Solar Lantern Design

Our primary focus during the solar lantern design project for the rural areas was the “needs” around the lifestyle of the user. Main occupation being farming and agriculture, most part of the day he/she spend outdoor out in the farm. Charging the device needs to be done during this time so that the lantern is ready to use for the rest of the evening and throughout the night.

We got rig of the clumsy cables and made the LED based solar lantern design into a single piece which is easy to use and ideal for safe keeping. The features of our solar lantern design will enable the user to adapt the product to his eco-system. Our persona now can use his rural solar lantern to store and charge his mobile phones, listen to radio and even store his keys and other valuables.

Slides below is intended to give a quick tour on the process followed during this project.

Plan to reach, acquire and retain was established.

Initial idea sketches appears more modern and the team developed a suitable mood board to capture the imagination of the typical user and his/her perceptions.

Our design had to be more closer to what he perceives as robust and reliable but of course modern in nature.

Basic design language was discovered and we set out to build the design and start visualisation.

Now, we are happy with our design approach, but the existing design lacked in robustness and sense of value.

Refinements got into full throttle to add rural sense in the design and make it rural proof.

Few more refinements on the metal handle.

The rural solar lantern design is now complete and is ready to go to prototyping stage. Its robust, reliable and highly utilitarian.