Lumicharge: A Solution to Power Outages
Overview
If you are a renter, I must ask you this question: How prepared are you for a power outage, if one were to occur at tonight? Sure you have a phone for flashlight, but how long will that last – 30 minutes? 1 hour? Is your powerbank charged? Your flashlight/candles are... somewhere. And you're left wondering: Is it just my house? Did the whole neighborhood lose power? What should I do with my food in the fridge? What do I do?Maybe you have a backup generator now, but those are expensive and not always feasible for renters. From 40 interviews, I uncovered the stress, annoyance, lack of control and anxiety renters from different walks of life face when power outages occur.
Role
UX Researcher & Product Designer
I led the research initially and pivoted to developing the product technical design along with related product assets
Timeline
Jan 2024 - May 2024 (4 months)
Team
Diamond Na
3D-Designer
Hadi Allos
Market Analyst
Sage Hendelman
Branding Designer
Skills
User Research, Affinity Mapping, Product Strategy, Electrical Engineering, 3D Design, Prototyping
My Contributions
As a UX Researcher, I...
- Conducted 10 semi-structured interviews with renters who have experienced power outages
- Created affinity maps synthesizing 40+ interviews across the team
- Conducted dot voting and ideation sessions to prioritize features
- Designed and analyzed concept testing surveys (50+ responses)
As a Product Designer, I...
- Developed personas to guide product decisions
- Created concept cards for testing 6 different product ideas
- Designed and built the electrical components for the working prototype
- Developed the product video and website for launch
Outcome/Impact
#1
Highest profit margin among all products
#2
Highest selling product in online tradeshow
Full product development from research to working prototype
Background
As part of the TO 548 Integrated Product Development course, our multidisciplinary team was challenged with a problem statement: help renters reduce disruptions or leverage any possible benefits from power outages.As a team of 5 we each set out to have 10 interviews with renters from different phases of life in Michigan. From these interviews, we each came up with different questions like – how do working people deal with this problem and how is it different from students? how do families with kids prepare? how do people with medical conditions prepare? but one thing was common across all interviews: renters were had their routines disrupted and felt anxious and powerless during outages. So how did we help them?
Understanding the Problem Space
Problem #1: The uncertainty problem
People can't prioritize actions without knowing outage duration. 69% felt annoyed by lack of light, but the real issue was not knowing if this was a 10-minute blip or a 10-hour ordeal. Short outages meant minimal disruption; long ones created cascading problems with food spoilage, lighting, boredom, and lack of utility updates.Problem #2: The generation gap
Age groups cope differently with outages. Younger users (under 26) relied on electronic devices for entertainment, while older participants used analog activities like reading. 62% immediately searched for light–the gateway to all other activities.Problem #3: The parent stress factor
Parents prioritize child comfort over everything. Managing a crying or uneasy child during outages overwhelmed parents. 67% of parents said their first thought was whether their kids were safe and comfortable–outweighing concerns about food or boredom.Problem #4: The renter constraint
Renters need portable, dual-purpose solutions. Rental limitations prevent permanent electrical modifications or dedicated backup systems. The solution needed daily value, not just emergency functionality.Ideation and Concept Development
Brainstorming Solutions
I used UX processes like Brainwriting and affinity mapping to help the team evaluate ideas systematically. We developed three initial concepts:- Portable light - A backup lighting solution with charging capabilities to support essential devices during outages
- Social card game using light - An activity-based approach to combat boredom
- Soft toy with textures, light, and sound - Focused on comforting children during outages
Portable light
Social card game using light
Soft toy with textures, light, and sound
Meet Daniel: Our Primary Persona
By concentrating on the market interest and individuals' routines, we aimed to achieve two objectives: supporting them in their current routines and mitigating boredom, enabling them to return to activities like cooking, working, socializing, and maintaining connections. With this I created Daniel, a 24 year old graduate student who frequently experiences power outages in his rented apartment.
Reframing the Problem Statement
So based on the concept testing results and persona, we decided to focus on the portable light concept. I transformed the problem statement to focus on specific user needs and constraints that our initial research uncovered to lead ideation and design decisions.How might we prevent the disruption of people’s routines during a power outage without needing dedicated investments?
Testing Six Concepts
Why Our Concepts appealed to Users
Competitors were either portable OR had backup power but never both together, and most existed as desk lamps with unappealing aesthetics. Flora (33.33% projected market share) and Sunwish (19.49% projected market share) stood strong because they combined portability with backup power while fitting into home environments.Why Ideal Concepts did not appeal to Users
Users found them needlessly power consuming in an environment where power conservation is key.Design Evolution
From Flora to Lumios to Ilumicharge to ...
Other important insights from the concept testing survey led the baseline for the design, by determining the budget, target audience, and key features to include.
Lighting products already exist in homes. Success required emphasizing aesthetics, functionality, and unique features over pure utility.From GlowFlo: adopt design simplicity. From Sunwish: keep power bank and charging, lose the wires and weight.Target audience: 22-year-old renters with (70%) willing to spend ~$109, primarily using living rooms and bedrooms.Building My Electrical Knowledge from Zero
I undertook technical development of Lumicharge's electrical components – a rechargeable battery with a detachable headlight integrated into the prototype. Having no prior knowledge of electrical components beyond basics, I studied all available campus resources, consulted with acquaintances about mechanical and technical components, and used ChatGPT extensively to understand connections and requirements (and ensure nothing exploded).This self-directed learning resulted in a fully functional working prototype that successfully demonstrated at both online and physical tradeshows.Solution
Never Get Left in the Dark Again
Lumicharge is not just a floor lamp: It's designed to keep your space illuminated and devices charged during unexpected power outages for almost a day. With a detachable, portable lamp head and built-in charging ports, it provides power and portable lighting wherever and whenever needed.
