NATTINATT: Body Heat Nightlight for Children

Three questions to the project team

What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
Our aim was to demonstrate thermoelectricity's potential to Milan Design Week visitors as a sustainable solution for the future. We wanted to create an interactive experience, so our main challenge was designing an electrically-powered device that would captivate visitors whilst working within the exhibition's size constraints. Initially, we planned to build a giant lamp that people could illuminate using their own body heat. However, we realized the scale and concept weren't effectively communicating our message. We also wanted to draw the public's attention to energy consumption, its origins, and conservation. A nightlight could enchant both children and adults whilst creating a magical effect that conventional lighting rarely provides.

What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
We spent considerable time on our original misguided concept. Time was running short to design an intuitive prototype before Milan Design Week. Our eureka moment came when we realised that something as small and commonplace as a nightlight was ideal. We could appeal to everyone's inner child through thermoelectricity, creating an enhanced value proposition. The design development proceeded swiftly and smoothly. The final design came together beautifully, and everything suddenly felt right and natural. When you consider it, this little symbol of comfort integrates numerous elements - innovation with frugal energy use, aesthetics merged with technology, a soothing bedtime ritual, safety, hope for a sustainable future, and a touch of magic.

Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
We’ve shared this nightlight with people across Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden—children, parents, and grandparents alike. Many had that spark in their eyes, the sense of wonder we hoped to inspire. “Is it really my body heat making it glow?” they’d ask, eyes wide with curiosity. We’d smile and say, “Why don’t you try?” That moment of surprise was exactly what we set out to create. Using Peltier tile technology, we’ve turned body heat into a soft, glowing light. A quiet interaction becomes something warm, magical, and comforting. We now aim to refine the design through further user testing and move toward production. In the coming years, we hope to explore sensory applications in healthcare, education, and off-grid settings.