Imagine coming home after a draining day and lighting your room with a simple gesture. The “gesture-controlled lighting” of “Call It a Day,” Tongqi Design’s innovative lighting collection, makes this effortless interaction a reality. Designer Tongqi Lu has crafted a set of lamps—table, floor, and pendant—that operate without switches. Instead, these silicone-shaded creations respond to mere touch. This user-friendly feature is the product of intricate design processes, which is the story we explore today.
For another take on innovative lighting design, explore Charlie Firth’s luminous sculptures, which fuse 3D printing with Memphis Movement aesthetics.
Tongqi Lu, based in Shanghai, reimagines lighting with silicone shades that require no physical switches. By designing the entire shade as the sensor, a touch, tug, or press is all it takes to illuminate a space. This touch-sensitive approach means there’s no need for precision with switches in the dark.
Designer: Tongqi Lu
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The “Call It a Day” collection features lamps fully encased in soft, translucent silicone, a deviation from traditional materials like glass. This choice places the lamp’s entire surface at your command. No longer is lamp design tethered to a specific switch location; the entire shade serves as a user-friendly input.
Lu frames the whole thing around the moment you get home and your body checks out before your brain does can casually interact with their lamp. The design allows you to reach out without precision, fulfilling the need for intuitive interaction. The iconic coiled yellow cable adds nostalgia, reminiscent of old pull chains.
The Artisan Process of Intuitive Lighting
Behind the sleek design is a meticulous crafting process. The studio in Shanghai operates with a hands-on approach. Initial designs were cardboard prototypes, with proportions and gestures considered early. This manual process highlights the intricate care put into each piece.
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The silicone shades emerge from block molds with fine grid textures, creating a woven effect visible when lit. The challenge lies in clean extraction; silicone’s tendency to bond makes this process delicate, requiring specific release agents. Pouring it without air bubbles involves precision and teamwork. This innovative solution demands such detailed craftsmanship.
The Meaningful Impact
The true genius of “Call It a Day” lies in its seamless user experience, paid for by upstream efforts. Engineering silicone that can be grabbed and twisted without breaking is no small feat. Yet, Lu’s open approach reveals the labor behind it, highlighting the balance between design simplicity and manufacture complexity in achieving this level of intuitive interaction.
Tongqi Lu’s portfolio reflects themes of reconnection. Like her Citron lamp and furniture collection, this series invites users to unwind from the hectic pace of urban life. While time will tell how well these lamps endure, their immediate impact is unmistakable, promoting ease and intuitive interaction through these modern lighting solutions.
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Source: yankodesign.com
Frequently asked questions
How do Tongqi Lu’s lamps work without switches?
Tongqi Lu’s lamps, part of the ‘Call It a Day’ collection, work without switches by using silicone shades as sensors. A touch, tug, or press on the silicone surface can illuminate the space.
What material are Tongqi Lu’s lamps made from?
The lamps are fully encased in soft, translucent silicone, which deviates from traditional materials like glass. This choice allows the entire surface of the lamp to be used as an input for gesture control.
Where does Tongqi Lu design and create these lamps?
Tongqi Lu designs and creates these lamps in her studio in Shanghai. The studio operates with a hands-on approach, starting with cardboard prototypes to develop the intricate designs.