Brief: Create innovative lighting in a style of your choice
Time Scale: 12 Weeks
Project Outcome: I chose to progress the style of levitation as I have always been fascinated by floating toy globes. I arrived at the idea of levitating hot air balloon which would incorporate a warm LED that would act as the burner. After completing this assignment, I decided that I would push myself further by taking the idea to Kickstarter where I encountered new challenges.
Quick sketches allowed me to iterate the main functions and form of the light.
The electromagnets would be housed in a CNC milled base made from recycled iroko.
Laser-cut MDF would make up the frame, basket and base cover. Modelling Dope applied to tissue paper gave the balloon both a neat and translucent finish.
3D Modelling on Solidworks helped me understand how the product could be assembled. A simple circuit allowed the warm LED to be turned on via the toggle switch.
Subtle acrylic struts act as the ropes between the balloon and the basket, with laser-cut MDF making up the frame.
Following my submission, I decided to challenge myself further by taking it to Kickstarter. This exposed me to costs, materials, manufacturing techniques, communication and marketing on a commercial scale. Creating the branding around ‘Float’ as well as promotional media to help sell the campaign allowed me to develop skills in areas that I was not so familiar with.
Although the campaign fell short of the £10,000 goal, over £5,000 was raised in pledges and I was given vital insights into what makes a project successful. Since this project, I have funded two Kickstarter campaigns and developed new connections across the world.
