Tag Archives: lighting

A Sustainable Lighting Solution That Redefines The Interaction Between Light And Sound

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In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and design, the fusion of functionality and artistic expression continues to yield groundbreaking innovations. One such marvel is Oloïd, a sustainable acoustic luminaire born from the collaborative synergy of Impact Acoustic; a provider of sustainable acoustic solutions, and the esteemed design studio atelier oï. This unique lighting fixture not only delivers exceptional sound absorption but also redefines the way light and sound interact, creating a transformative experience that enhances the ambiance of any space.

Designer: Impact Acoustic,  Atelier oï

At the heart of Oloïd’s revolutionary design lies Archisonic Felt, a high-performance sustainable acoustic absorber crafted from upcycled PET bottles. This versatile material demonstrates outstanding sound absorption capabilities and embodies a commitment to sustainability and responsible material sourcing. The Cradle to Cradle certification and LEED accreditation of Archisonic Felt underscore its eco-friendly credentials, aligning with the growing demand for environmentally conscious design solutions.

Oloïd distinguishes itself by offering a transformative lighting experience that seamlessly integrates functionality with artistic expression. The collaboration between Impact Acoustic and Atelier oï is not merely about illuminating a space but about creating an immersive environment where light and sound harmonize effortlessly.

Aurel Aebi, a key figure at Atelier oï, highlights the creative process that brought Oloïd to life. “At atelier oï, we often begin our creative process with an encounter with the material,” Aebi explains. “Our goal was to find a way to make the sustainable material speak in a new way.” This innovative approach involved working with the material’s stiffness and flatness to create organic shapes that redefine conventional luminaire design.

Oloïd is available in a stunning array of 32 colors, presenting a curated selection from the Archisonic Felt range. This diversity empowers users to personalize their spaces, allowing for the creation of bespoke environments that reflect individual tastes and preferences. The luminaire’s design seamlessly integrates the organic shapes derived from the unique qualities of Archisonic Felt, transcending two-dimensional panels into captivating three-dimensional entities.

Sven Erni, co-founder of Impact Acoustic, expresses his fascination with the collaborative process that transformed their material. “The collaboration fascinated us as we witnessed the metamorphosis of our material,” Erni notes. “This was made possible using a distinctive cutting technique at specific angles and the skillful folding of the panels. This creative approach seamlessly transformed the two-dimensional panels into fascinating three-dimensional entities, transcending surfaces to tangible bodies.”

Oloïd not only sets a new standard for sound-absorbing luminaires but also stands as a testament to the potential of sustainable design in reshaping our surroundings. With its commitment to responsible material usage, innovative design, and the seamless integration of light and sound, Oloïd emerges as a beacon of eco-conscious creativity, inviting us to reimagine the possibilities of our illuminated spaces.

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The Ultimate Example Of Upcycling: Repurposing Discarded Movie Screens Into Interior Products

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In a groundbreaking collaboration with CGV, South Korea’s leading movie brand, designer Haneul Kim has unveiled a remarkable initiative to address the environmental challenge of waste generated by discarded movie screens. These screens, often several meters long, are typically cast aside due to damage, contamination, or the dismantling of theaters. Haneul Kim’s innovative approach transforms these seemingly obsolete materials into stunning and functional lighting designs, marking a significant step towards sustainability in the design industry.

Designer: Haneul Kim

Kim’s inspiration struck when he noticed the perforations on the discarded screens, recognizing a visual similarity to aluminum perforated plates commonly found in industrial applications. This revelation led to the ingenious idea of repurposing the screens’ sound-transmitting function into a source of light emission. The result is a series of portable lamps that ingeniously utilize the small holes in the screens to emit light, turning waste into a source of illumination.

The Waste Screen Recycle project also pays homage to the legendary designer Mario Botta’s iconic shogun lamp. Known for its clean lines and geometric precision, Botta’s lamp incorporates perforations or cutouts, allowing light to diffuse elegantly. Haneul Kim’s homage work demonstrates the potential of waste screens to replace traditional lampshades, showcasing a fusion of sustainability and design aesthetics. The project not only repurposes discarded materials but also reimagines them in the context of established design classics.

