The Theatre of Light
The Theatre of Light project involved designing a table lamp that captures the essence of the company's signature floor lamp, which features a unique spherical design that opens up and slides downward in five sections. The challenge was to translate this concept into a table lamp while maintaining the brand’s magical and dynamic aesthetic.
Design Concept
The concept for the table lamp was inspired by the brand's original floor lamp but was adapted into a more compact, four-section design. The lamp's spherical shape, which opens and closes in a seamless, fluid motion, was central to the concept. This design aimed to evoke the same sense of wonder and elegance as the floor lamp, while fitting into a more intimate, table-sized form factor. The final design retained the magical, spherical aesthetic that defines the brand’s product line.
Telescopic Actuator Design
Adapting the concept from a floor lamp to a table lamp presented significant technical challenges. Unlike the floor lamp, which had a central pole for the sections to slide along, the table lamp required a concealed mechanism due to the limited space available. To address this, a telescopic actuator mechanism was designed and integrated within the lamp. The design ensured that each exposed pole section was of the same width, creating the illusion of a “magic-like” central pole, free of any visible joints or transitions.
Prototyping and Development
For the prototype, FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printing was used to create the spherical sections of the lamp. This method allowed for rapid iteration during the design phase. For the more critical mechanical components, MJF (Multi Jet Fusion) 3D printing was selected due to its superior durability and quality, particularly for the threads used in the actuator mechanism. The development process for the table lamp was carried out in carefully planned steps, each focused on solving the primary technical challenges.
Iterative Development
The iterative development process involved creating multiple designs and prototypes, each aimed at refining and improving the lamp’s performance. Early prototypes were focused on testing the basic functionality, while later iterations addressed more specific challenges such as noise reduction and wobbling. Bearings were introduced to minimize friction and ensure smooth movement, which played a key role in reducing both noise and vibration.
Proof of Concept
The initial phase of the project focused on establishing a proof of concept to validate the core functionality of the design. The primary goal during this stage was to ensure that the four sections of the table lamp could slide smoothly and consistently.
Noise Reduction
Achieving near-silent operation was a priority. This was accomplished by minimizing vibration and friction through the use of bearings, appropriate clearances between parts, and selecting the correct electrical driver for the stepper motor.
Electrical Connections
An important aspect of the design was the electrical connectivity between each independent section of the lamp. The sections were connected using sliding electrical connections, allowing power to be transmitted seamlessly as the lamp sections moved.
Achievements and Recognition
The final prototype of the table lamp turned out to be a huge success, perfectly capturing the magic and elegance of the brand while solving some tough technical challenges. Its smooth, fluid motion and unique spherical design really caught people's attention, sparking a lot of excitement. The project went on to raise over £60,000 in funding to help take it to the next stage of development.