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tri-light

A modular lighting system that teaches beginners how to compose scenes — not just illuminate them.

Role

Solo Designer

Duration

6 Weeks

Software Tools

Solid Works, KeyShot, foamcore, 3D printing, LED strips

Delivered

Working prototype, final CAD and renders, app concept

The problem

Beginner creators can tell a shot looks flat. They can't tell why.

Persona: Jamie, 22. Communications major who just found content creation, experimenting with photo and video.

Limited experience

Wants better light without a steep learning curve

Tight budget

A student looking for a real upgrade at low cost

Wants to grow

Uses content to express themselves and build an audience

Small space

Shoots in a dorm room or a small apartment

Context

Key insight

Lighting isn't a gear problem. It's a learning problem.

"The most unaddressed problem is the learning curve that comes before being able to decide a set of preferences."

Discovery

Research

Experiment

Mistakes

Feedback

Skills

Integration

A micro-learning platform built for creative professionals who spend more time hunting for content than actually learning — and a full research study that shaped every design decision.

The core idea

Why three? The three-point lighting rule, built into the product

Key, fill and back light is the first lesson in any lighting course. Tri-Light makes each one a panel you can hold, place and switch on one at a time.

Four quick models to find the triangle

01 Magnetic sticks that snap into a tri-shape, like light bulbs

02 Wider and more rigid for scale, wiring room and swappable lights

03 Triangle frame added for structure, with an open center

04 Tests 02 and 03 linking with other units

Refined form and material exploration

3D-printed tripod

Tightening screws fixes the legs in place

Cork

Friendly texture, easy to grip

Steel screws

Worked well; thread holes need a fillet

Mylar diffuser

Hot spots on close LEDs

Joints

After many test pieces: solid metal ball joints with high-friction lubricant

Controls

Users needed to set one leg or all three fast, so each leg got a display and rotary knob

Size

Fits in a bag; estimated 25% smaller with the right material

Does it make the subject stand out?

Test goal: an auxiliary light should help the subject stand out and carry a stronger emotion.

Two College of Design participants, Feb 21, 2024, outdoors on campus at night. Canon camera, Tri-Light prototype as main light, a temperature panel as secondary.