Light Play Shade
I have always been interested in how the environment around us can affect the way we feel, behave, and experience a space. One project that especially influenced this concept was The Bower, where sunlight passes through a canopy and creates changing patterns of light and shadow. I find it interesting how something functional, like providing shade, could also change the atmosphere of the space and create an experience for the people using it (Ponce, 2026).
I chose this approach because my environment research showed me that the surroundings around people can influence their experience and how they interact with a space. My primary research with parents also showed me that things in the environment, such as colors, buildings, animals, and changing scenery, can naturally catch children’s attention. This connected back to the problem Honda gave me about excessive screen use and how it can affect family interaction. Instead of adding another traditional screen for children to focus on, I wanted to explore how the physical environment inside the car itself could become part of the experience and create something the family could experience together.
This made me think about how sunlight could be used in a similar way inside a car instead of a regular shade only being used to block the sun. The Light Play Shade uses different translucent materials to filter sunlight and create patterns, colors, and shadows throughout the car. Families could use a digital remote screen to choose between different modes, such as soft diffused light, nature-inspired shadows, abstract shapes, or colorful light reflections. Based on the selected mode, the seat could also recline to a position that matches the experience and makes the passenger more comfortable.
Family members could, talk about the patterns and colors, or simply enjoy the changing atmosphere during the ride. Instead of the environment just being the background of the experience, it becomes something that can support relaxation, conversation, and shared moments.
Some complications would also need to be considered, such as driver distraction, how the effects change depending on weather and time of day.
Reference
CANVA: Visual suite for everyone. (n.d.-a). https://www.canva.com/
Ponce, E. (2026, September 15). Pink inflatable canopy brings soft shade to New York’s streetscape. designboom. https://www.designboom.com/architecture/pink-inflatable-canopy-soft-shade-new-york-streetscape-elsa-ponce-bower/
Approximately (40%) of this work draws from the primary and secondary research I did, (45%) reflects my concept development, design decisions, and application to the family car experience, and (15%) reflects AI assistance with grammatical editing and refinement of wording. All interpretations and final design decisions remain the responsibility of the author.
