Nightside is the brainchild of Jess Gupta. The $350 LED bedside lamp is an intentionally simple product. It doesn't have Wi-Fi or Alexa built-in, but it does have some neat tricks.
“I went to design school at CCA. [in San Francisco], currently studying furniture design. “I was interested in lighting and wanted to play with optics and different ways of working with light, rather than just putting a light source behind a shade,” Gupta told his TechCrunch. “I realized that I could create the equivalent of a theater spotlight, like a focused disk of light. I like to read at night before going to bed, so I realized this would make a great reading light. I did.”
The inventor continued to experiment with various lamp prototypes. With a background in law, he first entered the software industry and spent several years in non-design roles. His departure coincided with several personal milestones, including the birth of his first child. It was during a routine nighttime diaper change that Mr. Gupta's wife expressed the need for a lamp that would provide light without disturbing his sleep. This moment rekindled Jess's interest in her early prototypes. This prototype was designed to allow reading without causing interruptions.
Seeing the immediate benefits of his work, his wife encouraged him to pursue this venture further. With new motivation and time, Jess focused on refining and prototyping his design. Although the journey was filled with challenges and unexpected developments, Jess remained committed to his vision of himself. He attributed the inspiration behind the lamp to his desire to serve the needs of his family and his passion to read in bed without disturbing his wife, who is a light sleeper. It is explained that.
The design of the Nightside lamp is simple yet thoughtful. A single LED light source has two functions. Reading spotlight with uplight effect for ambient lighting and concentrated lighting. A front-mounted dimmer knob is the lamp's only control. Powered by USB-C, it is dimmable, energy efficient, and operates on approximately 1 watt of power.
“The lamp components are sourced from a variety of locations. The plastic components are sourced from suppliers in China, and the machined components are also sourced from Asia. However, all assembly work is done right here in San Francisco. We have a facility that assembles lamps to order. We have several pre-assembled units, most of which I assemble with personal assistance, but I am responsible for all final quality checks and oversee the shipping process. I supervise it,” explains Gupta. “This hands-on approach is very important to me, especially given the complexity of the product. I want to make sure all parts are fully functional before shipping. Currently, about 75% of the parts are in production. For example, the gas springs that facilitate the expansion of the reading reflector are sourced from Germany. To ensure the highest quality, we work hard to find the best suppliers for these components. It’s a priority.”
An inside look at the Nightside lamp and its projector system.Image credit: Nightside
I had the opportunity to experience this lamp in person and it is definitely a lovingly crafted fixture. But questions remain. Is there really a market for $350 lamps that are mostly assembled by hand?
“Although I sometimes have concerns about pricing, I always return to the understanding that quality is worth the price. The price of a lamp reflects not only the complexity of assembly, but also a healthy profit margin. After conducting price research and researching the market, we realized that many products in a similar price range have far inferior features. Our lamps are very cheap compared to their price. Well worth it, this is the last bedside lamp I need. It meets all my requirements perfectly and I've heard similar feedback from several of our customers. This makes it easy for us to offer I was relieved to find that the value matched the price well. I invest heavily in quality and many people appreciate this lamp as a beautiful bedside design object. Price We also receive questions about configuration, but it is important to note that the lighting category encompasses a wide range of price points. We are confident that our lamps sit well within this range,” says Gupta. says.
Early customers seem to agree. “From an initial limited run of 1,000 units, we have sold hundreds so far, and each one is numbered and signed,” the founder added. “We are excited to see our sales increase over time and be able to expand our business accordingly.”
On a slightly geeky note, the lamp itself uses an LED light that emits a warm white (3,000 Kelvin) light, which Mr. Gupta claims has a CRI of 80 to 85. Color rendering index (CRI) is a quantitative measurement of how accurately a light source can reproduce the colors of different objects compared to natural light sources. Measured on a scale of 0 to 100, the higher the CRI value, the more accurately the color of the light source is rendered. A CRI of 80 to 90 is considered good, while a CRI of 90 or higher is considered excellent and is usually desirable for tasks that require the most accurate color identification, such as photography. For something like a bedside light, this is pretty terrible. good.
Bringing the Nightside lamp to market was not without its challenges. Mr. Gupta highlighted the hurdles of overcoming a global chip shortage and ensuring first-class quality by assembling the lamps in San Francisco. Although there is always the imminent threat that his designs will be stolen and cheaply copied by Chinese factories, Mr. Gupta has enhanced his invention with a utility patent for an optical projection system.
The founders do not intend to limit themselves to just lamps, but are considering a range of products to “enrich the bedtime ritual”, focusing on lighting solutions and accessories for the bedside area.
As nightside lamps continue to illuminate the lives of users, Mr. Gupta's story remains a source of inspiration for aspiring product makers. This is a story about prioritizing product over financial windfall. Will Nightside become a unicorn company? It's doubtful, but his journey shows that building a company based on personal passion and scratching your own itch remains an interesting way to flex your maker's muscles. It reminds me that I'm there.