The versatility of waste movie screens is further highlighted as Kim extends the project to include furniture pieces such as tables and chairs. These pieces showcase the original patterns found in waste movie screens, adding a touch of uniqueness and character to each creation. By exploring the potential use of these screens as interior materials for the future, Kim is pushing the boundaries of sustainable design and encouraging a shift towards more environmentally conscious practices.

The repurposing of waste movie screens into lighting designs and furniture pieces not only addresses the issue of waste in the entertainment industry but also demonstrates the potential for meaningful utilization across various domains. Kim’s project underscores the exceptional functional and aesthetic qualities of waste movie screens, positioning them as valuable resources for the creation of sustainable and visually striking designs. As the design world continues to grapple with environmental concerns, Haneul Kim’s innovative approach serves as a beacon, pointing towards a future where discarded materials are transformed into objects of beauty and purpose.

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Vibrant Lighting Collection Is Breaking Lighting Standards With Its Unconventional Yet Subtle Form

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A beautifully designed lighting fixture has the ability to completely uplift and elevate a living space! A well-designed lighting fixture should not only be able to efficiently illuminate any living space but also add that extra oomph factor! I mean, of course, we need them to see in the dark, but as highly functional as they should be, a lighting fixture also needs to be aesthetically pleasing, adding an attractive and visually soothing element to your home or office space. And, a stunning lighting design that would make a fitting addition to your home is the Array lighting by Umut Yamac for Vibia.

Designer: Umut Yamac for Vibia

Dubbed the Array collection, this group of beautiful and subtle pendant lights is designed by architect and designer Umut Yamac for the Barcelona-based brand Vibia. This collection marks the first collaboration between the Spanish brand and the British designer. The light collection is crafted from tightly strung threads, creating lighting fixtures with unique and captivating bodies and forms.

The brand described the lighting collection as “an exploration of thread and its potential to create lightweight and dynamic sculptures of light”, and it is composed of fine threads that have been tightly pulled together between two aluminum rings. The taut threads are dainty held between the two rings. A soft and subtle light source is hidden within the lower ring, building an appealing gradient effect that washes upwards along the textured threads.

“Solid, yet translucent, the layered lines of cord influence the visitor’s perception of volume, weight, and depth to create a new spatial experience,” said Vibia. “The layering effect creates an interference pattern, or more, which produces the illusion of movement with the shifting gaze of the viewer, the threads seeming to vibrate as the light passes through.” The lighting design is available in various versions such as a conical and cylindrical one, and they can be combined to create an alluring lighting installation. They’ve been created in three different sizes – the largest one is 124 cm in diameter, and 2 m tall. The threads are available in terra red, sober green, or neutral beige, and they perfectly contrast with the matte black rings.

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Compact & Cute Lamp That Fits All Environments Is A Miniaturized Version Of A 1970s Lamp

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I have a soft spot in my heart for small yet sensational lighting designs that illuminate spaces with style and functionality. I truly believe a  well-designed lighting piece should not only have the ability to illuminate any living space but also add that extra oomph factor! I mean, of course, we need them to see in the dark, but as highly functional as they should be, a lighting fixture also needs to be aesthetically pleasing, adding an attractive and visually soothing element to your home or office space. And, one such cute and compact lighting design that I recently came across is the Lari Mini Lamp by Karakter.

Designer: Karakter

The Lari Mini Lamp is designed by Danish design brand Karakter, and it is the miniature and renewed version of a lamp that was originally designed by the late Italian architect and sculptor Angelo Mangiarotti in 1978. Much like the original Lari, this mini lamp features a rounded-square silhouette, amped by a ribbed central section that is constructed from hand-blown glass. The lamp has a rather distinctive and unique shape that is quite difficult to miss!

The little lamp consists of a glass volume made up of two bulbs that emit a warm white glow. The two bulbs are placed against a black oval-shaped base, creating a geometrically interesting piece. The Lari Mini lamp was designed to be more practical, functional, and accessible than the original full-sized lighting design, building a piece that is easier to use and place in your home. The lamp is rechargeable via USV-C cable, offering 12 hours of illumination once fully charged.

