Illumbinare

red dot
red dot award: design concept 2008

design:

Choi Jaewon

Illumbinare is an umbrella and a solar-powered light that can be used whether it is sunny or grey.

Weather reports cannot always be trusted, and you never know when you will get caught in the rain, wishing you had your umbrella. They are bulky to carry, however, if umbrellas had another function, perhaps we would not feel that carrying them all the time ware such a burden. Illumbinare is an umbrella and a solar-powered light. During sunny conditions, the umbrella collects energy through its solar collector panels (made of flexible material). The umbrella ribs house wires that transmit
energy to a bettery. LEDs are fitted at the ends of the umbrella ribs. Grooves within the handle accommodate the LEDs so that Illumbinare can also function as a torch.