Lift the hat and the light brightens. Lower it and this portable desk lamp dims. That single gesture defines Milo, a portable light designed by Max Gunawan for Lumio.
The lamp runs on a 5,000mAh lithium-polymer battery. At its lowest brightness setting, it lasts more than 30 hours.
Its mushroom-inspired form comes with interchangeable shades, which the brand calls hats. Lamp and shade are both made from high-gloss, lacquer-coated aluminium. Each hat snaps on and off as needed.
Three shapes are available: Cone, Mushroom and Flat. Each comes in six colours: red, blue, green, pink, white and black. The lamp body is offered in the same palette.
Milo’s stem-based dimming is one way portable lighting is being rethought, and a different take on the same idea is a portable minimalist lamp built for ambient light anywhere, worth a look for its sleek approach.
Mushrooms as a starting point
Gunawan traces the project to a simple fascination. “The idea for ‘Milo’ started with my fascination with mushrooms and their playful, organic shapes,” he says. “But beyond the silhouette, I wanted to capture that same sense of play in how we actually interact with light.”
A stem that doubles as a switch
This design drops the conventional switch. The stem handles both on/off and dimming. Raise the hat, and the light grows brighter.
Adjusting the light
Every interchangeable hat swivels through 360 degrees, so you can aim the light wherever you need it. A hidden magnet in the base lets the lamp move between a desk light and a wall sconce. The colour temperature can also be adjusted to suit your mood.
The milo portable lamp family
An integrated 4.5W LED bulb provides the light. Charging takes about five hours through a USB-C port.
Gunawan describes the new model in plain terms. “‘Milo’ is simple: a playful, interactive light designed to follow you throughout your space,” he says.
His frustration with existing products drove the design. “Most portable lamps frustrate me because you can only use them one way,” he says. “They are static objects that just sit on a desk.”
Gunawan’s complaint about static lamps sits well alongside a classic reissue, as Poul Henningsen’s iconic piano lamp returns in a limited edition, showing how a timeless lamp design can still feel fresh today.
He argues that furniture should keep pace with daily life. “We live in dynamic spaces, shifting constantly from work to rest, and I believe the objects we own should adapt right alongside us.”
The Milo table light costs £169. Each Milo Hat shade costs £27.
This design is built around movement, both of the light and of the person using it. Its real test is whether portable lighting can keep up with a day that moves from work to rest.
Via wallpaper.com
Frequently asked questions
How does the Milo lamp dim and brighten?
The Milo lamp uses its mushroom-style stem as the switch, so there is no conventional switch. Lifting the hat makes the light brighter, and lowering the hat dims it.
How long does the Milo lamp battery last on low brightness?
The Milo lamp runs on a 5,000mAh lithium-polymer battery. At its lowest brightness setting, it lasts more than 30 hours.
How long does it take to charge the Milo portable lamp?
The Milo lamp charges through a USB-C port, and charging takes about five hours. It has an integrated 4.5W LED bulb.
How much does the Milo table light cost, and what do hats cost?
The Milo table light costs £169. Each Milo Hat shade costs £27.
More in
Design
All Design
More like this
Studio Apure's NOX Lamp Lifts Free From Its Base as a Flashlight
Martin Oberhauser Harnesses SPI 3D Printing to Craft Intricate Concrete Lamps for Outdoor Spaces
OKA's Mori Robot Mimics a Table Lamp to Offer Companionship at Home
Koushik Viragani Designs a Streaming Light that Transforms into Its Own Case
Portable Minimalist Lamp Features Sleek Design for Endless Ambient Lighting Anywhere
