Interaction Design · Spatial Experience
2025–2026
Waiting with Light
A calmer way to wait alone at a bus stop.
A calmer way to wait alone at a bus stop.
Interaction Design · Spatial Experience
2025–2026
Waiting with Light
A calmer way to wait alone at a bus stop.
Brief
Waiting with Light explores a calmer way to wait alone at a bus stop. Through field research and iterative prototyping, I developed a spatial lighting prototype that communicates bus-arrival progress through slow colour transitions.
TOOLS & TECHNOLOGIES
Arduino · LED colour, brightness and timing
Laser cutting · Plywood frame fabrication
TOOLS & TECHNOLOGIES
Arduino · LED colour, brightness and timing
Laser cutting · Plywood frame fabrication
Role
Research, prototyping, electronics & evaluation
Timeline
Sep 2025 – Feb 2026
Team
Individual project
Platform
Bus shelter · Ambient light installation
Role
Research, prototyping, electronics & evaluation
Timeline
Sep 2025 – Feb 2026
Team
Individual project
Platform
Bus shelter · Ambient light installation
Brief
Waiting with Light explores a calmer way to wait alone at a bus stop. Through field research and iterative prototyping, I developed a spatial lighting prototype that communicates bus-arrival progress through slow colour transitions.
TOOLS & TECHNOLOGIES
Arduino · LED colour, brightness and timing
Laser cutting · Plywood frame fabrication
Role
Research, prototyping, electronics & evaluation
Timeline
Sep 2025 – Feb 2026
Team
Individual project
Platform
Bus shelter · Ambient light installation
PROJECT FILM
PROJECT FILM
The tension of waiting alone.
01 / FIELD RESEARCH
I began by observing passengers and having short conversations at small bus and tram stops, across different times of day, weather and settings.
The tension of waiting alone.
01 / FIELD RESEARCH
I began by observing passengers and having short conversations at small bus and tram stops, across different times of day, weather and settings.
The tension of waiting alone.
01 / FIELD RESEARCH
I began by observing passengers and having short conversations at small bus and tram stops, across different times of day, weather and settings.
Knowing the time, still checking
OBSERVATIONS
Three patterns stood out during field observations:
Scanning the road and pacing while waiting.
Re-checking timetables and phones, even when the bus was still far away.
A mismatch between how long waiting felt and the actual time.
Evening observations
Daytime observations
Daytime observations
Observing waiting behaviour across different stops, times of day and conditions.
Waiting behaviour across stops, times and conditions.
Knowing the time, still checking
OBSERVATIONS
Three patterns stood out during field observations:
Scanning the road and pacing while waiting.
Re-checking timetables and phones, even when the bus was still far away.
A mismatch between how long waiting felt and the actual time.
Evening observations
Daytime observations
Observing waiting behaviour across different stops, times of day and conditions.
Assurance, not just accuracy
QUICK TALKS
“I don’t want to miss the bus.”
Accurate arrival information did not always remove the fear of missing the bus. People wanted reassurance that they could look away for a moment.
From short conversations at the stop
Assurance, not just accuracy
QUICK TALKS
“I don’t want to miss the bus.”
Accurate arrival information did not always remove the fear of missing the bus. People wanted reassurance that they could look away for a moment.
From short conversations at the stop
Permission to look away
INITIAL DESIGN GOAL
To support passengers, especially those waiting alone, by reducing the need to constantly monitor the road and helping them feel more relaxed.
Assurance, not just accuracy
QUICK TALKS
“I don’t want to miss the bus.”
Accurate arrival information did not always remove the fear of missing the bus. People wanted reassurance that they could look away for a moment.
From short conversations at the stop
Permission to look away
INITIAL DESIGN GOAL
To support passengers, especially those waiting alone, by reducing the need to constantly monitor the road and helping them feel more relaxed.
Permission to look away
INITIAL DESIGN GOAL
To support passengers, especially those waiting alone, by reducing the need to constantly monitor the road and helping them feel more relaxed.
Permission to look away
INITIAL DESIGN GOAL
To support passengers, especially those waiting alone, by reducing the need to constantly monitor the road and helping them feel more relaxed.
From distraction to quiet reassurance.
