Mai Lamp
Overview:
This a studio term project from a tabletop lamp studio led by John Arndt.
Through ideation and nostalgia, I designed the Mai Lamp with great inspiration from my Vietnamese heritage and culture. The lamp is a portable task lamp that is rechargeable by USB-C. The lamp is made out of steel that is powder coated with 3D-printed internal parts.
How might we create a task lamp that won’t disrupt people’s workflow and environment?
My older sister, Sam and I!
Date:
Duration:
3 months
Designed for those who don’t want to burden their housemates.
Finding my heritage in lamps
Looking at lamps and how they’re traditionally made, I was inspired by the classic silhouette of a conical shade and long post.
It reminded me of the traditional that that Vietnamese people have used for generations to provide shade for themselves. I wanted to take familiar and homey silhouettes into this tabletop lighting project to bring users a warmer alternative to mechanical task lamps.
Role:
Industrial design
Mechanical design
Fabrication
Photography
Designed for those who work late.
Designed to be brought around to where you work.
From light studies, paper prototypes, 3D mockups to fabrication.
Features and components
The lamp is USB-C rechargeable with a port on the bottom of the lamp to not disrupt the design. The shade is balanced on a magnetic ball joint that angles the shade according to what the user needs as well as makes the shade detachable. The shade being detachable allows users to easily access the LED bulb to change out.
The lamp is made out of steel and is powder coated with a gloss red finish.
Winter 2024
