BE OPEN BLOG

Not only these bespoke table lamps look like something else – they offer additional functionality that helps us slow down in the age of technology. In a market saturated with mundane designs, these lamps stand out as a testament to the power of innovative design, elevating the humble desk lamp into a true work of art.

Singapore-based product and industrial designer Ye JJ has combined traditional craft of lantern making and 3D printing to construct a scent diffusing table lamp using a material that blooms when switched on. Nitinol wire is a metal alloy of nickel and titanium, which is also known as a shape-memory alloy (SMAs). The smart material’s unique property is to restore to its original shape after deformation when heat is applied. Nitinol also has the ability to remember its shape at room temperature after a series of repetitive “training”, which is known as the two-way shape memory property.

The rest of the lamp’s petals are made from rice paper. The designer configures the paper into sets of flower petals using a customized 3D printed mold that determines their size and shape.

Aptly named Lotus, the lamp features rice paper petals that gently open up when the light bulb gives off warmth and closes slowly when it cools down. This poetic and magical transition takes approximately 1-3 min and is intended to incorporate organic elements of nature into everyday tech appliances.

The inspiration behind the lamp is the shadow-picture lantern, a traditional spinning lantern invented in China that runs by the hot air produced by the candle. When the lamp’s petals open up, the appliance’s oil diffuser is revealed releasing a pleasant smell, just like flowers. An impeller above the light bulb starts spinning by the rising warm air and the small amount of heat diffuses the essential oil above the impeller.

The Time Machine Table Lamp developed by the team from Shenzhen explore home industrial design co.,ltd (Chu Dongdong, Liu Bei, Ren Peng, Lin Rulong, and Weng Hang) not only uses the shape of a traditional hourglass, it also has a function of timing.

The appliance features a freely rotating shade with a central pivot and LEDs on both ends. When the lighting area is rotated, timing is started. When time passes, the upper half of the hourglass dims down and the lower half begins illuminating, as if light particles run down like grains of sand.

With is design, the team aims to remind people that time is valuable – it is passing and never comes back. Procrastination becomes a serious issue of all the youth, and according to the team, the design does not only communicates the importance of time, but also plays the role of solving issue offering an easy way of timing the user’s activities.

The Time Machine Table Lamp is a winner of the K-Design Award for the year 2020.

As its name suggests, the design of the Pagoda Lamp by Zongming Liu and Xingchen Pan, which is a a winner of the A’Design Award for the year 2023, pays homage to Buddhist pagodas that represent the sacred meaning of Buddhism and the path to enlightenment, providing wisdom to the world through the holy light.

What truly sets this lamp apart is its innovative approach to user interaction. The lighting fixture does not have an external switch. Instead, its switches are integrated into the pagoda shape. Users can turn the light on and off with a simple touch and a gentle rotation of the product. Brightness is adjusted in the same way according to the user’s preferences. This intuitive functionality not only enhances the user experience but also adds a touch of magic to everyday lighting routines.

The shell is crafted from teak wood, offering not only aesthetic appeal but also durability and stability. Designed to withstand the rigors of daily use, the lamp’s construction ensures minimal deformation, while the natural heat conduction of wood is slow enough to let the user feel warm.