02 / EXPLORATION & SYNTHESIS
A game could not replace reassurance
Early sound and game experiments offered a distraction, but passengers soon returned to monitoring the road. Adding something to do did not resolve the uncertainty behind the checking.
From distraction to quiet reassurance.
02 / EXPLORATION & SYNTHESIS
From distraction to quiet reassurance.
02 / EXPLORATION & SYNTHESIS
A game could not replace reassurance
Early sound and game experiments offered a distraction, but passengers soon returned to monitoring the road. Adding something to do did not resolve the uncertainty behind the checking.
A game could not replace reassurance
Early sound and game experiments offered a distraction, but passengers soon returned to monitoring the road. Adding something to do did not resolve the uncertainty behind the checking.
A game could not replace reassurance
Early sound and game experiments offered a distraction, but passengers soon returned to monitoring the road. Adding something to do did not resolve the uncertainty behind the checking.
Re-mapping waiting states
CARD CONVERSATIONS
I used illustrated cards to revisit passengers’ emotional and bodily states, and explore what a better waiting experience could feel like.
Re-mapping waiting states
CARD CONVERSATIONS
I used illustrated cards to revisit passengers’ emotional and bodily states, and explore what a better waiting experience could feel like.
Nine illustrated cards for describing emotional and bodily states while waiting.
Nine illustrated cards for describing emotional and bodily states while waiting.
Cards as a conversation tool
At the stop, passengers selected one to three cards that matched how they usually waited. I then asked which states they would change or add to improve the experience.
I used illustrated cards to revisit passengers’ emotional and bodily states, and explore what a better waiting experience could feel like.
Nine illustrated cards for describing emotional and bodily states while waiting.
Nine illustrated cards for describing emotional and bodily states while waiting.
Cards as a conversation tool
At the stop, passengers selected one to three cards that matched how they usually waited. I then asked which states they would change or add to improve the experience.
I used illustrated cards to revisit passengers’ emotional and bodily states, and explore what a better waiting experience could feel like.
Nine illustrated cards for describing emotional and bodily states while waiting.
Card conversation at the stop.
A card-selection conversation at the stop.
Card conversation.
What the conversations revealed
Solo passengers often chose Bored Scroll or Headphone Halo.
People waiting together described Chatting Pair as a more relaxed state.
Several described the final 5–10 minutes as especially tense, even with real-time information.
What the conversations revealed
Solo passengers often chose Bored Scroll or Headphone Halo.
People waiting together described Chatting Pair as a more relaxed state.
Several described the final 5–10 minutes as especially tense, even with real-time information.
DESIGN SHIFT
From distraction to companionship
These conversations shifted my focus towards a quiet cue that could share vigilance without demanding attention.
DESIGN SHIFT
From distraction to companionship
These conversations shifted my focus towards a quiet cue that could share vigilance without demanding attention.
DESIGN SHIFT
From distraction to companionship
These conversations shifted my focus towards a quiet cue that could share vigilance without demanding attention.
Emotional journey of waiting
Bringing together the field observations, card conversations and early experiments, I mapped how the experience changed over time. Read the journey from left to right: passing time gradually gives way to watching the road, with tension rising near arrival and easing after boarding.
Emotional journey of waiting
Bringing together the field observations, card conversations and early experiments, I mapped how the experience changed over time. Read the journey from left to right: passing time gradually gives way to watching the road, with tension rising near arrival and easing after boarding.
Reassurance when attention narrows
DESIGN FOCUS
Passing time
→
Monitoring the road
Could a subtle spatial cue communicate that the bus was approaching, while giving passengers permission to look away?
Reassurance when attention narrows
DESIGN FOCUS
Passing time
→
Monitoring the road
Could a subtle spatial cue communicate that the bus was approaching, while giving passengers permission to look away?
From minutes to waiting states
I tested how different ways of showing time changed the feeling of waiting.
From minutes to waiting states
I tested how different ways of showing time changed the feeling of waiting.
Exact departure time
A departure countdown beside the live timetable.
The countdown increased pressure when the next arrival was unknown.
Exact departure time
A departure countdown beside the live timetable.
The countdown increased pressure when the next arrival was unknown.
Fuzzy waiting states
An illustrated dial for judging waiting progress.
The dial made progress readable without counting seconds and felt friendlier.
Fuzzy waiting states
An illustrated dial for judging waiting progress.
