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A celestial body of magic and mystery, the moon has fed the imaginations of artists, spanning all eras and continents, her ever-changing nature capturing their attention. Today, designers try recreate the beauty of the heavenly body, equally interested in depicting the moon in all her phases and moods.

Named after the Portuguese word for “moon,” the LUA smart speaker concept developed by Indian industrial designer and Loughborough University graduate Arshad Asaaf has been inspired by the side of the moon we never see, the side that faces away from Earth.

The dark side of the moon is represented by the bottom half of the device that is covered with the typical fabric that signifies where the sound comes out. In contrast, the upper half, where the indicators and controls are located, represents the “bright” side of this celestial body.

To trigger an action, the user can press or swipe anywhere within the pressure-sensitive area on the upper half, and the integrated computer will interpret if they want to turn the volume up or are trying to skip to the next track.

The flat bottom of the otherwise spherical speaker is where it connects with the wireless charging station that also doubles as a levitation platform for LUA. The idea is that the strong magnets in the base and in the bottom of the speaker activate to repel each other once the speaker is fully charged. This gives LUA an almost magical character that clearly fits its name.

Although the Luna Piena wall lamp by Milan-based designer Simay Tokus, titled after the Italian word for “full moon,” is not shaped like the moon, its adjustable light perfectly mimics its ethereal light that changes over time, going from full brightness to complete darkness and back again. The resulting effect is a creative interpretation of the phases of the moon that is recreated in an elegant and non-literal way.

The lamp takes the form of a ring, with only the upper half emitting light. The lower half serves as the control interface, featuring a ball on a rail system to adjust the brightness. To increase the brightness, the user has to slide the ball to the left; or move it in the opposite direction to dim the light.

The choice of marble for the lower half of the lamp evokes the imperfect yet striking surface of the moon. As light plays across the marble, it generates a captivating glow that highlights the natural beauty of the stone.

True to its name, Orbit y South African artist and designer Jesse Ede draws inspiration from the path of a moon circling a planet, continuing his lunar-themed series that began with the Lunar table and bench in early 2017.

Crafted from solid brass, the light features a swing arm and a bulb that rotate a full 360 degrees around a central cast-bronze planetary dome, which allows the user to illuminate it from any angle.

Inside, a warm golden glow is reflected, while the exterior shines with a brilliant blue light. This contrast accentuates the smooth, polished inner surface against the rough, patinated texture of the outer layer. According to the designer, the dome casts a “waxing and waning shadow” on the ceiling above, creating an ever-changing cinematic experience.