As the Product Designer on the LÜMI project, I led the end-to-end design of a smart, user-centered light therapy device aimed at treating Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and depression. My role involved creating a seamless product experience that not only integrated into users' daily routines but also addressed the key challenge of consistency in treatment by providing measurable, real-time feedback through a connected mobile app. LÜMI allows users to track their progress and improve treatment adherence, offering a holistic solution that blends physical and digital experiences.

The challenge being faced is that the traditional approach to light therapy presents a significant problem: users often quit before seeing results due to the lack of tangible feedback and difficulty in building consistent habits. The main goal was to solve this through a design that combines ease of use, portability, and real-time data tracking to motivate users to stay engaged with their therapy.

Design Process

In leading the design process, I adopted a holistic product design approach, aligning hardware, software, and user experience seamlessly. The goal was to deliver a product that not only met functional needs but also elevated the emotional and psychological experience for users managing mental health.

I started the Research & Strategy by spearheading comprehensive user research to understand pain points, behaviors, and unmet needs in the light therapy market. This included user interviews, competitive analysis, and market trends. From this research, I identified three key design opportunities the first being consistency- users struggled to maintain therapy routines due to lack of measurable progress. Integration is the second, users needed a solution that would fit effortlessly into their daily lives, especially for those with demanding schedules. Control & Personalization is the third, users desired more control over the intensity and tone of light, but without complexity.

A key persona emerged: Amy, a 25-year-old interior designer balancing a hectic schedule and struggling with SAD. She avoids medication, prefers holistic treatments, and requires a product that is flexible, easy to use, and provides motivation through measurable results.

To begin concept development, I led the ideation process to explore potential solutions, focusing on a portable, intuitive device that users could incorporate into different parts of their day. Through sketching, low-fidelity prototypes, and co-design workshops with users, we explored form factors, interfaces, and how best to integrate a digital layer for tracking progress. The rotary knobs for adjusting light intensity and color tone became a key element, ensuring the device was simple and quick to use. The progress meter emerged as an essential visual cue, showing users real-time feedback during sessions—a critical motivator based on user feedback.

With several rounds of prototyping & testing, I directed both physical and digital user testing. The physical prototypes including foam models and 3D-printed prototypes allowed us to test ergonomics, usability, and portability in real-world scenarios. Feedback on the handle design, light diffusion, and overall size led to iterative adjustments, ensuring the final design could be easily integrated into users’ routines, whether at a desk, on the couch, or while getting ready in the morning.

We designed and built interactive app prototypes of the mobile app which were tested to ensure the digital experience was intuitive. Users could easily track their session history, monitor their progress over time, and receive personalized reminders based on their therapy patterns.

Each iteration of LÜMI was refined based on usability testing and feedback loops with users, ensuring both physical and digital touchpoints were optimized for a smooth, cohesive experience.

LÜMI is more than just a light therapy device—it’s a personalized wellness tool designed with the user in mind. Some key Product Details to highlight include Seamless Physical-Digital Integration, the LÜMI mobile app syncs with the device to track therapy sessions, provide real-time progress updates, and deliver personalized insights that motivate continued use. It’s Portable & Flexible, the lightweight, slim design allows users to incorporate LÜMI into various parts of their daily routine—from working at their desk to unwinding on the couch. The design is flexible, with options to adjust light intensity and tone based on user preferences. It has Intuitive Controls, Rotary knobs allow users to easily adjust the brightness and color tone of the light, while a visual time meter tracks progress in real-time during each session. It uses Wireless Charging, to ensure ease of use and portability, LÜMI features inductive wireless charging, making it simple to power up between uses.

When looking at the Design Impact & Key Outcomes of LÜMI, it’s clear that the final design delivered a comprehensive product experience that solved core user problems, while also standing out in the light therapy market. One main outcome is Increased User Engagement, with real-time progress tracking and mobile notifications, users were more likely to stay consistent with their therapy, improving adherence and treatment outcomes. Another impactful result is High Usability Scores, user feedback emphasized the product’s ease of use, portability, and sleek design. The rotary knobs and clear progress indicators enhanced user satisfaction, making it easy to incorporate LÜMI into daily routines. This design was approached with specific pain points in mind leading to significant Market Differentiation, LÜMI’s unique selling point—progress tracking combined with portability and ease of use—allowed it to carve out a distinctive space in the light therapy market, addressing both functional and emotional needs.

This project was a great opportunity to leverage both my strategic thinking and design execution skills. Leading the design for LÜMI required balancing technical constraints, user needs, and business goals, while fostering collaboration across teams, including industrial design, engineering, and software development. I was able to demonstrate leadership through a focused user-centered design process that resulted in a product experience that truly enhances users’ lives. In this project, I honed my ability to seamlessly integrate physical and digital design while prioritizing the user experience at every step, delivering a product that was not only functional but also delightful to use.