Candle Lantern with Timer | Agneya Kulkarni

Stage 01of 09

Context & brief

A 12-week sponsored studio. The sponsor, a safe maker, opened with one question, and one client guideline held all the way to the end: no electronics.

The prompt

Studio sponsor prompt: “What is Safe?”

Gardall, a safe company, was the sponsor of Metaproject 16 and posed the research prompt “What is safe?”

Sponsor: Gardall Safe Corporation
Studio: Metaproject 16 · 12 weeks
Constraint: No electronics (client guideline)

Gardall Safe Corporation x Metaproject 16

This led toWide research, before any narrowing.

Stage 02of 09

Research

More than fifty slides of desk research, then a research board that weighed each direction with sticky-note feedback until one everyday object was left.

Desk research · 50+ slides

From wide research to a focused problem statement.

I conducted a wide exploration of possible directions (50+ slides) to the research question, from the safety of our memories to food preservation.

A Gardall safe surrounded by fire in a house basement

Back to the sponsor

Gardall keeps objects safe from house fires...

What objects cause house fires? How can we prevent it?

Research board: sketched directions with sticky notes narrowing to candles, NFPA candle fire statistics and four statistic cards

Research board · directions

“Keeping lighting safe?”

“Keeping water safe?”

“Keeping luggage safe during transport?”

Each direction was sketched and challenged on the board, with notes like “Several better concept already on the market” and “Scale too large for project.”

Research board · narrowing

“How safe are candles?”

Candles stayed in play as a survival light source, so the board turned to the NFPA’s candle fire statistics.

Research board · the numbers

Four figures from the NFPA research ended the board. They became the insight that set the direction.

Research showedSuch a small object, such a big risk.

Stage 03of 09

Insight

Two findings reframed the brief: candles cause thousands of house fires a year, often when no one is watching, and no product on the market pairs a real flame with any intervention.

7,600+21 Reported Incidents per Day

Candle Fire Statistics · 1 of 4

7,600+ house fires a year are caused by candles

“Candles are a live flame within the house, people underestimate their danger.”

“Such a small object can create such huge impact.”

60%

Candle Fire Statistics · 2 of 4

60% due to flammable materials getting in contact with an exposed candle

34%

Candle Fire Statistics · 3 of 4

34% of candle fire deaths are caused by sleeping with a lit candle.

21%

Candle Fire Statistics · 4 of 4

21% of home structure candle fires, the candle was either left unattended, discarded, or otherwise misused.

Source: NFPA Research

Insight 1

Scale of the Issue

Even the smallest oversight can lead to catastrophe when precaution is ignored.

Competitive Landscape

Safety vs. Experience

Existing products mapped on two axes: real flame or electric, and whether they intervene at all.

Insight 2 · The Market Gap

Electric alternatives are safe, but artificial. Real flame products offer no intervention. Users have to sacrifice their safety for an authentic, real flame experience.

This led toA question that keeps the flame and adds the safety.

Stage 04of 09

So, how do we keep the use of candles safe?

Problem definition

The findings became five requirements for the candle holder concepts, including the client’s rule of no electronics.

Developing candle holder concepts

01Protective Enclosure
02Real Flame
03Timed Reminder
04Integrated Snuffing
05Non-Electronic

This led toBreadth first: form and interaction on paper.

Stage 05of 09

Ideation

Sketches, cardboard and CAD side by side. The question running through every option was the same: how does the user set the timer?

Top-down view of Agneya at the workbench, holding a printed model beside CAD on a laptop, cardboard cut-outs and tools

Desk with printed form references, sketch sheets of candle holders and a tablet sketch of a lantern — Workbench and sketch desk

Grid of twenty pencil sketches of candle holders with timer bases, three circled

Sketching

Initial sketching around form and interaction

Insights from existing hurricane candle lanterns and timers informed how the user set the timer.

CAD Ideation and Feedback

Five ways to set the time

Explored various ways of setting the time on the timer, as well as different form variations, each reviewed with sticky-note feedback.

V1

Rotate to set time

“No lid, does not protect candle from other materials”

“Too small”

V2

Ball-knob rotation

“Interaction not very intuitive, keep exploring...”

V3

Rotate + lid

“Create model to test...”

“May be difficult to get working prototype with this interaction!”

Variation 4

Rotate to set time

“Candle feels too covered, Too intrusive for authentic experience.”

“Create model to test...”

Variation 5

Slider-style timer set + moveable handle

“Rubber ring not ideal for protection.”

“Complicated to create functioning prototype.”

This led toThen came a sixth variation.

Stage 06of 09

Concept selection

Every earlier variation had a catch on the feedback board. Variation 6 merged the handle and the timer into a single part, so the gesture that sets the reminder is the same one you carry it by.

V1Rotate to set timeNo lid, does not protect candleToo small
V2Ball-knob rotationInteraction not very intuitive
V3Rotate + lidDifficult to prototypeModel to test
V4Rotate to set timeCandle feels too coveredModel to test
V5Slider-style timer set + moveable handleRubber ring not ideal for protectionComplicated to prototype
V6 · ChosenRotate the handle to set the timeTimer and handle in one gesture

Variation 6 render: a hand holds the U-shaped handle over the lantern, with insets of the rotating vent lid and a kitchen timer with a carry handle

Variation 6: Chosen Design

Rotate Handle to Set the timer

The handle winds the mechanical timer. One gesture sets the reminder and creates a carry point—portability and function in a single motion.

Drag the handle or tap a number

How it works · interactive

Wind the handle

Seen from above, the handle crosses the base dial. Scroll to turn it, or drag it yourself: the numbers move past the fixed marker in 5-minute steps, 0 to 60.

Then let go

It winds back to zero

Press Start. The handle walks back to neutral as the timer runs down (sped up here), then the timer rings.

ThenIt had to work in the hand.

Stage 07of 09

Prototyping & testing

Variations were 3D printed as physical models and tested in the hand, while a separate experiment tested how the flame could be put out.

Test models

Printed to be held

Four variations printed as physical test models, each with a translucent shield.

Parts

Built in pieces

Shields, handles, vent lids and base plates of the test models, printed as separate parts.

Test · in hand

Wind it, then carry it

The printed Variation 6 was tested for both jobs of the handle: turning it like a dial, and lifting the lantern by it.

Insight

Iris for Snuffing

Experimented with an open-source iris mechanism to be used in the final product to snuff the candle.

Testing fed intoA fully working prototype, with the iris built into the top.

Stage 08of 09

Refinement

The refined lantern added a real mechanical timer, handles that split apart on magnetic joints, and an oculus on top for snuffing. It was then tested start to finish.

Mechanically Functioning Prototype

Using a mechanical timer, I created a fully functioning model of the final variation that allowed the timer to be wound, automatically returned to the neutral position, and rang after a set period of time.

1. Placing Candle Inside

The magnetically-jointed handles split apart, inviting the user to place the candle inside.

2. Rotate to set time

Rotate the handle to the desired time. Indicated with 5 minute incriments (0-60min)

3. Light the Candle

Users can light the candle using a candle lighter through the top opening.

The lit working prototype on a desk, handle back in the neutral position

4. Timer Automatically Rotates Handle to Neutral Position

(Please enable audio) During the duration of the timer, the handle will slowly rotate back to the neutral position and set off a ring. *Simulated automatic return