A Creative Spark

Great design cannot be confined to a specific set of principals or ideals. For advances to occur, designers must stray beyond the border of conventional thought in order to break new ground. These attempts to innovate often result in failure but as with all things, failure is a key aspect of learning. The following three lighting designers have created products that serve as proof that breaking from the mold can result in great success when done properly.

The Zipp lamp from designers Camilla Waldal and Janne Helen Bulling is constructed entirely of zippers that have been attached together to form the supporting component of the lamp. The use of zippers as a means of controlling the light source creates an interesting play of light and shadow that allows the user to adjust the light source to their desired specifications. The Zipp lamp is available in a variety of heights and colors.

The Chester lamp by Dutch designers Bert van der Grift & Dennis van der Burch pays homage to the original classic chesterfield couch. Designed for the Belgian lighting manufacture Dark, this quirky and intriguing light has been coined the “chubby friend” of any space.

French designer Céline Wright presents the NID light. This handmade contemporary light was designed in Wright’s studio in Paris and serves as a prime example of her signature style of organic minimalism. Constructed of Japanese paper, Wright drew inspiration from the nest of a swallow hanging from a branch to develop the concept behind this unusually captivating piece.