Ziza
A lamp for all.
Very often I come across people who have pretty unsettling lighting in their homes. The concept of mood lighting or lighting for purpose would be something they wouldn’t have even dreamt of. I’m amused when a lot of them aren’t from lower income groups, but still don’t have lamps or different lighting to use for different purposes. I started asking them why? They’d often say they don’t need them or seldom confront the fact that they’re too expensive in the first place.
Talking about “we don’t need”. People didn’t need televisions until it was popularized after it invention. As creators (scientists, engineers, designers), we often create things that people didn’t know that they needed until they see how those things are making an impact on other people.
While “expensive”, makes me question about how the mosquito swatter rackets made it to the homes of people from economic sections in India. How did they do it? How is almost everyone able to buy something that they never knew they needed? Money matters. If it’s cheap, people are going to buy it, if it’s good, people are going to buy again.
I feel this is possibly what motivated to take up this task to design a luminaire for the people.
Research and Insights
Insights were derived from observations made during visits to stores and homes of users through general conversations and a fixed questionnaire.
Design Brief
Based on the Market and User studies, the following brief was derived to move further into conceptualization.
Conceptualization:
Initially I started with sketching concepts that could be packed flat but assembled by the user upon unboxing the product. While some of these concepts involve simple modules that can be put together, other concepts include flat sheets that can be folded into forms such as cones. I tried to make concepts that are fundamentally made of lines or plane (or both sometimes).
Doodling with paper:
While sketching, I'd been using an A4 paper. I realised it could make a lamp out of that too, flatpack and simple at the same time. So I tried exploring concepts using paper.
While sketching, I'd been using an A4 paper. I realised it could make a lamp out of that too, flatpack and simple at the same time. So I tried exploring concepts using paper.
The next four ones, fold into flat strips and can be unfolded into full cylinders if the sheet's width is increased. Also, since it's a repetitive pattern, a lot of form possibilities (apart from cylinders) can be explored using any specific pattern.
These forms are created by a single band of paper with both its ends pasted to form a loop.
They're flat when folded and form columns when unfolded.
Manipulating the angles helps to create rings instead of a completely shut rosette. That would help create some space for the bulb holder in the centre.
I combined the rosette and twisted rings folds to create a cavity wherein a bulb holder ring fits well.
Final Concept:
Product in Actual Scenario:
Side and Top View of the product when it's not in use.
Preparing the presentation of this project was slightly tougher for me because I challenged myself not to use any 3D renders at all. Appreciate the project if you feel I did a decent job. Also, leave your comments below.
