Hat Lanp

Press Kit

Unique Properties

This product looks like a quiet man in a hat. A field is created by simulating a beam of light through the window to illuminate the partial space. When people are in a low mood or dull, it positively affects subconscious and emotions. Users can interact with the product and change the top disc to experience various sunlight moments. The round top and square base symbolize the sky and the earth respectively, echoing the cosmology of "the sky is round and the earth is square" in Chinese culture.

Dimensions & Packaging

W:250mm*D:250mm*H:1500. The main materials are wood, metal, light bulbs, wires, optical materials, acrylic, etc.

Tags

light installations, interactive installations, natural landscapes, emotions, optics, experiments, window silhouettes, sunlight, light art, product design

Production Technology

I conducted lots of hands-on experiments and intuitive thinking on the reflection and refraction of light, the properties of different materials, and the internal structure of the installation, and finally made unexpected beauty happen. I calculated the most suitable angle and relative distance between the optical material and the light source and lamp holder, thus creating a new light structure, which makes the light and the shadow subtle and natural and has the color of sunshine.

Design Challenge

Light and shadow should be able to appear clearly and naturally on the facade of the space. Whether it is a bright day or a dark evening, the light and shadow will not be deformed or overlapped, so as to adapt to various light environments and different facade materials. There will be no discomfort of strong light, people will only feel the gentle and subtle charm of light and shadow. The shape is pure and full of details, highlighting the existence of light and shadow itself.

Research

Shadow is the other side of light, and the installation can magnify the beautiful side of sunlight silhouette, thus helping people to enjoy the moment and gain strength. I've been researching design with spiritual power and believe that products that affect people's minds can drive positive behaviors and ultimately affect society and the environment. The project has undergone trial and error, intuitive hands-on, prototyping like CNC carving, and applied a design approach as phenomenology.

Inspiration

One afternoon, as I drank coffee, I caught a glimpse of a tiny sunset on the wall. This shimmer created a connection between me and nature, brought me into peace and contemplation, and healed me. Beautiful things are always fleeting. I hope to share with users a unique perspective to observe and understand the world through design, to preserve the good things in life, and to give people spiritual power inadvertently. Even if you are in a room without windows, you can still see a bigger world.

Project Duration

The project started in January 2020 in China and finished in January 2022.

Operation Flow

The user can replace the round piece on the top, which is embedded with customized optical materials. This product shines sunlight silhouettes upon space through the characteristics of its light reflection, namely three moments of sunshine: noon (white sunlight), sunset (yellow sunlight), dusk (orange sunlight). The lamp shape is sculptural, without superfluous details, and hints at its function. Whenever the lights are turned on, light and shadow make people integrate with the imagined world.

Patents

In the application process of patent.
Copyrights belong to Zhen Wang, Yi Zhang, 2022.

Image Credits

Image #1: Photographer Zhen Wang, Yi Zhang, Hat Lamp, 2022.
Image #2: Photographer Zhen Wang, Yi Zhang, Hat Lamp, 2022.
Image #3: Photographer Zhen Wang, Yi Zhang, Hat Lamp, 2022.
Image #4: Photographer Zhen Wang, Yi Zhang, Hat Lamp, 2022.
Image #5: Photographer Zhen Wang, Yi Zhang, Hat Lamp, 2022.