SUNNY-SIDE

A Little Light, Over Easy.

Sunny-Side is a playful and soothing lighting solution designed to bring joy and comfort to any space. Inspired by the everyday romance of a sunny-side-up egg, its soft glow and feel, along with its whimsical design embrace the global rise of cute culture. This trend transcends age, culture, and gender, inviting everyone to rediscover the simple pleasures of delightful, lighthearted aesthetics. Perfect for bedrooms, nurseries, or just a cozy little corner, this nightlight isn't just functional - it's a conversation piece that makes every night a little brighter and a lot more fun.

The Ask:

"Develop a lamp/lighting concept that seamlessly combines functionality with integration into a specific environment or aesthetic."

The Answer:

Sunny Side: An intentionally playful, soft, & inviting nightlight with a soft glow, & material celebrating the universal charm of cute culture for all ages and spaces.

Skills Developed:

-Design for Emotional Impact

-User Experience + Human-Centered Design

-Design Storytelling

-Design Visualization: Rendering

Context

The Rise of Cute Culture.

Cute culture, often rooted within a niche of Japanese street culture, has become a global phenomenon that has been shown to transcend age, culture, and gender. The aesthetic is often characterized by its embrace of playful designs, evoking joy, comfort, and nostalgia.

From fashion to home décor, this aesthetic serves as an inclusive design language celebrating universal charm and playfulness.

Human-Centered Design

Designing For Emotional Impact.

The key elements of the aesthetic's features include: simple forms, soft textures, anthropomorphization, and playful child-like details, which evoke comfort, affection, and nostalgia.

These design elements create approachable, emotionally engaging products that foster connection, evoke positive feelings, and encourage physical interaction, blending functionality with emotional appeal.

Concept Development

Establishing a Visual Identity.

During the initial ideation phase, various soft & playful forms were explored, with the sunny-side-up egg design emerging as the most compelling.

Its round shape, along with the inherent charm of anthropomorphizing something found in everyday, mundane life, struck the perfect balance of playfulness and familiarity, offering a recognizable symbol of warmth and positivity.

25-1_07 Sunny Side Thumbnail Sketches.jpg

Development: CMF

Interaction Design.

A soft form combined with silicone material emphasizes smooth textures, rounded shapes, and gentle colors to invite touch and comfort. Subtle details such as dimples or patterns enhance approachability and guide playful interaction.