Lighting the Way: Bringing Hope, Innovation, and Solar Power to the World with Alice Min Soo Chun, Solight Design
What if the solution to a global crisis could fit in the palm of your hand?
That’s exactly what Alice Min Soo Chun, founder of Solight Design, set out to prove with her groundbreaking invention, the Solar Puff. A portable, origami-inspired solar light, the Solar Puff is changing lives around the world by providing clean, sustainable, and beautiful lighting to communities affected by disaster, poverty, and war.
In the latest episode of The Wild Party Podcast, we sat down with Alice and humanitarian partner Pastor Scott Johnson for an inspiring conversation about empathy-driven design, social entrepreneurship, and the power of a single light to transform lives.
From Architecture to Action
Alice began her career as a professor of architecture and material technology at Columbia University. But when her son was diagnosed with asthma, she started researching the connection between air pollution and energy use. What she discovered, that 75% of urban air pollution comes from building energy consumption, led her to focus her work on solar technology.
That focus took on urgent purpose after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Alice turned her Columbia studio into an innovation lab, where she prototyped a flat-pack solar light made from duct tape and glue. When she brought the first 500 units to Haiti, the response was immediate and profound, families wept with gratitude, children danced in the glow, and Alice knew she was onto something powerful.
A Light That Transforms
Enter the Solar Puff, a collapsible, portable, and solar-powered lantern that inflates without a mouth nozzle and folds flat for easy transport. More than just a light, the Solar Puff is a symbol of hope and empowerment. One solar lantern can benefit five to seven people, replacing toxic kerosene lamps and helping children read and study at night.
In 2015, Alice launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring the Solar Puff to market. In just 30 days, she raised $500,000. That success allowed her to manufacture and distribute lights to communities in crisis, from Nepal to Puerto Rico to Ukraine.
Mission-Driven Design with a Human Touch
Solight’s lights aren’t just functional, they’re also beautiful. Alice believes that design matters and that aesthetics can elevate a person’s spirit even in the darkest circumstances.
That belief is core to the company’s work. The “Give a Light” program allows customers to buy a light and donate one to someone in need. It’s an act of kindness that ripples out across borders, bringing light to refugee camps, hospitals, disaster zones, and underserved areas, including Native American reservations here in the U.S.
Pastor Scott Johnson, shared his own experience using Solight lanterns in medical missions around the world. He’s seen firsthand how these lights reduce gender violence, increase educational outcomes, and provide safety, dignity, and connection.
Designed for a Brighter Future
Solight has expanded its product line to include backpacks made from the same recyclable, PVC-free materials as the Solar Puff. These innovative bags charge during the day and light up at night, ideal for urban commuters, hikers, and emergency situations.
Beyond their humanitarian missions, Solight’s products are gaining popularity in the outdoor industry and emergency preparedness markets. With power outages on the rise due to climate change, Alice and Scott advocate that every home should have at least one solar lantern, for light, safety, and peace of mind.
A Light in the Darkness
Throughout the episode, Alice reminded us that the most powerful energy source on Earth isn’t just the sun, it’s the light within each of us. “The light of your heart and the light of your imagination,” she says, “can be stronger than any solar panel.”
That light fuels Solight’s mission to heal the world, one lantern at a time. Whether illuminating refugee camps or inspiring the next generation of changemakers, Alice’s work is proof that great design, powered by compassion, can brighten even the darkest corners of the globe.
Want to help bring light to someone in need?
Explore Solight’s Give a Light program or shop their full line of solar-powered products at solight-design.com.
🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Wild Party Podcast on your favorite podcast player or watch the interview on YouTube.
