Nightside: A Table Lamp Designed for a Relaxing Nighttime Atmosphere

Creating a Warm and Calming Environment with Innovative Lighting

Gupta's inspiration for Nightside came from his love of reading at bedtime. Frustrated with the limitations of traditional book-lights and headlamps, he sought to create a lamp that would provide a focused and adjustable light source. Drawing inspiration from theatrical spotlights, Gupta turned to optics to recreate the desired effect.

The result is a lamp that challenges the conventional bedside lamp paradigm. When closed, Nightside emits a warm and gentle glow, creating a relaxing atmosphere in the immediate area. However, when more light is needed, a simple press of the top reveals an extendable spotlight feature. This spotlight can be directed anywhere, up to ninety degrees, allowing for comfortable reading or writing without disturbing others in the room.

One of the key features of Nightside is its energy efficiency. With only one LED, the lamp consumes just one watt of power, making it highly efficient and environmentally friendly. The use of a patented optical projection system ensures that the spotlight generates a bright yet even light, providing optimal illumination for various activities.

The construction of Nightside involves a combination of aluminum parts, injection-molded plastic parts, optical lenses, and cotton fabric. The lamp features a custom-designed PCB that controls the warm-white LED. The extendable reflector is actuated via an internal gas spring, allowing for smooth and precise adjustments.

Dimensions of the Nightside lamp are 150mm in width, 150mm in depth, and 450mm in height. It is powered by a USB-C charging adaptor and cable, providing convenience and versatility.

The development of Nightside began in San Francisco in 2018, with production commencing in 2022. Throughout the design process, Gupta conducted extensive research into optics and LED configurations to achieve the desired spotlight effect. Prototypes were tested and refined, incorporating user feedback to ensure the best possible user experience.

The complexity of the optical projection system posed a significant challenge during the development of Nightside. Precise alignment of multiple components was required to achieve the focused and bright spotlight. Additionally, designing for consistent performance while incorporating three moving parts was crucial to the lamp's functionality.

Nightside has been recognized for its innovative design and practicality, receiving the Iron A' Design Award in the Lighting Products and Fixtures category in 2023. This prestigious award acknowledges the lamp's integration of industry best practices, competent technical characteristics, and its contribution to creating a better world.

With its unique combination of functionality, energy efficiency, and aesthetics, Nightside is a testament to Jess Gupta's innovative approach to lighting design. Whether used for reading, writing, or simply creating a relaxing ambiance, Nightside is the perfect companion for those seeking a warm and calming environment at night.