Design a battery-powered lamp that minimizes eye strain and enhances the gaming environment through improved lighting and mood support.
OcuLume
CONTEXT
Eye strain is a common condition caused by prolonged use of the ciliary muscles, which adjust the shape of the eye's lens to assist with focus.
CAUSES OF EYE STRAIN:
Driving Long Distances
Continuous Reading
Digital
Device Use
Exposure to
Bright Light
Underlying Eye Problems
Straining to See
in the Dark
Stress and
Fatigue
PROBLEM
Digital use is a leading cause of eye strain, as spending two or more continuous hours on screens disrupts natural eye behavior.
Screen use reduces blinking…
Preventing tears from evenly spreading across the eye to keep vision sharp.
60% of Americans...
Report experiencing digital eye strain symptoms. (NVISON)
“When we look at something close-up... the lens of the eye naturally contracts. If you’re looking at a screen for prolonged periods, the lens doesn’t have the chance to relax, which can lead to eye fatigue,” -Esen Karamursel Akpek.
HOW WE MIGHT
How might we design a lamp that reduces eye strain for gamers during extended screen time while enhancing their gaming experience?
DEMOGRAPHICS
(ESA)
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190.6 MILLION
Americans Age 5-90 Who Play Video Games
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The average player age was 36 in 2024, up from 29 in 2004
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GENDER IDENTITY OF GAMERS:
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53% MALE
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43% FEMALE
(ESA)
(ESA)
(ESA)
GAMING DURATIONS SURVEY
I surveyed 50 gamers between the ages 12-50 and found that most play 1-2 hours or over 4 hours per gaming session.
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Less Than
1 Hour
1-2 Hours
2-4 Hours
2-4 Hours
8%
40%
22%
30%
USER INTERVIEWS
I spoke with three individuals from different generations to understand their gaming habits, preferred environments, and how their eyes feel during gaming sessions.
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Participant 1
GEN Alpha Kid
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Gaming Device: Computer, iPad
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Duration: 1-2 hours
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Environment: Dark room for better screen visibility.
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Screen Brightness: Sometimes the screen is too bright.
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Eye Discomfort: Frequently dry eyes, watering, and headaches after about 4 hours.
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Relief: Rubs eyes.
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Interest in lighting solution: Interested, to prevent dryness and watering.
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Participant 2
GEN Z Young Adult
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Gaming Device: Computer
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Duration: 4 hours
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Environment: Dark room; too much light hurts her eyes.
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Screen Brightness: Often too bright.
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Eye Discomfort: Tired eyes, blurry vison from playing without glasses due to nearsightedness.
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Relief: Takes a break when eyes feel strained.
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Interest in lighting solution: Interested in a light that fits her gaming space. Prefers a compact light like a desk or nightstand lamp.
Participant 3
GEN X Adult
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Gaming Device: PlayStation (TV)
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Duration: 2-3 hours
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Environment: Dimly lit room; playing in the dark. hurts his eyes.
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Screen Brightness: Dislikes both bright and dark screens; adjusts brightness and contrast for optimal visibility.
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Eye Discomfort: Sore, tired, and watery eyes, especially after long sessions in the dark.
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Relief: Takes breaks and adjusts lighting.
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Interest in lighting solution: Interested in a calibrated light source to reduce discomfort.
"I can't play for long because my eyes start to kill me“ Says participant 1.
A CLEAR SHARED PATTERN ACROSS ALL AGES:
Eye discomfort is common after extended play and the idea of a dedicated gaming light is an area of interest.
SCREEN BRIGHTNESS
Adjusting screen brightness to around 200-300 nits based on surrounding light helps prevent eye strain by reducing the contrast between the screen and your environment.
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Office lighting studies show moderate luminance improves visual comfort and mood.
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Sensitivity varies with age, eye conditions, and screen habits.
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TAKE A
20 SECOND BREAK
EVERY
20 MINUTES
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LOOK AT SOMETHING
20
FEET AWAY
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DARK BLUE:
strength, power, dependability
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LIGHT BLUE:
peace and gentleness
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GREENS:
growth and nature
COLOR PHYSCOLOGY
Color is a powerful nonverbal communication tool that can evoke emotions or elicit feelings, ultimately influencing human behavior.
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Associated with heat, fire, passion, love, and excitement.
WARM COLORS
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Associated with the sea, sky, calmness, tranquility, and unity.
COOL COLORS
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WAVELENGTHS
A combination of soft blue and green lighting creates a balanced environment that enhances alertness and reduces eye strain by using moderated wavelengths and diffused light.
SOFT BLUE LIGHT
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Supports alertness and circadian rhythms.
