Elisa Pyykkönen

Lamp design. Done in co-operation with Innojok Oy.

Client / Company in co-operation

Innojok Oy

My role

I was in sole charge of producing my own prototype.

About this Project

The assignment was to design an industrially manufacturable lamp for home interiors and to produce a high-end prototype of our design. The project was done in co-operation with Innojok Oy who provided us with components and concept brief.

The idea behind my design is that you can store your most precious things in it and showcase them – like in a vitrine, but it also works as a beautiful lamp by itself. The target group for this design are people who have little space but like to showcase pretty things. They also hate getting their precious things dusty but don't like cleaning.

After coming up with the idea and more defined target group behind the design, I brainstormed and sketched what the product might look like. I started testing my ideas by making some fast prototypes out of cardboard. This was done to determine the right size for the product and to see how to keep the assembly and parts used as minimum and simple as possible to maximize the manufacturing process.

The final design consists of four parts: wooden frame (UPM Grada), removable glass window, plastic shade and a base for the bulb. The prototype used three moulds, two for the plywood frame and plexiglass, and one for plastic base. The frame was done by form pressing UPM Grada. Plexi window was heat bent using the other side of the other part of the same mould as the frame used. I chose plexiglass instead of real glass for the prototype because of its cost and because it was easier to shape with the tools we had. It conveyed the idea of the product well enough. The base was vacuum formed.

My main design was a table lamp, but I also designed what a ceiling version would look like.

What I learned

This project provided me with a lot of important knowledge of materials and mould making. It was also a good lesson of balancing between designer wants, potential customer needs and manufacturability. It also built my confidence in prototyping.