“Mangiarotti had a very specific approach to lighting,” said Christian Elving, co-founder and CEO of Karakter. “His designs seem to constantly play with the balance between soft sensuousness and robust practicality.”

The thoughtfully designed Lari Mini Lamp is quite versatile, and it was designed for domestic, mixed-use, and hospitality environments. You can truly place it anywhere – from cozy and comfy reading corners in your home to dining tables at elegant restaurants. The Lari Mini Lamp is created to find its place and spot in all kinds of environments.

The post Compact & Cute Lamp That Fits All Environments Is A Miniaturized Version Of A 1970s Lamp first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 Chique Lighting Designs To Illuminate Your Home With Style + Practicality

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Gone are the days when lighting designs were boring and typically designed objects that did nothing but add light to a living space. A well-designed lighting fixture should not only have the ability to illuminate any living space but also add that extra oomph factor! I mean, of course, we need them to see in the dark, but as highly functional as they should be, a lighting fixture also needs to be aesthetically pleasing, adding an attractive and visually soothing element to your home or office space. From a ghost-like chandelier to a unique book-mounted reading light– these innovative lighting designs are what you need to elevate your living or working space!

1. Sunne Light

Called the Sunne Light, this innovative solar light is self-powered and it harvests sunlight during the day to ensure your home is lit up throughout the night. The extraordinary sunlight-mimicking lamp collects solar energy, while also powering itself using that energy.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Sunne light features photovoltaic cells that are designed to be hung in front of a window. It is a suspended lighting fixture that collects solar energy through the day and then uses that energy at night to illuminate your home. It has an integrated battery that stores the solar energy it collects.

What we like

  • Collects solar energy and uses it to power itself
  • Remains suspended in air, not occupying any precious real estate in your home

What we dislike

  • Heavy price tag
  • Since the lamp is suspended, it could be difficult to clean and maintain

2. Chapeaux Table Lamp

The stunning Chapeaux Table Lamp is considered worthy to be part of a magic show. It is an enchanting and mesmerizing lighting fixture that will instantly grab your attention owing to its super unique design.

Why is it noteworthy?

One of the focal features of the lamp is the transparent pyrex body which is accentuated with a cylindrical steam that widens up at both ends. The bottom section supports and stabilizes the lamp while the top embraces the hat diffuser. Once the lamp is switched on, the entire body is highlighted with pretty subtle reflections.

What we like

  • Features a floating light source, that subtly conceals all the technical bits

What we dislike

  • Since it is transparent, it needs to be cleaned regularly, to ensure it doesn’t have a dirty/murky appearance

3. Amber Crystal Light

Gingko’s Amber Crystal Light looks like a fortune-telling orb that rests on a wooden base, with intricate designs etched into the center of the glass orb. Once you switch the light on, the art scatters light in different directions, producing a stunning glowing effect that borders on visual magic.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Crystal Light features five different artworks within the crystal orb – dandelion, galaxy, the solar system, Saturn, and a motif of Earth as a globe. The different motifs represent different emotions such as hope, serenity, curiosity, and a genuine love for space, science, and nature.

What we like

  • Offers up to 16 hours of stunning illumination with gorgeous designs

What we dislike

  • The lamp seems quite fragile and breakable, so should be kept away from kids and pets

4. Soft Serve Lamp

The Soft Serve Lamp is an adorable lighting design by Stockholm design studio Crème Atelier, and mimics a “swirly ice cream”. It is available in a range of delicious sorbet colors!

Why is it noteworthy?

The Soft Serve lamp is 3D-printed and is inspired by pastries and desserts, which in my opinion makes a great source of inspiration for lighting designs.

What we like

  • Made to order, which makes the entire production method pretty swift and sustainable according to the agency

What we dislike

  • Seems more decorative than functional to be honest

5. Emotional Lab Light

Dubbed the Emotional Lab Light, this unique and ethereal-looking lighting design was created by interior designer Hania Jneid. Jneid was inspired by chemistry sets, and she drew influence from them to create her eclectic and elaborate floor lamp.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Emotional Lab floor lamp includes a tall and slender metal lamp that provides support to multiple beaker-like glass vessels that illuminate any space they’re placed into with a warm and inviting flow.

