Hypothesis

If lights are embedded into the pathways at critical points of decision where campus users are choosing between walking orr taking the bus, then more physical activity will occur through the user choosing to walk due to the sensory enticement of the lighting experience, leeading to overall better physical and mental health.

• Why

College can be well defined as a time of life with a high level of stress and unhealthy behaviors from late night dining to lack of exercise. Student mental health and academic performance are constantly being threatened by the demands of higher education and life in general. These decisions are made are forming patterns of behavior that last a lifetime, creating a critical window of time in which design can be of influence in critical healthy decision-making.

• How

Design paths that have interactive lighting that responds to someone’s walking path, therefore encouraging more physical activity. Similar to using stairs painted with piano keys, paths linking campus buildings can light up. These can be linked with campus-wide fitness challenges that reward students with discounted healthy food options at campus locations via an app for walking or biking certain distances.

• What

“Guiding Light Walkways” enhances the walking experience through the encouragement of physical activity through the integration of technology and design that has user behavior responses in real-time. Pathways would be embedded with LED lights either along the side of a sidewalk or into the path itself which would illuminate as someone approaches and passes, creating a dynamic light experience that follows the student as they travel. This adds joy to the mundane walking experience as well as enhances safety for campus users. These lights could also correspond to the level of activity or levels of healthy activity that taking the path brings.


The “Guiding Light Walkways” could connect to a fitness app, Apple Watches, or Smartphones to give feedback as they engage in physical activity. Interactive digital signage either at the beginning or end of the paths could provide information about the display steps taken, calories burned, or progress to daily health goal metrics. The lights could flash in a pleasing pattern when the path is completed and the student can receive health points to redeem for campus food rewards.


These pathways could be powered by solar panels making a self-fulfilling system that is sustainable and follows campus sustainability goals. The lighting can further connect safety features to students to allow students to activate a safety lighting feature when they feel threatened and the pathway would be brightened in the immediate area with an option for campus security to be notified. These lights could point out accessibility pathways that are accessible for wheelchair users or for the aging population that avoids a steep incline.


At various decision points throughout the path various nudges can be deployed for students stating “Keep hydrated! You’ve burned 150 calories—remember to drink water,” or “Stretch break ahead! Find a bench and take a moment to stretch your legs.” or interactive prompts with bench seating that invite students to breathe and take a break and practice mindfulness from their fast-paced routines.

• Where

These lights could be color-coded based on the route that the student is taking, either towards Taubman College, the Bursley Baits Parking Lot, or Mitchell Field. This could then be extended to other parts of the campus or central campus. The best location for a pilot test for this is the walk to the Bursley Baits parking lot from Taubman/Pierpont. A bus can be taken to the parking lot but there is also a path that walks through nature to the parking lot. With the Guiding Light Walkways, students can be more enticed to take that 15-minute walk as opposed to the bus ride and engage in more physical behaviors.

• So What

Habits created in college last for the rest of our lives. Therefore, it is integral to create healthy habits during a student's academic career to create a healthy lifestyle. The Guiding Light Walkways does just that. Using the digital route through an app that offers health incentives and using design technology to integrate lighting, “Guiding Light Walkways” can efficiently and expertly encourage campus users to engage in more physical activity and make healthier decisions as well as emphasize safety, sustainability, and connectivity to create a holistic solution to campus health.