Lex Pott creates "universal and unpretentious" portable lamps for IKEA
Dutch designer Lex Pott has created the PS2026 Portable Lamp as part of the IKEA's latest PS Collection, which is being unveiled later today.
The rechargeable lamp is one of four designs that Pott created for the 35-piece PS Collection, alongside a transforming lamp that was revealed at Milan design week.
Described by Pott as a "playful companion", the portable lamp was designed to be moved around and not have a predetermined purpose.
"I love objects that become a bit of a companion," Pott told Dezeen. "If you have a drink with a friend outside and you go inside to the sofa, you also bring the lamp – almost as part of the conversation."
"Obviously, this type of product exists – there are 1,000s of portable lamps," he continued.
"But funny enough, when I look at all of the designs, they are quite specific and you feel that this must be an outdoor lamp, or only a dining table lamp, or a restaurant lamp, etc."
As with the transforming lamp, Pott created the form of the portable lamp through a prototyping process by assembling objects in his studio.
"I was simply building collages," explained Pott. "Actually, this lamp was a petri dish, laboratory glass and a Christmas ball – all three glass elements."
"I didn't know it was going to be a lamp, because I was just building compositions, but the Christmas bowl on top made it a lamp because it's such a spherical, geometrical archetype," he continued.
"And then the first thing I did after I glued it together was hold it in my hand like a can of soda and walk around with it."
While the initial model was all glass, each of the three geometric shapes of the finished product was made from a different material.
The main tubular element was made from powder-coated metal, the base is plastic and the sphere at the top was made from coloured glass, which Pott believes is impressive given the lamp retails for £19.
"The cylinder is made from rough powder-coated metal, so it gives a really nice firm grip and also a tactile sensation," said Pott.
"And you would think that the top would be plastic, because it's such a cheap lamp, but it's actually blown coloured glass. Because the handle is metal and the sphere is glass, it is quality, it is proper materials and well-made. So I'm honestly very proud of it."
The lamp has been produced in three colours – red, blue and green, all chosen by Pott for their playful potential.
"It's characteristic of the companion that moves with you, very bright, joyful, optimistic, as a colourful object," said Pott.
"Colour is such a normal baseline, almost in terms of attraction, playfulness, joy, and that's also specifically why I didn't want to have a beige or a grey or a neutral lamp, but something that resonates with playful joy."
According to Pott, the combination of the scale, colours and materials means that the lamp has an "unpretentious" feel that makes it suitable for many settings.
"When a lamp is very thin and elegant in brass and fancy metals, it becomes pretentious, but I think here, because of the materials – glass, metal and some plastic, along with the colours, it becomes way more universal and unpretentious, and therefore more playful and open in suggestion of function."
The full range of pieces in IKEA's 10th PS Collection, which, along with Pott's light, includes an inflatable chair, will be revealed later today.
The photography is courtesy of IKEA.
The post Lex Pott creates "universal and unpretentious" portable lamps for IKEA appeared first on Dezeen.
