Candle Light
I’ve always loved the warm, dynamic glow of candlelight—especially how it softens a space and creates a sense of calm that artificial lighting often can’t replicate. But placing a real candle beside the bed is obviously a fire hazard, and electric candles rarely capture that same cozy feeling. So I imagined a plush nightlight that mimics the softness and mood of a candle in a safer, more comforting form.
The design consists of a cylindrical white base made of fabric and polyfill, with a red-orange droplet sewn on top to represent the flame. Inside the droplet is a red LED light, creating a soft internal glow. This design is for people who crave a soothing bedtime atmosphere—whether kids needing gentle light to fall asleep or adults who want that candle-like coziness without the risk. It’s a plush that feels safe, warm, and slightly magical, just like a flame you can hold.
GlowClam
I’ve always found the sound and imagery of the ocean calming—something about the rhythm of waves and the hidden beauty beneath the surface helps me relax, especially before sleep. That led me to the idea of a glowing clam: a soft, plush object that opens to reveal a glowing, cloud-like center.
The outer shell is made of fabric wrapped around two 3D-printed forms, giving it a stable, structured feel, while the interior is filled with polyfill and soft blue lights to mimic a glowing sea pearl or bioluminescent sea life. The clam opens and closes, making the action of lighting it up feel a bit magical—like revealing a hidden treasure. I’m calling it the GlowClam for now, though I’m open to better names! This design is meant for anyone who finds peace in ocean themes or enjoys a bit of interactive play in their bedtime routine. It’s a light you gently “open” to find calm, inspired by the sea.
SipralLume
Falling asleep in the dark can feel unsettling, especially when there’s nothing to anchor your focus. I’ve always loved looking at the stars or imagining galaxies as a way to mentally drift into sleep—so I designed a plush nightlight inspired by a spiral galaxy. I’m calling it SpiraLume.
Its form spirals outward from a wide, bright center into a narrowing, dimmer outer edge. Scattered white LED lights are embedded throughout, with their brightness fading as they approach the ends of the spiral, just like distant stars fading into the night. I also wanted to explore more sculptural plush forms that play with asymmetry and motion—something visually intriguing even when it’s off. This piece is for users who need just a soft visual presence in the dark, or who enjoy imaginative shapes that invite storytelling or cosmic wonder as part of a bedtime ritual.
Prototypes
Plush Star
Green LED
Really nice brainstorm, Jimmy! your ideas are all feasable and appropriate for the assignment– but i waqnt to steer you away from the spiral form because it’s a giant pain to work with a pattern shaped like that. It’s like 10x worse than the crescent moon shape i showed in class. So please make the clam or the candle! And I want to challenge you to make it bigger– big enough that your battery pack can fit inside somewhere.
I love the claim idea I can see this appealing to anyone who has a beach-inspired space. It reminds me a bit of the shell in The Little Mermaid. I’m very confident in your ability to pull this off and I’m excited to see the final product. I think photographing this with an oceanic background (blue paper, printed out ocean texture, etc.) could be a nice touch.
Hi! I enjoy the clam idea, I think it will be really beautiful and serene. Looking through the blog posts I think someone from the past year also did a clam, so maybe their insights can help with your design. I think you can get really creative with the fabric you use for the pearl, I’m also curious to see how you diffuse the light, I’m imagining like golden light radiating from the inside of the shell, maybe the peal has a light and the interior of the shell has a separate light. I think it would be really cool to build a set around the clam. Maybe you bring it to a body of water and photograph it there or put in some sand, or even a fish market.