Lumogram

Copyright 2023– Chuan Khoo

Please note that the ‘V1’ edition (featuring the round pendant design) of the Lumogram is closed-sourced and is NOT licensed under any Creative Commons license that the rest of this online resource is attributed to.

The Lumogram’s light is activated by touching the base of the pendant.

The Lumogram is a touch-reactive illuminated pendant made from laser cut wood, paper and bespoke electronics. Held together by toothpicks (yes, toothpicks) and designed to be recyclable and repurposed, participants can take part in this fun activity to experience how multiple design practices and technologies come together to make a memorable, interactive trinket.

This project is targeted at high school students wanting to experience a multi-disciplinary design workshop, to understand how design and technology might come together.

Sustainable Responsibility

All the parts that make up a Lumogram.

The Lumogram was designed to use as much recyclable material as possible – up to 75% can be put into general recycling (wood and paper parts).

The electronics pack can be re-purposed for future projects that require a touch-activated LED. While the use of a coin-cell battery is inevitable, securing it within a safe enclosure minimises accidents from swallowing or puncturing.

Modular Design

Exploded view of Lumogram’s simple parts ‘stack’.

The graphical module of the Lumogram can accommodate future design variants that students can produce. The electronics component was designed to be basic and rely on one warm white SMD LED to create the illuminated silhouette.

Instructional

Assembly instructions for the Lumogram provide a step-by-step video sequence that explain assembly and options for enhancing it further once they are done with the initial assembly.

The provision of instructions is key to designing a simple-to-assemble artefact. Scan the QR code to watch the assembly video tutorial.

Future Expansion

Partial render of the Lumogram’s electronics (V1).

The electronics module can be manufactured as a single-board design for compactness & safety, and allow for alternate lighting methods (ring-based instead of a single central point). Exploration of biodegradable circuit board substrates are being investigated.

Graphics

The first set of cutouts produced for the initial run. More layers and themes may be designed to suit a particular theme as part of future ‘kits’.