SLIGHT: Thermochromic Educational Light for Climate Change Awareness
SLIGHT is an interactive installation that employs thermochromic ink and RFID interaction to visualize the impact of carbon emissions. Depending on which object is placed on the RFID reader, the lamp’s surface changes color at different speeds - higher emissions cause the “iceberg” to melt faster, creating an immediate and visceral metaphor for global warming.
By linking everyday activities (symbolized through figures like cattle, cars, and buses) to the visual narrative of melting icebergs, the project transforms abstract data into a tangible experience.
We wanted to show how smart materials can serve not only as a medium for aesthetic expression but also as an accessible way to raise awareness about climate change.
Team
Heather Hyerin Im
Jaehong Kim
Context
Media Interaction Design
KAIST,
2021
Instructor
Woohun Lee
Concept
Thermo Ink Testing / RFID
The development of SLIGHT involved multiple rounds of material testing and iteration. Thermochromic inks were repeatedly tested to achieve the most effective color transformation in response to heat.
In parallel, various surface materials for the lampshade were prototyped and compared to ensure optimal heat conduction, durability, and visual clarity.
On the hardware side, an Arduino-based system was built to integrate RFID sensors, a carbon display, and the lamp module. Six RFID-tagged figures (representing cattle, pigs, chickens, buses, cars, and bicycles) were programmed with their respective lifetime carbon emissions. When a figure is placed on the reader, the Arduino adjusts the lamp’s brightness and heat output, triggering the thermochromic ink to change color at different speeds. This closed loop between figure input, hardware response, and visual feedback creates an intuitive interaction linking everyday activities to climate impact.