The dial made progress readable without counting seconds and felt friendlier.
DESIGN DIRECTION
This shifted the direction towards gentle, state-based cues combined with ambient light.
Making light part of the shelter.
03 / SPATIAL PROTOTYPING
I tested ambient light at the stop, varying placement, colour, brightness and movement.
Where the light belongs
PLACEMENT
Floor projection
Glass-wall projection
Ground and wall projections felt more surrounding. The sign pole read as a marker, with less atmosphere.
How the light feels
COLOUR & MOVEMENT
Blended colours
Saturated red
Softer blends and slow movement felt more atmospheric. Very saturated colours caught attention but could also read as an alert.
SOFT · SLOW · INTEGRATED
The direction for the next prototype: soft, slow light integrated into the shelter’s existing surfaces.
Tuning the light on site
OPTICAL TRIALS
I varied reflector depth, LED setback, angle and brightness, keeping placement and transition speed fixed.
Two views of the reflector setup at the shelter.
COVER DEPTH
A cover depth of around 8–10 cm balanced concealment and compactness.
LED SETBACK
A setback of about 40 mm helped hide LED points while keeping an even throw.
SHIELDING & AIMING
A vertical fascia blocked direct LED views; a slightly downward strip angle improved illumination around the waiting area.
Translating light into form
A concealed LED strip, frosted diffuser and reflector formed a compact module with a casing and mounting spine.
CORE LIGHTING
A. LED strip
B. Diffuser softens light
C. Tray reflects light inward
SHELL & STRUCTURE
E. Casing spine holds the parts in one compact module
F. Front board shields direct LED views
G. Mounting spine attaches to the shelter beam
FORM ITERATIONS
Minimal lip
Deeper light cover
Tilted inner reflector
Final: integrated module
Original structure drawings with editable component notes.
Laser-cut parts and the assembled spine.
Arduino control and colour trials.
Shell assembly
LASER CUTTING
I laser-cut and assembled the plywood spine, checked alignment and painted the shell to reduce visual noise.
Light control
ELECTRONICS & CODE
I programmed the LED strip’s colour, timing and brightness with an Arduino, then fitted the electronics into the housing.
AT THE SCALE OF THE SHELTER
The next step was to install the module and check the colour wash from inside the shelter and from the street.
Making light part of the shelter.
03 / SPATIAL PROTOTYPING
I tested where and how light could quietly accompany waiting passengers, exploring placement, colour, brightness and movement.
Where the light belongs
PLACEMENT
Floor projection
Glass-wall projection
Ground and wall projections felt more surrounding. The sign pole read as a marker, with less atmosphere.
How the light feels
COLOUR & MOVEMENT
Blended colours
Saturated red
Softer blends and slow movement felt more atmospheric. Very saturated colours caught attention but could also read as an alert.
SOFT · SLOW · INTEGRATED
The direction for the next prototype: soft, slow light integrated into the shelter’s existing surfaces.
Tuning the light on site
OPTICAL TRIALS
I varied reflector depth, LED setback, angle and brightness, keeping placement and transition speed fixed.
Two views of the reflector setup at the shelter.
COVER DEPTH
A cover depth of around 8–10 cm balanced concealment and compactness.
LED SETBACK
A setback of about 40 mm helped hide LED points while keeping an even throw.
SHIELDING & AIMING
A vertical fascia blocked direct LED views; a slightly downward strip angle improved illumination around the waiting area.
Translating light into form
A concealed LED strip, frosted diffuser and reflector formed a compact module with a casing and mounting spine.
CORE LIGHTING
A. LED strip
B. Diffuser softens light
C. Tray reflects light inward
FORM ITERATIONS
• Minimal lip
• Tilted inner reflector
• Deeper light cover
• Final: integrated module
SHELL & STRUCTURE
• E. Casing spine holds the parts in one compact module
• F. Front board shields direct LED views
• G. Mounting spine attaches to the shelter beam
Laser-cut parts and the assembled spine.
Arduino control and colour trials.
Shell assembly
LASER CUTTING
I laser-cut and assembled the plywood spine, checked alignment and painted the shell to reduce visual noise.
Light control
ELECTRONICS & CODE
I programmed the LED strip’s colour, timing and brightness with an Arduino, then fitted the electronics into the housing.
