A more sustainable, LED-based redesign of the Sunshower to improve attainability for potential customers
K. van der Park (TU Delft - Industrial Design Engineering)
E.J.J. van Breemen – Mentor (TU Delft - Industrial Design Engineering)
G.P.M. Hoekstra – Mentor (TU Delft - Industrial Design Engineering)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
Photobiomodulation (PBM) uses red and near-infrared light to stimulate biological processes in the body and has been associated with benefits including skin rejuvenation, pain relief and muscle recovery. As scientific evidence supporting PBM continues to grow, an increasing number of home-use products have become available. However, most require users to expose bare skin while remaining stationary for extended periods, limiting convenience and user adoption.
Sunshower addresses this challenge by integrating PBM into the daily shower routine. Existing Sunshower products use halogen infrared lamps, which provide a broad light spectrum and a pleasant warming sensation but also result in high energy consumption, elevated operating temperatures and bulky product dimensions. This thesis investigates how LED technology can replace halogen lamps while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness and improving sustainability, usability and product accessibility.
The result is the Sunshower Nova, a wall-mounted LED-based PBM device designed for use during a regular shower session. The product combines red and near-infrared LEDs to deliver a therapeutic light dose that is consistent with current scientific literature within a ten-minute treatment. To support effective use, the system provides real-time feedback on treatment duration and user distance, helping users achieve the intended dose. The product architecture consists of a thermally optimised housing, a modular LED assembly and an optical front cover that together enable a compact, energy-efficient and manufacturable design.
The final design was validated through engineering analyses, performance measurements, user evaluations and a life cycle assessment. Compared with the existing halogen-based Sunshower, the LED-based design significantly reduces energy consumption and environmental impact while maintaining therapeutic performance and improving installation flexibility. The project demonstrates that LED technology enables a new generation of integrated shower-based PBM devices that combine scientific effectiveness with a more sustainable and accessible user experience.