What we like

  • Influenced by the designer’s childhood memories of chemistry lab

What we dislike

  • Looks easily breakable and fragile, and not very moveable

6. Skyview

Dubbed Skyview, these lamps can be utilized for light therapy, but they also manage to be quite aesthetically pleasing. They are designed by Bios by “documented scientific research”, which means they can simulate exposure to sunlight in the comfort of your home.

Why is it noteworthy?

The lamps can simulate sunlight even when the sun is not out. They’re also well-designed, allowing them to naturally merge with your home, ensuring they don’t look out of place in your living room, bedroom, or home office.

What we like

  • Can be programmed to adjust to the time of day and the natural light outside

What we dislike

  • Hefty price tag, which may not be accessible to everyone

7. Bowie 2.0

The Bowie 2.0 is a genius reading light that illuminates not only the pages of your book but also your entire room. The light is designed like a leather fashion accessory that can be clipped onto the left and right sides of your book cover.

Why is it noteworthy?

The LEDs are built into the light’s strap, casting a soft and lovely glow that is still strong enough to let you read in the pitch dark. It casts warm LED light on your pages, letting you read with ease, turn pages, and move around without the light causing any discomfort,

What we like

  • Features touch-sensitive brightness settings built in that let you adjust the LED brightness to suit your needs and requirements

What we dislike

8. Ghost Chandelier

As its name suggests, the Ghost Chandelier is ghostly and ghoulish yet quite graceful. It is a simple and alluring lighting design, that instantly captures your attention, and has you completely mesmerized.

Why is it noteworthy?

Created by Kristian Sofus Hansen and Tommy Hyldahl of NORR11 for the Danish design studio, the artistic lighting design intends to cast a myriad range of shapes and patterns in your home. The stunning piece is inspired by minimalist art.

What we like

  • The chandelier looks different from different viewpoints
  • Builds a moody and seductive ambiance in your home

What we dislike

  • Looks difficult to clean and maintain

9. Matin Lamp

Designed by Inga Hempe, the Matin Lamp is a contemporary and modern interpretation of a common lighting fixture that uses a steel wire frame to condense the form to its most basic.

Why is it noteworthy?

Its unique pleated lampshade gives a distinctive character to the product, creating a play of shapes and shadows that contrast with its plain block of color.

What we like

  • The lamp is a harmonious contrast of order and chaos with repeating patterns of flowers, petals, and leaves

What we dislike

  • The lamp may be too quirky and eclectic for some

10. Nebula Desk Lamp

Designed by COG Design Studio, the Nebula Desk Lamp is a basic yet defined form of lighting built via repetition, transformation, and an innovative and unique combination of distinctive geometric shapes.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Nebula Desk Lamp was designed by giving a subtle and formative beauty to flat shapes using three-dimensional changes in direction and bending. This creates a refreshed and interesting form for a lighting design.

What we like

  • The innovative design gives the impression of a nebula in space, which lends the design its name

What we dislike

  • There is no option to change/customize the design as needed

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Cute table lamp concept mimics a man with an umbrella under the rain

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We can take a lot of ideas from nature, but sometimes the source of inspiration can be our own selves. The human figure, after all, is a truly complex design, and it’s capable of portraying a wide range of forms and emotions. Sometimes, that spark even comes from the most mundane of situations, like sitting on a park bench or walking under the rain with an umbrella. The latter is apparently what gave birth to a rather cute little lamp designed to stand on your desk, table, or shelf, generating a sense of playfulness and calm, emotions that some people feel on a rainy day.

Designer: Heeyeol Yang

Different people associate rainy days with different emotions. Some feel lethargic and sleepy while others are their most productive in the midst of the pitter-patter. Some feel a bit of anxiety, especially when trapped under the rain, but there are actually those who can stay still and calm while standing under an umbrella. This is the inspiration for Rain Man, a concept design for a lamp that is truthfully more open to interpretation than what the designer intended.

