Life Enhancer: Elinor Delisse

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The long and dark days of winter call for hibernation and extra layers, but for millions around the globe suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), this lack of light over these months can ignite a feared annual response of irritability, tiredness and depression. Solutions for this disease have been restrained to various medicines and therapies, including light therapy, or phototherapy, where one exposes themselves to a light box that emits a light mimicking that of natural outdoor light.

Until as of late, light boxes have solely been designed from a functional point of view until Éléonore Delisse, a 2014 design graduate from Design Academy Eindhoven, noticed the lack of a considered, design-led response to this problem and brilliant idea came to light.

Named Life Enhancer of the Year by Wallpaper Magazine in 2015, Éléonore created her “Day & Night” Light to combat the cyclical affliction of SAD.

 The lamp’s design is straightforward—a circle of glass set in a wooden frame—foregrounding the atmospheric effects of light and color that oscillates within a period of 24 hours and that is coordinated with the day-night rhythms. Each lamp features a plate of dichroic glass that rotates to project stimulating and calming colours that are set according to the circadian cycle. In the morning, the lamp casts blue light to stimulate wakefulness and lessening melatonin production and in the evening, warm orange colours sett off melatonin production to rebalance circadian rhythms. 

 At 1 Hotels, where a sound sleep and happiness is valued, it is important for us to recognise innovative designers of our time who are delivering beautifully executed products with purpose.

“Delisse’s humanitarian focus is inseparable from her design practice, which she sees as a way of fostering connections between people and their environment, stimulating learning, and addressing essential human needs.” Ariela Gittlen, Artsy.net. 

“Day & Night” Light

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