On Earth, four out of ten Swedes are more tired then normally during the winter. Winter depression can range from slight dullness to very severe depression. The most common treatment is light therapy.

This concept of a tactile and portable light therapy lamp was developed in a projects in cooperation with NASA. The background is the scenario of a possible life on Mars in a very distant future. How would we coup with the lack of sun light. A sunny day on Mars is like a cloudy day on Earth. A light source that gives us the light we need to keep our mood up and our circadian rhythm going would be necessary.
In this project I have been working with to parallel scenarios, one for Earth and one for Mars. The scenarios have cross-fertilised each other and lead to this tactile and portable light therapy lamp.


The lamp can be used in different ways. The different ways of usage allow the user to customize his/her user experience after personal needs. The active light therapy is done for a short period of time and gives the user an intense contact with the light. When doing passive therapy less intensity can be used but a longer time period is required. In the night the lamp is transformed to an ambient lamp.

In the day the portable lamp is brought along and can be used when it there is time and opportunity. In the night the wooden charger gives the lamp a new face, turning it to an interior ambient light and charges it so it’s ready for use next day.

Caroline Brahme