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MABY Smart Lighting System 模块化照明系统 by Horace Lam

MABY Smart Lighting System 模块化照明系统 by Horace Lam is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award 银奖 in 照明产品与灯具设计 Competition Category.


银照明· 2021

MABY Smart Lighting System 模块化照明系统

by Horace Lam

Client: Creations Un Limited

A' Design Award 银奖 Winner in 照明 Category

Colors

The Design

About MABY Smart Lighting System 模块化照明系统

MABY是一套模块化智能照明系统,专为搭建装饰性灯光雕塑而设计。该系统采用四种形状的扁平灯单元:三角形、正方形、五边形和六边形。各单元之间可相互连接,从而组合出丰富多样的造型结构。名为MABY skin的彩色图案面板可加装于每个单元之上,以改变其外观效果。用户只需触摸灯体或通过手机应用程序,即可调节亮度、色彩及开关状态。其设计初衷是让不同年龄层的用户都能在家中尽情发挥创意、自由表达。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 银奖

MABY Smart Lighting System 模块化照明系统是 A' Design Award 银奖得主,这是授予顶级、华美而令人印象深刻的设计的极为崇高的认可。银奖得主是极其卓越、极具创造力的作品,展现出其设计师杰出的专业技能、才华与敏锐。预计MABY Smart Lighting System 模块化照明系统将成为一件出色的典范之作,兼具非凡的专业性与深刻的创新性。这件赢得 A' Design Award 银奖的设计是一项备受瞩目、令人钦佩的发明,造福并拓展艺术、科学、设计和技术的边界。MABY Smart Lighting System 模块化照明系统是一件令人羡慕的创作,它唤起渴望,带来积极的情感,并激发惊叹与赞叹。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
MABY’s purpose is to inspiring people’s creative expression. Anyone can freely build their ideas and create their own art. It does this through three unique features. First its cells allow users to envision and build any structures with ease. Second, sensors equipped cells add to maby’s versatility and playfulness by allowing users greater control. Third is maby Skin, a series of beautifully coloured pattern plates to complement the users’ visions and add to the aesthetic of the creations.
Dimensions & Packaging
MABY brain- Master controller, 93mm x 11mm x 35mm,Cable is not included
maby cells-
Triangle- 93mm x 11mm x 88mm
Square- 118mm x 11mm x 118mm
Pentagon- 165mm x 11mm x 165mm
Hexagon- 208mm x 11mm x 198mm
Tags
Smart light, Lighting system, Decoration art, Smart home system, Smart lamp, Eduction, Dementia segment training
Production Technology
I started out with a vision of 3D shapes that allow users to freely build their own structures, like my son’s blocks. Then I deconstructed the 3D blocks into sets of four different 2D shapes, called cells, to allow for max building flexibilities. Then, R&D resources were spent on the various plastic case and precise PCB design/lighting inside compact cells, calculating the torque exerted on the connectors, and perfecting the possible numerical methods and equations and computer programming.
Design Challenge
One of the most challenging aspects of maby was the cells’ connectors as they need to withstand the forces exerted on them while they’re being rotated 180 degrees with reverse polarity. They also serve as communication ports for data transmission from the App. Each mechanism inside the connector has done different trail sets. Seven generations of prototypes were created. 3D computer modelling to solve the linear algebra equation for programming code was also a major challenge to overcome.
Research
Applied research. To develop decoration lamp combines with art and technology build by user. Identify possible 2D and 3D shapes to be used Math, computer programming building demo cells, programming evaluation MABY cells communication with app. Collecting play experience from construction toys, compare light decoration from market. Various professional maby testimonial. MABY could result with infinite shapes. User capability beyond what they expected. Users proof MABY is suitable from kids to senior.
Inspiration
I got inspiration from my three-year old son as he was playing with his blocks and asked me was there any toys for daddy so he could build with me. This sparked my eagerness to create something that could inspire and connect everyone. So I began the maby project. The first signs of encouragement came when it received the Hong Kong invention patent funding. Then more exciting news came as it received the invention patents of five other countries shortly afterward. My son was also very keen on seeing the new parts of MABY as it was being developed and has been my cheerleader since the beginning.
Project Duration
This project concept and research started in 2015. Product mechanism, firmware and APP structures started development from 2017 to 2018 which has gone through 5 eras of prototypes.
In March 2019, maby joined the exhibition "Marketing Pulse 2019" in Hong Kong as a partner company’s decoration. In September 2019, MABY joined Maison & Object in France. In December 2019, MABY was invited to Design Inspire in Hong Kong.
Operation Flow
Create – Visualize and build your maby sculpture design by connecting cells of different shapes (i.e. triangle, square, pentagon and hexagon)
Color - Connect your sculpture to the maby APP. Pick the cells you want to control and adjust their brightness, colours, on/off status via the maby APP interface or by touching the cells.
maby Skin - Attach the pattern plate, called maby Skin, to the inner ring of each cell to create your favourite maby style.
Patents
HK1216219
US 10,424,865 B2
ZL 2017 8 0006447.1
Team Members
Horace Lam, Creator & Founder of maby
Boris Cheung, 3D display engine
Andy Law, Math support
Kenny Au Ieong and Stanley Ting, Marketing support
Carol Chan, Operation support
Centek International (HK) Ltd., firmware and development support
Shun Shing Standard Corporation Development Ltd., Hardware support
Image Credits
Image #3: Painter Bao Ho, Bao1 & Bao2, 2021

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