The Brief
Design Studio II coursework at IE University — a lighting object built to test how far modularity and reclaimed material could go before either compromised the other.
- What
- A modular table lamp made from recycled plastic and wood.
- Who
- Users who want original, sustainable, customizable ambient lighting.
- Why
- A product that speaks to both usability and sustainability.
- How
- Combining modularity and sustainability.
Research — Materials
Two materials drove the design: CM Plastik, a recycled plastic panel, and wood. Reading each material's own properties shaped what the joints, the shades, and the base were allowed to do.
CM Plastik
- Sturdy
- Resistant
- Flexible
- Smooth
- Waterproof
- Sheer
Wood
- Durable
- Soft
- Structural
- Multi-toned
- Complementary
Materiality
Note: images sourced from the web
Brainstorming
Design elements investigated: interlocking joints, transparency.
Elements
Reference studies of interlocking structure, exposed joinery, and layered transparency — the three qualities the final joint-and-shade system had to carry.
Note: images sourced from the web
Early Object Studies
Concept Development
A lighting element that focuses on the properties of joints, transparency, and interlocking — highlighting modularity, aesthetics, and sustainability. Concept exploration drew on biomimicry research and "emphasis through light" studies, alongside a running set of sketches.
Biomimicry & Light Emphasis
Palm bark, weathered rock, and a skeleton leaf's exposed veins all repeat the same idea: a structural pattern that still lets light move through it. Paired with studies of light projected through cut and layered material, these set the visual language for the shade's surface pattern.
Note: images sourced from the web
Pattern Variations
Four surface patterns were sketched and tested against the plastic's translucency before one was carried into the final shade design.
Pattern language was tested in both Rhino and physical prototype form — a 3D-printed swatch checked how the chosen texture actually scattered light before it was carried to the final shades.
Exploded & Joint Studies
Prototyping & Process
From an initial Rhino model and transparency tests to a first physical prototype — each stage worked through a new fabrication challenge before moving to the next material.
3D Modeling
Before any material was cut, the disc-and-joint geometry was modelled in Rhino to check proportion and how the shades would key into the cross joint. The digital model became the source file for every laser-cut profile that followed.
Cutting & Testing
Laser-cut circles and joint pieces were tested directly on the bed before committing to a full sheet — checking fit, kerf, and how the CM Plastik's speckled fill caught the light at the cut edge.
Gluing the Base
The cross-joint base was glued and clamped by hand — the piece that every disc and every wooden square would eventually key into.
First Wooden Prototype
An early unfinished prototype, assembled dry, confirmed the interlocking geometry before any wood was sanded or varnished.
Refined Prototype
A second, cleaner build — tighter joints, sanded edges, a proper figure-eight silhouette — built to confirm the final proportions before moving to the finished plastic-and-wood version.
Materials & Cost
Priced per lamp, materials only — excluding time and labor.
CM Plastik Panel
1m × 1m × 1cm sheet
Plywood Panel
120cm × 60cm × 2cm sheet
From Prototype to ReLume
What Changed
After the initial render and first full execution, a round of refinements turned the prototype into ReLume: an additional circle added on top to block direct light, rounded edges on the wooden squares for a softer visual read, a 3D-printed lightbulb holder for stability, and a darker varnish on the wood to ground the piece against the plastic's pale speckle.
Outcome
