A designer solar panel for people who want to be more sustainable, but don’t know where to start.
The Window Solar Charger is a designer solar panel that charges your devices. Unlike most solar panels, it’s designed to hang in any window. Now you can bring solar energy into your home, without sacrificing design.
The more we raise the more solar panels we can make! After the Kickstarter ends, we won’t be taking orders for a little while because we’ll be busy in production. DM us with any Qs.
There is a world where renewable energy can be user friendly, and ridiculously good looking! And most importantly, they’ll reduce your reliance on fossil fuels. We’re not going to be able to go off the grid overnight, but we can take steps to getting there. Our patent pending Window Solar Charger is just the first of many Grouphug products that will shift the way we think about consuming energy.
First, we researched the history of solar energy. The first commercial solar panel came out 60+ years ago… and it looks EXACTLY the same today. Why?! We’re breaking out of that conventional design.
Next came oodles of prototypes! (Left) One of our earliest prototypes taped to a window. (Right) one of maaaaanny failed solar prototypes that we made along the way.
We develop all of our prototypes at A/D/O, a maker space in Brooklyn. They have every tool you can imagine AND they’re only 5 minutes from the legendary Peter Pan donut shop (donuts fuel prototyping).
Then we built some beta solar chargers & had people try them out! Our early customers have been using the Window Solar Charger for a few months & give us feedback on what is working or not working.
Hi! I’m Krystal, the founder of Grouphug.
I’m a product designer based in New York. I have a B.S. in industrial design from Georgia Tech. I’ve spent 6+ years designing consumer electronics & know what it takes to bring a hardware product to market.
My story starts with a frustration.
I’m a pretty eco-conscious person. I carry reusable tote bags, I use stainless water bottles, I compost – I do ALL of the things. But when it comes to renewable energy, I couldn’t find an easy way to incorporate it into my life. I live in a tiny 300 square foot apartment in New York City. I can’t install solar panels on my roof. There are personal solar panels on the market, but they are designed for camping, which I HATE. And that’s how the Window Solar Charger was born! I wanted a solar panel I could use every day that was beautiful enough to hang in my apartment.
I’m a founding member & former Senior Director of Product Design at littleBits. I spent over six years managing new product development & a team of product designers. We made several award-winning kits – including the littleBits Synthesizer Kit with Korg & the littleBits Droid Inventor Kit with Lucasfilm & Disney.
This spring I was a Designer-in-Residence at the New York Hall of Science where I created a gigantic cat-shaped solar panel that powers a phone charging station (and meows!).
I teach product design at the School of Visual Arts & the New Jersey Institute of Technology. I’m not only passionate about sustainability, but also a fierce advocate for more women in STEM.
We’re not on Kickstarter just to raise money, we’re here for YOU (yes, you). We know that Kickstarter supporters have a sharp eye for design & are the best early adopters a girl could ask for. We are looking for passionate people like you to join our growing community.
Follow us @grouphugtech (instagram, facebook, & twitter) to stay in touch about new events & products.
Kudos to you for making it to the end of the page. Special thanks to our collaborators Kristin Salomon, Hirumi Nanayakkara, & Mary Kate Luff for making this magic happen. GIRL POWER.
▶︎ When making anything new, there are always unknowns and points of failure. Should any delays arise, it’s our commitment to let you know why and what we are doing to solve it. We take your pledge seriously and communication is our priority.