In development

Process & prototypes

We are currently in the process of creating our own new sustainable and low-cost lighting prototype.

We are developing a prototype from the ground up rather than simply buying ready-made products from the market.

We researched existing products and approaches, analysed their limitations, and are using our skills in product design and research to develop a better alternative.

Design goals

The prototype is intended to be

Sustainable

Prioritising renewable energy and materials.

Practical

Designed for real-world use rather than functioning as a demonstration.

Adaptable

Capable of being improved through feedback.

Scalable

Developed with future production and distribution in larger quantities in mind.

The process

How the new light is coming together

Tap any image to see it full size.

Sketching the idea

It started on paper. Our early sketches explore a light built into a reused bottle: an LED and battery sealed at the top, with a small solar panel charging it during the day.

Solar panel → battery → light — solar panels are cheap, but a small battery is needed so it works during the night.
Silicone to waterproof the electronics and increase the life of the product.

Hand-drawn sketches on grid paper of a bottle light with a battery, LED, wires and a solar panel, with notes on waterproofing — Early design sketches

Designing our own circuit board

Instead of using an off-the-shelf module, we're designing our own printed circuit board — Spark 2.0. It connects the LED and solar panel, manages charging, and includes a charge indicator so users can see when the battery is filling up.

Designing the board ourselves keeps the cost down and lets us change it as we learn.

Screen showing the Spark 2.0 circuit board layout with LED and solar connectors and a charge indicator — The Spark 2.0 board layout

Building & testing

In the workshop, the board, battery and wiring come together inside a 3D-printed casing. Each build gets tested on the bench — and every problem we find now is one that won't reach a family later.

Two students testing a prototype at a workbench, and a close-up of the green circuit board and battery inside a yellow 3D-printed casing — Workshop testing and the assembled prototype

What comes next

Careful testing before wider distribution

Before going to wider distribution, we aim to test and evaluate the prototype very carefully.

Feedback from relevant organisations and potential users will help us identify weaknesses, improve the design and determine whether the product is ready for large-scale implementation.

Test

Evaluate the prototype in real conditions.

Listen

Gather feedback from users and organisations.

Improve

Fix weaknesses and refine the design.

Scale

Decide when it's ready for large-scale use.

Where it all began

Meet the story behind the first Spark of Hope prototype.

About us