AT THE SCALE OF THE SHELTER
The next step was to install the module and check the colour wash from inside the shelter and from the street.
Making light part of the shelter.
03 / SPATIAL PROTOTYPING
I tested where and how light could quietly accompany waiting passengers, exploring placement, colour, brightness and movement.
Where the light belongs
PLACEMENT
Floor projection
Glass-wall projection
Ground and wall projections felt more surrounding. The sign pole read as a marker, with less atmosphere.
How the light feels
COLOUR & MOVEMENT
Blended colours
Saturated red
Softer blends and slow movement felt more atmospheric. Very saturated colours caught attention but could also read as an alert.
SOFT · SLOW · INTEGRATED
The direction for the next prototype: soft, slow light integrated into the shelter’s existing surfaces.
Tuning the light on site
OPTICAL TRIALS
I varied reflector depth, LED setback, angle and brightness, keeping placement and transition speed fixed.
Two views of the reflector setup at the shelter.
Cover depth
A cover depth of around 8–10 cm balanced concealment and compactness.
LED setback
A setback of about 40 mm helped hide LED points while keeping an even throw.
Shielding & aiming
A vertical fascia blocked direct LED views; a slightly downward strip angle improved illumination around the waiting area.
Translating light into form
CORE LIGHTING
A. LED strip
B. Diffuser softens light
C. Tray reflects light inward
A concealed LED strip, frosted diffuser and reflector formed a compact module with a casing and mounting spine.
Original structure drawings with editable component notes.
Shell assembly
LASER CUTTING
I laser-cut and assembled the plywood spine, checked alignment and painted the shell to reduce visual noise.
Light control
ELECTRONICS & CODE
I programmed the LED strip’s colour, timing and brightness with an Arduino, then fitted the electronics into the housing.
AT THE SCALE OF THE SHELTER
The next step was to install the module and check the colour wash from inside the shelter and from the street.
A colour wash that carries a sense of progress.
04 / FULL-SCALE EXPERIENCE
Built at the scale of a bus stop
Hidden in the canopy, the module casts a soft wash across the waiting area.
Installed prototype viewed from the street.
Progress in the periphery
The light slowly moves from cool to warm colours, mapping time passing while keeping information in the background.
Digital panel display
The route and bus icon remain static while waiting. Near arrival, the panel switches to a scrolling message.
While waiting: route and bus icon
Near arrival: scrolling message
Colour drift
Blue fades through violet and pink to orange-red, signalling the shift from “plenty of time” to “arriving”. The slow change is visible in peripheral vision.
Plenty of time
Settling
Arriving
The colour transition visualises progress as atmosphere.
These states are demonstrated through a programmed sequence; live arrival data is future work.
A colour wash that carries a sense of progress.
04 / FULL-SCALE EXPERIENCE
Built at the scale of a bus stop
Hidden in the canopy, the module casts a soft wash across the waiting area.
Installed prototype viewed from the street.
Progress in the periphery
The light slowly moves from cool to warm colours, mapping time passing while keeping information in the background.
Digital panel display
The route and bus icon remain static while waiting. Near arrival, the panel switches to a scrolling message.
While waiting: route and bus icon
Near arrival: scrolling message
Colour drift
Blue fades through violet and pink to orange-red, signalling the shift from “plenty of time” to “arriving”. The slow change is visible in peripheral vision.
Plenty of time
Settling
Arriving
The colour transition visualises progress as atmosphere.
These states are demonstrated through a programmed sequence; live arrival data is future work.
A colour wash that carries a sense of progress.
04 / FULL-SCALE EXPERIENCE
Built at the scale of a bus stop
Hidden in the canopy, the module casts a soft wash across the waiting area.
Installed prototype viewed from the street.
Progress in the periphery
The light slowly moves from cool to warm colours, mapping time passing while keeping information in the background.
Digital panel display
The route and bus icon remain static while waiting. Near arrival, the panel switches to a scrolling message.
While waiting: route and bus icon
Near arrival: scrolling message
Colour drift
Blue fades through violet and pink to orange-red, signalling the shift from “plenty of time” to “arriving”. The slow change is visible in peripheral vision.
Plenty of time
Settling
Arriving
The colour transition visualises progress as atmosphere.
