4 week project | Maria Bowman | Fall 2021
In 4 weeks, I designed and prototyped a woven cardboard lamp customized to a specific space in Hayes Hall. More complex sketches were added outside the time constraints of the project.
The project began with a simple analysis of the spatial needs and visual style of the space. It had a lot of rough unfinished textures, light natural colors, and adjustable sorts of devices. My hypothetical client was looking for a way to have better light while on video call meetings.
Cardboard was the required material in the design brief. In early ideation, I focused on ways to created a soft diffused light with such a material, as well as ways to push it past its rigid nature. See below early prototypes and the sketch of the chosen direction.
I created a technique for shaping cardboard which involved softening it through bending and pressing it, and then weaving it through with wire to add structure back in but one that could be curved into organic shapes.
The final lamp created a soft and flattering light, made to perch on top of one's computer as a decorative lighting bar.
