GlowClam – Project Description
GlowClam is a plush night light designed to bring peace and comfort to users inspired by my own experience of falling asleep to the sound of ocean.
It features a semi-rigid shell with smooth fabric and a more plushy and soft interior with soft lighting compared to the peal that sits on top of it which is the main light source. The different tactile and the partially hidden pearl encourages user to play with it. And feel the change of luminance as the shell open and close.
GlowClam is designed for anyone who seeks a sense of peace and playfulness before bed. It encourages a bedtime ritual that feels safe and personal.
Material and Parts Used
The outer shell is shaped with 3D‑printed PLA inserts wrapped in camel-colored knit fabric and lightly padded with polyfill to maintain a plush yet structured form. The inner “tongue” is made from a soft ivory minky fabric, giving it a gentle, cloud‑like texture that complements the glowing pearl. The pearl itself is a frosted ping‑pong ball filled with cotton to diffuse the light. Two white LEDs provide the illumination with one inside the pearl and one hidden within the tongue. These are connected by extended wires that runs discreetly through the bottom of the hinge fabric to a concealed 3‑AAA battery case at the back, keeping the wiring invisible and the interaction seamless.
Journey
Almost everything about this project was new to me. Aside from some basic things like sewing the back, slip stitch, and flipping and stuffing the polyfill, every other step felt like an experiment. The part I found most interesting was sewing out the indents on the shell. Watching the dented wrinkle lines slowly form and trap the polyfill between them worked even better than I imagined, and I could control how far each indent extende, making the shell to look more like an organic living thing than something industrially made. Another moment was the pearl. I was originally going to hot glue or fabric glue the ping pong ball, but on impulse I tried sewing it instead. It actually worked with the semi‑rigid shell, even though it took some force. If I had more time, I’d love to explore making the opening and closing trigger the light automatically, or experimenting with different lighting effects inside to make it feel even more magical.
Circuit Diagram
Final Photos
