On/Off Project
Light Switch Redesign
The project should focus on development of a product that is interesting, enriching, and fun to press. Children are often seen as the largest “issue” in a household when it comes to leaving lights on.
Light usage is mostly heat, and the output can cost up to 900$ a year if left on (under certain circumstances) which is impactful-- not only to the wallet, but to the planet. To reduce this problem, the goal of an interactive light switch is to encourage that interaction and prevent a vacant room from being left illuminated.
Children are often the culprit, if the approximately 373,000,000 results Google spits out when searching “how often do kids leave lights on” is any indicator. This issue can be due to many things- the main factor being, of course, the fact that being a child is exciting, and remembering to hit a light switch may loose the interactive battle against TV, or video games, or going outside. To combat this issue with the On/Off project, the goal was to create a light switch with a fun interactivity. With tactility and sensory input in mind, the iteration process began in earnest.
The concept focused on two main ideas-- a slider switch with an eye catching light, or a large button with a fun click-y element. With the height variance and eye line annoyance that a light would bring, the focus on a “Launch” style button became a clear direction to peruse.
With this project, the goal is to make something that could, realistically, replace a standard light switch. In order for this to happen, a dissection of a light switch’s internal components must be examined.
A typical “Rocker” switch consists of a toggle, a spring, a screw terminal, and an electrical contact point. External to the guts of the device, a two-screw system is used to, usually, mount the piece into the wall, which can then be screwed directly into with the cover plate.
The Tych design utilizes this facet of design to prevent visible screws. To do so, the “backing plate” that is screwed into the switch guts has clip edges which hold the facing place on. The mechanism used for the Tych is a magnetic cabinet latch with two settings, “In” and “Out” which slide into place within the facing plate. This system prevents visible screws, and doesn't detract from the clean design.