Switched On is a national competition that challenges design students to create eco-lighting solutions in order to promote a more innovative domestic product development community.

Run by Australian LED lighting designers, Brightgreen, designs can be fixed or free standing downlights, bulbs, lamps, task lights or any new lighting solution that harnesses LED technology.

This year’s winner is a compact and portable lighting device designed for in-built webcam laptop, RingLite is targeted towards video bloggers and online broadcasters (Livecasters), whom frequents websites like Youtube, BlogTv and uStream.

Inspired by ring flash photography and its lighting system used, RingLite helps users to light up their underexposed video-recordings by using a ring of 6 high efficiency LEDs placed around the in-built webcam on the laptop, to provide a well-exposed and even illumination with fewer shadows visible on the user’s face.

It can be clipped around the laptop screen edges and also be used as a up-lighting and mood lighting for the user while they are using their laptops. It’s powered by a computer USB socket and features a USB cable organizer on its back for easier and tidy storage.

A prize of $3000 will be distributed to the top three contestants with runners-up receiving certificates.

This year the winners were:

  • 1st Place — Joseph Louis Tan (UNSW) with RingLite
  • 2nd Place — Dimitri Stronghilis (RMIT)
  • 3rd Place — Michael Oechsle (Monash)

Brightgreen head designer, David O’Driscoll was impressed by the high level of entries submitted.

“This year’s entrants demonstrated user-focused research while developing innovative and versatile product solutions that looked as good as they were sustainable’, said O’Driscoll.

Since its launch in 2008, Switched On has grown more competitive as more universities across Australia encourage their design students to participate.

This year, participating universities will have the opportunity to include submission requirements into their semester two curriculums.

Registration for this year’s competition will start in November.