Cubist Lamp - Charles Austria

Overview

This project combines a functional desk or kitchen lamp with an integrated planter, providing focused task lighting while enabling users to grow fresh herbs or small plants in the same compact footprint.

Research

Greenery in the office

Growing your own herbs at home can add variety to your meals, give access to the freshet herbs all the time, and save money. There area also many benefits to having plants in the workspace including:

Stress relief
Replenish focus
Boost employee accountability
Are perceived to "clean" the air
Increase productivity
Increase happiness and energy

Market Research

Competitors that were considered included Ikea and EQ3. Ikea offers a lower barrier to entry with more accessible products. EQ3 offers higher end materials and a higher retail price.

BOYSENBÄR

Frost-resistant concrete plant pot that withstands both outdoor and indoor use. Natural variations make each plant pot unique. A soft pad underneath protects the underlying surface. - $12.49

Nori Pot

These planters are hand=formed from raw terracotta in the Philippines. Their finish is created by surronding the pots with rice leaves before they're fired in a kiln. The smoke from the burning leaves then transforms the terracotta from the orange to black. Due to the nature of this process, the color variations are expected, leaving no two pots alike. Choose from small, medium, or large. - $39.99

NYMÅNE

Timeless simple metal desk lamp from Ikea

ENSMÄRKE

Clean simple desk lamp with duel functions from Ikea

Bassoon Bedside Lamp

The soft ambient glow that could be the centerpiece of the room from EQ3

Anchor Task Lamp

Task light that demonstrates the use of simple geometry to create clean design from EQ3

Inspiration

These products and images influenced the final product design through their form, shape, and impact on their environment.

Planter Light

Desktop light for growing plants

Cubic Architecture

Inspiration for layering of cubic shapes

Planter light

A planter lamp that casts a soft glow while growing small herbs

Larger planter light

This is a larger planter that also supports a light above the planter

Mechanism

The mechanism that locks the shade in the upright position was inspired by the game Tapple. The mechanism that holds down each letter is able to be released by twisting a wheel, letting the pieces under tension return to their starting position by releasing hooks that hold each piece. The lamp uses a twisting rotation motion to unlock resting and off position.

Tapple mechanism

Sketches

Initial focus was on the main form and as development continued I focused more on integrating the mechanism around the plant pot

Product reveal

The final version features the centralized planter with the rising shade that casts light around the plant.

Planter Light

When the shade is raised, the LEDs turn on casting a glow across the surface it is resting on.

Planter Light

When the shade is dropped the plant is further revealed, turning off the light.

How To Use

Lift the shade

Logitech Superlight with modified shell

Turn light on

3D printed Zero Mouse

Pull string to lower the shade

3D printed shell for the Logitech G305

Components

Exploded view showing all components.

Features

LEDs

LEDs are wrapped around the planter tray. This is removable to make it easier to clean.

Planter drainage

The planter has drainage holes allowing the plant to grow healthy.

color material finish

The main components on display will be made from ABS with a polished finish to present a strong contrast with the plants. The planter will be made from HDPE and can be replaced easily. As the most disposable part it can also be recycled.

Exploded view

In Context

The lamp with a full planter on the counter.

Lamp on the counter at night.

Alternate colors

The available alternate colors are stone, clay, and concrete.

Alternate colorways.