05
Luminaire Project
I began to learn to pay attention to detail. To really consider what surrounds us. Not only do we begin to notice the small things in everyday life, but I became aware that we are surrounded by inspiration.
For my luminaire project, I wanted to create a luminaire that can create a soft light for people who are affected by the sharp artificial lights that are often found in their homes. I also wanted to create a calm and natural feel to the luminaire to give an escape from what everyday life may be for people living in crowded cities such as New York, where there is a lack of calmness and connection with nature.
Process
My luminaire was heavily influenced by the research from the early projects this semester, starting with the lighting journal. From this assignment, I began to pay much more attention to the contact I have with light on an everyday basis and what its effect on me is.
I was asked to keep a photo journal of all the interactions I have with light, no matter what type, throughout the day. In addition to the photo journal, I decided to write down how each interaction made me feel, both physically and emotionally. This allowed me to pay closer attention to the effect that light can have on me.
As mentioned earlier, once the research aspect of the project was completed, I could now solely focus on how I would be developing and executing my project. Firstly, I developed various sketches to develop some ideas I had and narrowed down what design I liked best. From those sketches, I narrowed them down to two which I further looked into. I decided upon the “screen” design, which light emits through the frames.
I started with different models which allowed me to visualize what I wanted to create. My model included the real thickness of my luminaire, further showing how it would fit in the real environment.
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In this model, I also experimented with the use of magnets and focused on making the model connect solely with magnets. I received mixed feedback regarding this approach, on one hand, people had an attraction towards the magnet, mainly in a superficial manner, meaning that they found the use of them interesting, and even “satisfying” when it would all come together.
However, in a more practical approach, the magnets received more negative feedback. There came more issues with the magnets than initially thought, one of them being a price aspect, in the sense that in a real-world scenario, magnets would mainly be an extra expense that might not be needed. There was also the amount of magnets needed to put the luminaire together, which would make things more complicated than they should be. For that reason, I decided to reduce the need for magnets and instead focus mainly on regular joinery for the luminaire.
My next step was creating a working prototype, which I made out of MDF. This was a 1:1 working model, made out of the acrylic that I would use for the final model, the main difference being that I used MDF for this one rather than hardwood. This prototype also allowed me to fix some things when it came to the lighting. In this model, the light wasn’t distributed evenly, as there was only one small omnidirectional bulb placed on just one end of it. The cord was also an issue, as the gray color from it did not match well with the luminaire. As well as the lighting, I was having questions regarding the way I wanted my luminaire to stand, either vertically or horizontally.
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When I clamped it up for the glue-up I liked the way it looked, standing horizontally, so I decided to go into the critique with the clamps still on. I received positive feedback regarding that, as people liked the way the light shined towards the floor, and the use of “legs” made people associate the luminaire with an animal, which further increased the playful aspect of it.
Material choice played a big part in my luminaire. The importance of the choices was played around with the mood given off by the luminaire. I decided to use wood for the luminaire to keep a more natural look to the piece, rather than using metal which may give it a more “industrial” look. The choice of acrylic also came into play as I chose to go for a light blue translucent acrylic that had a design on it that made it resemble a bit of water. With all these things coming together, it added to the calmness of the piece as well as making it feel more natural.
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When it came to creating my luminaire, I approached it by creating “frames”. The luminaire itself was made up of three separate “frames”, each made up of two separate pieces. Two of the frames were identical, which would both have the acrylic slotted into them. The third “frame” would be the one that would go in the center, and it was thicker than the other two frames, as that would be the area in which the bulb would fit through.
Once all the pieces were ready for assembly, I added magnets in certain parts. I added magnets in the two pieces making up the center frame, that way it would allow for easy disassembly so changing the bulb wouldn’t be an issue. I also added magnets at the legs of the luminaire, which allowed for more stability, while allowing the legs to be separated from the luminaire itself, making it easier to store away.
As mentioned earlier, this luminaire is for people who live in crowded, busy cities – they have little time to slow down and don’t get to have much contact with nature. The only time they have to settle down is whenever they get back home. However, they are still in contact with sharp, bright, artificial lights in their homes, which affects them. For this reason, my luminaire is for them; it creates a calm and natural feel which gives an escape from what everyday life may be like for these people.
The level of playfulness, almost a pet-like connection, from the luminaire adds to the calmness that these sorts of people need in their everyday lives after coming home from a busy day. My luminaire also emits a soft, warm, diffused light, which restrains from straining the user's eyes, which may happen when they’re exposed to bright lights constantly.
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With all that being said, my artifact will exist as a floor lamp, mainly in a living room.
Although it is not the usual size for a floor lamp, its small size adds a subconscious feeling of comfort, sort of the same one one might have with a pet. This comfort further emphasizes the feeling of calmness that the luminaire is meant to achieve. The warmth emitted from this luminaire, as well as the way that it is diffused by the acrylic, adds to its calmness, as the light spreads out evenly and smoothly, rather than being sharp and direct, similar to how a spotlight might be, which emphasizes the feeling of focus and staying alert. On the contrary, when my luminaire is turned on, it is meant to calm the person and slow down all the feelings that a person might have.