Light & Stone — Project Development Timeline
Light & Stone is an interactive lighting project that turns arranging natural stones into a quiet daily ritual. Placed on a powered tray, the stones glow softly and reveal their natural textures. My goal this semester is to create a working prototype that communicates this experience through touch, arrangement, and light.
My early experiments have focused on wireless power and light transmission through stone. The next stage is to bring these elements together, test the experience with others, and refine the physical design.
October 6–12 | Material and Light Tests
Compare the stones I have available using a consistent light source. Document how their thickness, texture, and internal structure affect the glow. Test warm LEDs and choose a stone and light source for the first integrated prototype.
Deliverable: A photo comparison and one selected material–light combination.
October 13–19 | Wireless Power Tests
Test the receiver coil and LED together, focusing on brightness, placement, and the distance between the stone and tray. Check whether the light remains stable during repeated placement and monitor heat during extended operation.
Deliverable: One LED assembly that lights reliably within a clearly defined area of the tray.
October 20–26 | First Integrated Stone
Develop a suitable fabrication method with shop guidance and create space for the electronics inside one stone. Test component placement to reduce visible shadows and keep the assembly accessible for adjustments.
Deliverable: One stone that lights up when placed on the prototype base.
October 27–November 2 | Tray Prototype
Build a simple tray mockup and explore its dimensions, surface material, and arrangement possibilities. Test how the tray’s thickness affects power transfer and whether the stone’s placement feels natural.
Deliverable: A complete first prototype with one illuminated stone and a tray.
November 3–9 | User Testing
Invite three to five people to try the prototype with minimal instructions. Observe how they pick up, place, and move the stone. Ask how they describe the experience, whether the light feels comfortable, and where they would imagine using it.
Deliverable: A short testing summary identifying the three most important changes.
November 10–16 | Design Refinement
Use the feedback to adjust brightness, placement, and the tray’s proportions. If the first stone works reliably, add a second stone to explore composition and arrangement. Keep the scope focused on a small, coherent experience.
Deliverable: A revised prototype that addresses the main usability and visual issues.
November 17–23 | Final Assembly
Secure the components, refine the surface finish, and organize the tray’s wiring. Test repeated use and longer operating sessions, checking for flickering, excessive heat, and loose connections.
Deliverable: An assembled prototype ready for presentation testing.
November 24–30 | Documentation and Presentation
Photograph the object both illuminated and unlit. Record a short video showing the interaction from picking up a stone to placing and rearranging it. Prepare a concise project description and document the main experiments and design decisions.
Deliverable: Project photographs, an interaction video, and a presentation draft.
December 1–7 | Buffer and Final Preparation
Reserve this week for repairs, final adjustments, and presentation rehearsal. Test the setup in lighting conditions similar to the exhibition space and prepare a repeatable installation procedure.
Deliverable: A presentation-ready prototype and complete documentation.
Scope and Priorities
My minimum goal is one reliable illuminated stone and one finished tray. Additional stones will depend on the stability of the first prototype. If wireless power becomes a major obstacle, I will use a temporary wired setup for early experience testing while continuing to develop the wireless version. This will allow me to evaluate the central idea—whether arranging stone and light creates a meaningful moment of pause—throughout the process.