Big in Japan

Is it wrong that out of all the great work showcased at
the latest Tokyo Design Week, the product I’m most excited about is largely because it reminds me of my favourite childhood Christmas decorations?

With a little help from Canadian born, Tokyo based industrial designer Chris Kirby, it appears that all my Christmases are coming at once. The Spiral Lamp formed part of the prototype exhibition 02, and I doubt I’m alone in hoping that this design has a do-it-yourself component

Despite the apparent complexity of the lamp, Chris never sketched or documented his design. Instead, as with many of his projects, he intuitively created prototypes until he reached the desired outcome, this time simply with paper.

The intricate forms of the final design are created from a single sheet of laser-cut material that is slit, bent and intertwined within itself. Chris likens the result to a shell, although his love of Spirograph (and his engineering background) also shines through.

In the light of day, the lamp has a strong sculptural presence, but it’s only when the sun goes down that this design is in full effect. According to Chris, the Spiral Lamp is an exploration of the interaction between light and
matter, the impassable and the transmissive, flat and voluminous, and
growing the complex from the simple.

There’s something reassuring about being able to understand how a product is constructed, and as with many of Chris’ designs, there’s also something endearing about his experimental process and "happy accidents" that result in such striking designs.

The Spiral Lamp can function as a table lamp, floor lamp or pendant fitting, and I for one am dreaming of finding all three under my Christmas tree this year.