For a long time, I was completely fixated on one idea: designing lights around USB-rechargeable LED pucks. You know the ones – those neat little discs that give off a warm glow, easily rechargeable, with just enough tech to feel clever without being overcomplicated. I loved them. Still do, actually. They’ve been the foundation of so many of my indoor designs – flexible, simple, and reliable.
But looking back, I realise I got a bit tunnel-visioned.
Everything I created revolved around that one idea: plug it in, charge it up, use it anywhere indoors. It was great for mood lamps, bedside lights, kids’ night lights – all sorts. I was deep in that design space, turning over every possible variation, always thinking in terms of batteries, remote controls, timers.
Then one afternoon, while faffing around in the garden (as you do), I caught sight of one of those cheap plastic solar lights sticking out from a flower pot. You know the kind – the ones you buy in a set of ten and half of them give up by August. I remember thinking, “I could make something better than that.” And that was the moment. It was like flicking on a light (pun very much intended).
Why hadn’t I thought about solar garden lights before?
It was such an obvious step – outdoor lighting that didn’t need wires, didn’t need charging, didn’t even need remembering. Just pop them in the garden and let the sun do the rest. I’d been so focused on designing for the indoors that I’d missed this entire avenue that was, quite literally, right outside my door.
I already had the tools: 3D printing, materials knowledge, and a bit of stubborn creativity. So I started experimenting with designs made from PETG – a strong, weather-resistant plastic that handles UV and rain far better than PLA. It turns out PETG is perfect for the great British garden. It’s got enough give to deal with temperature changes, and it’s a doddle to print with once you get your settings dialled in.
I still want to keep it simple with my cylinders for the most part, a bit of a nod to my usual style. I have lots of designs for indoor lights based around this so it makes sense to offer the same designs, just with a bit of a twist. But seeing them charge themselves up during the day and gently glow to life at dusk was oddly satisfying. No plugs, no fuss, no “oh no, the battery’s dead again”. Just quiet, reliable light, powered by the sun.
Since then, I’ve fallen a bit in love with solar. There’s something poetic about it – especially here in the UK where sunshine is a precious commodity. It feels good to make something that celebrates it, even if it’s just in small glimmers through the garden hedge.
Of course, designing solar garden lights comes with its own challenges – positioning, battery storage, waterproofing, making sure they don’t look like every other solar light on the market. But honestly, that’s part of the fun. I’ve started working on some new designs that lend themselves to a garden setting – flowers, butterflies, bees and even the odd froggy. The sort of thing that you’d want on your table or patio to add a bit of ambient light when you’re having a G and T in the garden, or you just want to add a bit of ambient light.
So now, my workshop’s got a bit of a dual identity. Half the time I’m still tinkering with rechargeable lights, tweaking things for indoor use. But the other half is all about the outdoors – about building solar garden lights that actually last, that look like they belong amongst the plants, that add a little magic when the sun goes down.
Funny how things change, isn’t it?