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Activates retinal photoreceptors for energy and focus.
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Colored plastic or diffusion minimize eye strain without loss of effectiveness.
SOFT GREEN LIGHT
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Reduces headaches and sensitivity to brightness.
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Calms the retina and reduces discomfort.
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More soothing than red, offering better circadian benefits.
TOP AMAZON SELLERS
USER PAIN POINTS
Reviews from the top Amazon sellers revealed common pain points: light quality, durability, power issues, and ease of use.
Light Quality
Users frequently report flickering, limited brightness control, and unreliable lighting modes.
"I have only had it for about 2 days, but today it randomly started flickering.”
"The lamp flickers often, which is distracting."
Durability
Users frequently received damaged units and reported that certain lamps stopped working quickly.
"I was really excited at first, but after a few weeks, the product started to fall apart. Some pieces just don’t stay together well."
"The box was broken... Had to fix myself. Seems like it would be really nice if I didn't have to fix it."
Power Issues
Users express frequent frustration over missing batteries, poor USB function, and unreliable charging.
"The on/off switch on the bottom doesn't work. I find that to be very annoying."
"The usb-C cable stopped working... Overall very poor quality, made of cheap plastic."
Ease of Use
Users found feature placements confusing & poorly positioned, making lamps difficult to operate.
"I wish the controls were on the actual lamp rather than on a cord I have to stretch out."
"The base cannot support the weight if the main arm is lowered too far down (it gets too top-heavy)."
2 DEVICES
Based on images from online forums and Facebook groups, many users utilize dual screens, which can increase eye strain as the eyes work harder to refocus between devices.
75% of dual-screen users…
Experience eye strain as opposed to
53% of single-screen users. (TimeMagazine)
53% of Americans...
Report using 2 devices simultaneously. (NVISON)
AESTHETICS
Upon reviewing 100 user images from online forums
and Facebook groups, gaming setups appear:
GEOMETRIC
SHARP
FUTURISTIC
INNOVATIVE
AESTHETIC INSPIRATION
Inspired by features of gaming gear and setups, OcuLume is designed to complement modern PCs and reflect the style of today’s gaming community.
DESIGN CRITERIA
Innovations
Eye Comfort
Convenient Power Placement
Gaming Aesthetic
​Must Have
Desk Friendly
Durable
Intuitive Controls
High Quality Lighting
Battery Powered
Nice to Have
Dual Colors
IDEATION
3D EXPLORATION
I tested various shapes and forms using low- and medium-fidelity 3D models to evaluate design effectiveness.
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Too large
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Adjust the button to align with the overall aesthetics
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Adjust the light diffuser angles for optimal illumination
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Size is good as is
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Determine a method to securely hold internals
- Add additional decorative elements to the front
HIGH-FIDELITY MODEL
SNAP FITS
-Fully functioning
ROTARY
BUTTON SLOT
DUAL COLOR
-Fully functioning
HIGH-FIDELITY ANALYSIS
A LITTLE BIT
TOO TIGHT
(shorten edges)
SPRAY PAINT RIMS BLUE + GREEN, SEPERATE
ATTACH HEAT SHRINKS
SHORTEN TO BASE
SEPERATE
+ SPRAY
PAINT GRAY
SPRAY PAINT BLACK
SAND
CAD MODELING
Awkward Form
-Unconventional shape
Too Crystal-Like
-Excessive reflectiveness
Lantern-Like Light
-Illumination resembles a lantern
Exploring Lighting
-Assessing lighting options
Fully Functional
-Working cad model
MATERIALITY
Upon looking at materials, ABS stood out for its strength, precision, resistance to impact, and temperature changes.
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
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Impact resistance
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Strength and stiffness
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Versatility
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Chemical resistance
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Electrical insulation
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Surface finish
Polypropylene (PP)
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Lightweight
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Low moisture absorption
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Good mechanical strength
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Excellent electrical insulation
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Cost effective
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Color options
Acrylic
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Durable
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Translucent
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30x as strong as glass
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2x lighter than glass
Prototype of the lamp featuring a functional LED light and a rotary button.
FINAL PROTOTYPE
RENDERS
RIMS
DECORATIVE PIECE
DIFFUSER
RGB LED
ROTARY SWITCH
DECORATIVE PIECE
BASE
3V AA BATTERIES
BATTERY COVER
FEATURES
DUAL COLOR SETTINGS
-Switch between blue and green lighting.
-Easily adjust to match your mood or space.
ROTARY SWITCH
-Smooth, intuitive control to change color with a simple turn.
EYE STRAIN REDUCTION
-Minimizes eye strain for long gaming sessions.
-Soft, diffused light reduces glare.
