Enchanted lighting to connect in the rhythms of the everyday

Encuentro is a light system made for families to share meal times. Designed for different kinds of families – near, faraway, big, small, chosen – the system helps members share presence during meals and mimic the act of sitting down for a meal together. 

People light a candle to signal to their loved ones when they are eating, which turns on connected LEDs in other family members’ homes. Families can send a “saludo” through their Encuentro to express to those eating that they are "with" them, sitting at their own respective tables. 

The lights are intended for the dining table and to help loved ones connect through the rhythms of everyday life (e.g. breakfast, lunch, dinner). Through these small moments, Encuentro hopes to prompt a call or text to grandparents, to that aunt you’ve been meaning to reach out to, or to your sister you can never catch - and make plans to get together for a meal in the near future.