On the one hand, the name alone directly points to the form that the lamp tries to imitate. The flat cone on top is like an umbrella, while the lever that supports it is the figure’s arm. The lamp itself is an extreme generalization of the human head, and plenty of metaphors can probably be drawn from how a person’s face and presence can light up those gloomy, rainy days.

At the same time, it’s also possible to see the figure a bit differently if you don’t take the name into consideration. The umbrella becomes a wide-brimmed hat commonly found in Asian countries, held high in greeting when coming across another person. In either interpretation, the focus is on the human figure and its relationship with its surroundings, be it rain or shine.

The concept design has other interesting features beyond its anthropomorphic shape. The umbrella (or hat) can be lowered or raised as desired, scattering the light or focusing it toward a single direction. Overall, the lamp has a certain charm that makes it a lovely piece for your living space, greeting you and your visitors with a simple, calm gesture.

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Nature-inspired pendant lamps add a minimalist and intricate aesthetic to your space

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One of the things that can make your space look more elegant, stylish, and beautiful is to have lamps that will complement and enhance the room. There are a lot of well-designed lamps, light fixtures, and chandeliers out there that you can choose from and there’s always room for more. If you’re looking for something a bit more minimalist but still will stand out when you place it in your room, here are a couple of pendant lamps from Claymango.

Designer: Gamini Rawal for Claymango

The Lily Pendant Lamp is of course inspired by the Lily flower and is designed to represent “love, devotion, and purity”. It streamlines the six petals into just three, achieving a minimalist and simple aesthetic. It also has an eco-friendly finish as it uses rattan as its main material. It can stand alone as just one pendant lamp or you can group it together with other lily lamps if you need something bigger. It can be used for both task and area lighting.

The Spiral Pendant Lamp meanwhile is inspired by the rhythmic movements that the fishes make when they’re looking for food in the ocean. Therefore you get some swirls and twisty forms but still with a minimalist aesthetic, using its bamboo weave design to blend with neutral and boho feels. The fixtures that are designed as a pair can serve both as pendant lamps and chandeliers with the light suspended through the cylindrical diffuser.

These pendant lamps are minimalist but also somehow slightly intricate in design. If you have an aesthetic that fits the lily concept or the spiral concept, these would be a pretty nice addition to the room (if ever they will come out of the concept stage) as they are both functional and decorative.

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Solar-powered streetlights spin and move to chase the sun

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We see plenty of solar-powered products today, ranging from simple lamps to complicated electronics. But despite the sustainability benefits these offer, there’s no escaping the fact that they do need to soak up the rays to actually work. That’s not much of a problem if the devices have large batteries that can be used when the sun is out, but not so much for smaller objects that have to be smarter in how they get some sunlight. The sun, unfortunately, never stays still, and other atmospheric conditions could make an area less exposed from time to time. To help alleviate that problem, this design concept for solar-powered street lamps takes inspiration from Mother Nature in order to seek out the sun where it shines the brightest.

Designer: VANTOT

When people talk about street lights, most will probably imagine lamps on top of posts. These lighting fixtures are designed to be stationary in order to be reliable landmarks as well as to make them more convenient to reach and maintain. That restriction, however, might pose a problem for solar-powered street lamps because they will always be at the mercy of the sun’s location. When clouds cast shadows or buildings rise to block the sun, these lamps might lose their one and only source of power.

The Sunseeker is an experimental solution to that problem that uproots street lights and sets them on a chain rather than on a post. This frees the hanging lights from staying in one spot and lets them move freely along the chain. It might be a strange capability, but it makes sense when you consider that the light sensors on each lamp actually detect where sunlight shines strongest and then move or turn the lamp’s solar panel to face that direction.

It’s definitely an odd feature, but one that can actually be seen in nature. The sunflower, for example, is famous for how it always faces the sun, a trait that is even more important for solar-powered devices. In this manner, the Sunseeker lights can move where the sun is, ensuring that it will always be at peak performance when the day star finally sets.

