This product is the result of a university project. Here was the project brief:

3D PRINTED OPEN DESIGN LED LAMP INSPIRED BY STUDENT LIFE

You are tasked to design an open design LED lamp which can be distributed online and manufactured by students from 3D printed parts using basic hand tools.

Considering the everyday realities of students, your lamp should be grounded in an insight into the lifestyle and/or dwellings of a student; addressing a specific need, fitting a specific space or context and/or capturing a specific aspect of their lives.  Build open design into the core of your design concept. Also, use the possibilities of 3D modelling and 3D printing to your advantage.

The precise form, function and context for the lamp are open. However, the reasoning and underlying concept for your lamp need to be clear in relation to the questions above. The lamp should also be made from white PLA plastic and aluminum profile (maximum of 1000mm can be used) and how these materials are creatively used forms a key question for the project.

All the 3D printed parts for the lamp should be possible to print for the end user on an Ultimaker 2+Connect within 30 hours. (30 hours is the max. It can also be less.) It should also be possible to build/assemble the lamp with basic knowledge about construction and electronics by following the accompanying instructions using basic handtools.

The lamp should include max 5 COB-LEDs which should be possible to power on 12 Volt (connected to mains via a provided transformer). Beyond the necessary wires to connect the LEDs, you will be also given an on/off switch and which you are free – but not mandated – to use in your lamp. PLA is temperature sensitive and might warp if it gets too hot. So, please think about how you will manage the heat dissipation from your COB-LEDs.

You are tasked to make:

1.     Fully working 3D printed LED lamp (1:1)

2.     Instructions for the end user (more detailed info in a separate document)

(Other course tasks: report, presentations etc. are detailed elsewhere.)

The result is this crumpled paper lamp which aims to function as an ambient light piece, as well as an artistic representation of this project’s design overture. The crumpled papers represents the thrown away ideas we had come up with during the initial phase of the project. Particularly me, I’m so hung up on having “the perfect idea” that I dismissed a lot of actually good ideas too quickly. It’s the strive for perfection and impression that even my design classmates have that this represents. We aren’t at a position to force a “perfect product” on ourselves, yet our naïve ambition leads us to do it. The light of course represents the idea itself, since ideas are generally represented by a lightbulb.

This idea also serves as the over-arching idea of this entire project. Brainstorming, iterating, building, fixing, and learning. And at the end, we reflect on our work which is where the interactive part of this product comes in place. The availability to stack the crumples up just like a pile of paper represents on how we look back and play on the struggles and process we went through to create the product. The lamp makes it a lasting educational feat that illuminates our student life.