Tomorrow Lab

01

01 — Industrial Design Concept

In order to design a truly remarkable light bulb, we conducted a deep research phase to understand everything from ambiance, directionality, and light placement in the home (from loose table and floor lamps to set fixtures). We reviewed the Twist brand identity, conducted teardowns on competitive bulbs, and investigated user needs to confirm that our bulb would fit seamlessly into the home. The information we collected from our research inspired our sketches and several design directions to highlight the size and shape of the bulb.

Twist — Making a Lighting & Audio System in One

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02

02 — Product Architecture & Mechanical Engineering

Design decisions such as clear, frosted, or a transitional combination of the two for the globe became game-changing decisions about the tone of the light that would display in the room. With a set overall aesthetic in place, the Industrial Design and Product Architecture came together to accommodate the delicate Electrical Engineering path. Each PCB had to be carefully considered when placed in the design with a heat sink and conductive bond, and the LED band had to fit perfectly into the tip of the globe so that speaker would not deter from the light display.

Twist — Making a Lighting & Audio System in One

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We wanted to avoid anything harsh so that the Twist could blend seamlessly into the home no matter what location.

03

03 —Electrical Engineering

Astro has an Electrical Engineer on their team, so we worked along-side them to create a circuit board strategy that could accommodate the LED, WiFi audio, Bluetooth control, and necessary AC-to-DC power conversion. We determined the LED had to have the equivalent lighting of a 60-watt bulb, output at least 800 lumens, and a careful mix of 2700K (Warm White) and 6500K (Cool White) light color. The Twist only uses 10 watts of energy, (compared to 60 for a standard bulb), and maintains a 15-year LED lifespan.

Using the form factors determined during the initial Industrial Design phase, the PCBs and LED circuit boards came together and fit inside the bulb body. The four PCBs stack together and allow compact, easy to assemble modular construction, and allow other functionalities to be added in the future.

Since the product has two wireless systems - WiFi, and Bluetooth or Airplay - two antennas were necessary. This created a design challenge as we had to extend the antennas outside of the metal areas of the bulb housing while leaving the silhouette of the bulb unbroken.

Twist — Making a Lighting & Audio System in One

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Twist Making a Lighting & Audio System in One

01 — Industrial Design Concept

Twist — Making a Lighting & Audio System in One

02 — Product Architecture & Mechanical Engineering

Twist — Making a Lighting & Audio System in One

03 —Electrical Engineering

Twist — Making a Lighting & Audio System in One

Twist
Making a Lighting & Audio System in One