Tuesday 18 October 2011

Rationale - Upcycle Lighting Project


During my initial investigation into various lighting areas I discovered a whole range of designs. Many of the more contemporary designs focused on the sustainable consumption of its materials and pushing the boundaries of traditional materials. A classic and renowned piece of lighting design is the chandelier. This light typically seen in traditional, classical houses evokes within the viewer a sense of regality and luxuriousness. I wanted to push the boundaries in the archaic use and interaction of the chandelier by turning it from a symbol of luxury and wealth into a customisable, personable centrepiece that is both sustainable and nice to look at. 
In building the light I attempted to use techniques that had little to no waste involved. I tried to explore avenues that allowed for creative opportunities to push the boundaries in my chosen field. I created my lamp by using a single poster, which has been sliced without removing any parts from the overall piece. This was a difficult challenge as i needed to utilise both folding and cutting the paper. This involved slicing over 1000 strips to allow the light to pass through and for the lamp to have an alternate shape. The structure is held together by metal rings that are slotted into the paper. the 2D form of the paper into a third dimension was tough and was a struggle to find something new and innovative, while keeping the flat-pack-able feature that came with the brief. 
Overall, I think this design allows its user to customise and enjoy a new form while experiencing the feeling of a classic centre piece. 

Mitchell Harris

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