Project & Story
This project is a plush night light designed in the form of a tooth and toothpaste set. The intention is to help children build positive associations with dental care—turning everyday routines into playful moments with familiar companions. At home, the night light provides gentle illumination that accompanies children to sleep. In the dental clinic, it can serve as both a decorative object and a comforting plush for children to hold during check-ups, reducing their fear of the dentist.
The target users are young children and dental professionals. For children, the night light creates a sense of companionship and safety, making it easier to brush their teeth and visit the dentist. For dentists, it offers a tool to decorate clinics in a child-friendly way while reducing patient anxiety.
Materials
When fabric from the store did not meet expectations for softness and cost, I chose to repurpose a set of pajamas made of soft, skin-friendly fabric, cutting it apart to use as material for the plush. For the lighting, I used five white LED bulbs paired with five ping-pong balls as diffusers. The ping-pong balls softened the harsh LED light, creating a warm and soothing glow.
Challenge
I enjoyed the sewing process greatly. Instead of creating a formal pattern, I embraced a spontaneous approach—cutting fabric freely and experimenting with how the pieces fit together.
One new challenge I explored is that the connection between the toothpaste piece and the toothpaste tube was structurally fragile due to its slim form. If I were to create a similar design later, I would first secure the main toothpaste tube and attachment together as a strong base before adding other smaller components.
Surprises
The most surprising part of the project was the use of ping-pong balls as lampshades. During testing, I discovered that they diffused the LED light far better than expected, creating a soft glow that enhanced the overall atmosphere of the night light.
Future Improvements
Next time, I would like to explore using plain-colored fabric as the base, then adding embroidered decorations for more refined detail. This would allow the design to balance simplicity with personal touches, enhancing both its aesthetic quality and storytelling potential.
Circuit Diagram
When I tried to look for some process photos on my phone, I realized I don’t have any. Whenever I’m really focused, I tend to forget my phone even exists, and I prefer just sharing quickly with friends around me.
I’ll try to change that habit.
And special thanks to Jisu & Batu.