2026

Design Awards Silver Winner - Tsinghua University

LUMI — Ambient Care Lamp for Aging in Place

Entrant

Tsinghua University

Category

Lighting - Lighting Innovation

Client's Name

Beijing Qilinglu Culture Media Co., Ltd.

Country / Region:

China

LUMI is an ambient care companion that reimagines the bedside lamp as a quiet support system for older adults living alone. Instead of introducing an overtly medical device into the home, LUMI integrates safety, health assistance, lighting, and emotional connection into a familiar object already present in daily life.
Designed for aging in place, LUMI addresses four common challenges faced by older adults and their families: nighttime falls, medication uncertainty, emotional isolation, and the anxiety of remote caregiving. Its soft bedside illumination creates a calm, non-dazzling environment, while a detachable glowing orb provides intuitive night guidance when users move away from the bed.
To support safety without compromising privacy, LUMI uses millimeter-wave sensing for camera-free fall detection. The system can recognize abnormal posture changes or prolonged stillness and notify family members through the companion app when assistance may be needed. This allows care to happen in the background, without making the home feel monitored.
LUMI also simplifies daily medication routines through NFC-based medicine recognition. By tapping a tagged medicine box on the lamp, users can confirm whether they are taking the correct medication at the right time. Intake records are synchronized with the app, creating a clear feedback loop between older adults and caregivers.
Beyond physical safety, LUMI supports emotional well-being through an expressive light interface, digital photo display, and one-touch calling. These features transform remote care from a task-based interaction into a warmer form of everyday presence.
By combining lighting, unobtrusive sensing, medication support, and emotional communication, LUMI offers a dignified alternative to clinical home monitoring. It protects independence while giving families reassurance across distance. The result is not simply a smart lamp, but a human-centered care object that helps older adults live safely, confidently, and emotionally connected at home.

Credits

Qiang Liu
Team Lead
Yefan Liu
Team Lead
Yuxiao Yang
Zilu Guo
Yihan Li
Jiaqi Wang
Sinuo Wang
Yihang Hou
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