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\u201cAs a designer, my mission is to promote a function forward, sustainable and socially responsible approach to design. My creativity is fostered in the desire to create functional and accessible design that encourages a departure from conventional materials and production techniques.\u201d says Danielle Trofe.<\/SPAN><\/P> <\/P> Danielle\u2019s recent work, the Sand-Powered Hourglass lamps<\/A>, is a set of table and floor lamps that are powered by kinetic energy generated from grains of falling sand. This off-the-grid lighting solution illuminates interior environments using LEDs through the power of gravity. Grabbing the attention of Gizmodo<\/A>, Inhabitat<\/A>, Web Urbanist<\/A> , Mother Nature Network<\/A> and WorldNews.com<\/A>, the concept design, which launched publicly at WantedDesign NYC<\/A> in 2013,quickly became a desired lighting product.<\/P> <\/P> <\/P> The Sand Powered Hourglass Lamps are powered by kinetic energy generated from falling sand. To ignite the lamps, the hourglass is flipped over and sand passes through an internal mechanism (similar to the concept of a water wheel), generating energy which is then stored in a small, internal battery. The battery then connects directly to a set of LEDs that illuminate as a result of the passage of sand through the mechanism. When all the sand filters to the bottom, the lamp switches off. In order to restart the lamp, the user simply flips it back over. The need for human interaction and the limited time span of illumination creates a user connection and a greater awareness of the value and finite source of light.<\/P> <\/SPAN><\/P> <\/p>\n<\/P>