offers precise control without collecting personal data.
Understanding Sleep Patterns and Light
By deeply studying how people interact with light at night, we discovered that traditional solutions fail not because of insufficient brightness, but because they disrupt our natural sleep cycles. This insight led to our development of sleep-optimized illumination that adapts to users' needs while preserving their circadian rhythms.
My Contributions
As the lead designer on the WITH Light project, I drove the development from the initial concept through multiple iterations to the final product. My role encompassed both physical product design and digital interface development, requiring a deep understanding of both hardware and software integration.
Key Contributions:
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Led user research and synthesis, conducting 22 interviews and developing key personas that shaped our product direction
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Designed and prototyped the dual-component lighting system, including the innovative magnetic attachment mechanism and ergonomic improvements for accessibility
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Created and refined the companion app interface, focusing on minimal interaction for nighttime use while maintaining robust functionality
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Managed the technical integration between hardware and software components, working closely with engineers to implement the ultrasonic sensing system and optimize battery performance