Lighting

The incandescent light bulb has become a classic icon, yet most lamps are designed to hide it. I have found five examples from designers who have decided to embrace and celebrate the light bulb’s simple form.

Lamp/Lamp by Hironao is a hand blown light bulb that appears to be a regular light bulb place onto a fixture with the threads exposed.

The fly Lamp by Front design examines the flight path of a fly circling around a light bulb. They used motion capture to map the path of a fly which was used as the basis for the lamp shade. The design suggests the interaction between a fly and an exposed bulb.

85 Lamps by Rody Graumans uses the essential elements of a light and multiplies 85 times to create an opulent chandelier.

Birdie from Ingo Maurer gives personality and life to the bulbs. The wings and the bendable wire chandelier give the illusion of flight to the still bulbs.

Holonzki by Ingo Maurer features the holographic image of the iconic incandescent bulb and is lit from afar. The chandelier plays with the idea of lighting and the light bulb.

Even though there have been recent technological advances in compact fluorescents and LEDs for indoor lighting, the incandescent bulb stand strong as an icon for light, and will serve as inspiration for designers for years to come.