Prize(s) Winners in Desk Lamps, Floor Lamps / Interactive Lighting Products
University / School Name Georgia Tech
Lead Designers Yhali Sheba
Professor Names Thomas Clifton
Other Credits Noah Posner
Completion Date 4/21/2025
Project Location Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Entry DescriptionArlo is a multifunctional desk light designed to move with the user, shifting between ambient, task, or combined lighting to match the different rhythms of a work session. A simple touch sensor toggles between modes, offering soft light for general use, focused directional light for task work, or both when full illumination is needed. Using a flexible HVAC pipe as both a structural spine and diffuser, the lamp can be bent and shaped however the user wants, creating an open-ended interaction with light that is both practical and expressive. Arlo encourages a tactile relationship with lighting, turning a functional object into something playful, adaptable, satisfying, and personal. Designed to foster creative engagement, it becomes a sculptural tool users want to come back to, adjust, and spend time with.
Sustainability ApproachArlo is built around a recycled HVAC pipe, repurposing a commonly discarded component into a flexible lighting element. Its base is 3D printed in PETG, a durable, recyclable plastic that can be easily reprocessed. By combining ambient and task lighting in a single adjustable fixture, Arlo is designed to reduce the number of lights needed in a workspace, helping lower overall energy consumption and material waste. The focus on modularity and reuse supports a more circular approach to product life and sustainability.