Comfortable to notice. Meaningful once explained.
05 / IN-SITU EVALUATION
An A/B test at the bus stop
WITH / WITHOUT BROCHURE · QUESTIONNAIRE
Ten participants joined an A/B test: five with the brochure, five without. I observed their wait and collected questionnaire responses.
Procedure · A/B test
A · With brochure (5)
B · No brochure (5)
Waiting period
Questionnaire
Data collection tools
QUESTIONNAIRE
Participants rated comfort, colour clarity and their waiting experience.
A/B TEST · BROCHURE
Group A read this brochure to learn the colour mapping. Group B received no guide.
PARTICIPANT CONVERSATIONS
I recorded checking and pacing, then asked how the light felt.
What the A/B test showed
SURVEY AVERAGES · SIX-POINT SCALE
A/B survey ratings
Colour interpretation
Overall experience
Comfort in both groups
5/6 (A+B)
The light felt comfortable and largely stayed in the background.
Read colour as progress
B 2/6 → A 5/6
With the brochure, colour became readable as arrival progress.
Checking behaviour
B 5/6 → A 2/6
Checking and pacing were lower when the mapping was understood.
TAKEAWAY & REFLECTION
Quiet cues need a clear language
Once participants understood the colour sequence, they could read arrival progress at a glance. The shelter test exposed glare and placement issues that bench tests missed. Next I would clarify the colour cues, connect live arrival data and test at more stops.
Comfortable to notice. Meaningful once explained.
05 / IN-SITU EVALUATION
An A/B test at the bus stop
WITH / WITHOUT BROCHURE · QUESTIONNAIRE
Ten participants joined an A/B test: five with the brochure, five without. I observed their wait and collected questionnaire responses.
Procedure · A/B test
A · With brochure (5)
B · No brochure (5)
Waiting period
Questionnaire
Data collection tools
QUESTIONNAIRE
Participants rated comfort, colour clarity and their waiting experience.
A/B TEST · BROCHURE
Group A read this brochure to learn the colour mapping. Group B received no guide.
PARTICIPANT CONVERSATIONS
I recorded checking and pacing, then asked how the light felt.
What the A/B test showed
SURVEY AVERAGES · SIX-POINT SCALE
A/B survey ratings
Colour interpretation
Overall experience
Comfort in both groups
5/6 (A+B)
The light felt comfortable and largely stayed in the background.
Read colour as progress
B 2/6 → A 5/6
With the brochure, colour became readable as arrival progress.
Checking behaviour
B 5/6 → A 2/6
Checking and pacing were lower when the mapping was understood.
TAKEAWAY & REFLECTION
Quiet cues need a clear language
Once participants understood the colour sequence, they could read arrival progress at a glance. The shelter test exposed glare and placement issues that bench tests missed. Next I would clarify the colour cues, connect live arrival data and test at more stops.
Comfortable to notice. Meaningful once explained.
05 / IN-SITU EVALUATION
An A/B test at the bus stop
WITH / WITHOUT BROCHURE · QUESTIONNAIRE
Ten participants joined an A/B test: five with the brochure, five without. I observed their wait and collected questionnaire responses.
Procedure · A/B test
A · With brochure (5)
B · No brochure (5)
Waiting period
Questionnaire
Data collection tools
QUESTIONNAIRE
Participants rated comfort, colour clarity and their waiting experience.
A/B TEST · BROCHURE
Group A read this brochure to learn the colour mapping. Group B received no guide.
PARTICIPANT CONVERSATIONS
I recorded checking and pacing, then asked how the light felt.
What the A/B test showed
SURVEY AVERAGES · SIX-POINT SCALE
A/B survey ratings
Colour interpretation
Overall experience
Comfort in both groups
5/6 (A+B)
The light felt comfortable and largely stayed in the background.
Read colour as progress
B 2/6 → A 5/6
With the brochure, colour became readable as arrival progress.
Checking behaviour
B 5/6 → A 2/6
Checking and pacing were lower when the mapping was understood.
TAKEAWAY & REFLECTION
Quiet cues need a clear language
Once participants understood the colour sequence, they could read arrival progress at a glance. The shelter test exposed glare and placement issues that bench tests missed. Next I would clarify the colour cues, connect live arrival data and test at more stops.
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