PORTAL LIGHT
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MNML supported Chicago-based Outbound Lighting in the development of the Portal, a high-performance helmet light for riders who refuse to let the sun set on a good time. Building on the learnings from Outbound's successful Hangover light, the Portal was designed and engineered from the ground up to deliver more output and longer runtime. Working alongside Outbound's in-house team, we helped shape a light that packs serious performance into a form factor riders forget they're wearing.

One light, Any adventure
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The Portal was designed to go wherever powerful light is needed. The interchangeable mounting system moves seamlessly between helmet and handlebar for any pursuit that outlasts the daylight. Simplicity carries through every touchpoint. The intuitive single-button interface cycles through modes effortlessly, even with gloves on, while the low-profile housing stays tucked out of the way of branches and obstacles. Lightweight and balanced, it's designed so the rider can focus on the trail, not the gear.

Advanced Optical Performance
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Outbound came to us with deep optical and electrical engineering expertise already in place. What they wanted was a partner to help push the physical package as far as it could go. The Portal needed to wrap around a large 21700 lithium-ion battery while managing heat, weathering abuse, and sitting comfortably on a helmet for hours.

We began by arranging the internal components into the tightest possible configuration, driving toward the smallest form factor the architecture would allow. In parallel, we sculpted a form that speaks performance, establishing a new aesthetic language for Outbound to own across their lineup.

EXploration
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Working closely with Outbound's team, we explored dozens of internal layouts, rotating, nesting, and stacking the battery, board, and optics to find the arrangement that shaved volume without compromising thermal performance. The design was refined through rapid, hands-on iteration. Successive rounds of 3D-printed models let the combined team evaluate weight, balance, and overall presence.

MadE IN CHICAGO, RIDDEN EVERYWHERe
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The Portal is what happens when two Chicago teams share a workbench. Outbound brought world-class optical and electrical engineering; we brought an obsession with form, fit, and every last millimeter. The result is a light that riders trust deep into the night, and a design language Outbound can carry forward across their lineup