In addition to implementing a critical function, this sun-seeking behavior puts a playful spin on the lamps, pun intended. Crowds can be amazed and entertained as the circular panels slowly move and spin to match the direction of the sun. But even when they’re staying still, the lamps exude a character that is almost otherworldly, especially with how they look like a fleet of tiny UFOs lining up in the night sky.

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Ambient lamp can be controlled by touch or smartphone connection

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I don’t really think much about the aesthetics of lighting in my house. As long as I get the light that I need at different times of the day, I’m okay. But for those that like mood lighting, lamps are the best way to add more ambience to your room or space. Most of these lamps are well-designed but aren’t really built for a tactile experience. So if you’re looking for both, this concept for a “softer” lamp may be something to look forward to.

Designers: Pinar Aydogdu, Deniz Ozsuslu, Naren Yildirim

The Pofu Lamp is a concept for a lighting device that also doubles as a charging hub for your devices. But that in itself isn’t what makes it different from other lamps and chargers in one. Its selling point is that you can interact with it by squeezing and touching the lamp which is made from silicone material instead of plastic, giving it a softer and warmer touch. It also uses ABS plastic construction so you get a glossy finish and is able to support magnetic charging stations. You have the option to control it through touch or through your Bluetooth-connected smartphone.

Squeezing the lamp once will turn it on or off while a long squeeze will start the Bluetooth connection. When you do a double spin, you can remove the top and then turn the charging base into a charging hub. The lamp also gives two different modes depending on what you need the light for and maybe your mood as well. You get the usual warm yellow light which you can use at any time of the day and then you get the well-being mode which will adapt the color tones depending on the time of the day like with morning, noon, and evening.

The lamp itself has a triangular dome-like appearance and looks a bit softer compared to other lamps, at least from the product renders we’re seeing. The fact that it has a more tactile approach to controlling it while also having the option to still have a smartphone to control things like power, mode, and device connections. No word yet if this concept will eventually see the light of day.

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Sculptural wall lamps bring an otherworldly aura inspired by sunflowers

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A lot of designs these days take their cue from nature, perhaps the greatest designer that ever existed. Some simply use natural forms as their starting point while others imitate them almost completely. Yet there are also others who try to interpret organic shapes in a different way, resulting in a design that is both familiar yet almost alien. This wall lighting, for example, takes inspiration from the tiny disk flowers inside a beautiful sunflower, but the play of light and shadows gives it an almost hypnotic appearance, whether the lamp is actually on or not.

Designer: Rollo Bryant

It’s probably not common knowledge, but the flower that most people “see” when looking at a sunflower is actually a flower head that’s made up of a bunch of tiny flowers called disk florets. It’s a rather unique arrangement that becomes even more enchanting when you learn about it, giving the sunflower an otherworldly character. That’s the kind of character that the Aureole collection of wall-mounted lighting tries to embody, not just in its appearance but also in the material used to create its mesmerizing form.

The lamps use quartz sand for its main body, a material that’s often used for moulds that are then used to create other objects. In Aureole, however, the sand is the final product instead, and its production pushes the envelope of both what the material can be used for as well as the 3D printing technology employed for creating the complex structures of the lamp’s shape.

That shape is almost like a maze of intersecting curves or an array of raised bits swirling around the center, trying to recreate the appearance of those disk florets without being too literal. They only suggest the general shape of the sunflower head but still leave plenty of room for artistic interpretation. Closer inspection reveals a more intricate network of lines and curves, almost like the structures that bees and ants leave behind in their hives and homes. While completely natural in inspiration, it almost gives the lamp an alien-like vibe as well.

Once the light shines from beneath an opaque black disc in the center, the wall-mounting lighting takes on a completely different personality, ethereal and mesmerizing. Thanks to those complex 3D structures, the light casts shadows in unique and intricate ways, creating an eerie atmosphere that seems to lock your eyes in a swirling spiral of yellow and black contrasts. Because the light is coming from behind the disc, there is also an element of mystery to the aesthetic, as if watching a solar eclipse corona burst into a dizzying pattern. Either way, the Aureole wall lamps definitely captivate people’s minds and imagination, a true conversation starter in any setting.

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