Ninglu Zhang · CLIENT: Nzhang Design
Blazer embodies a felt hanging lamp concept that boasts tool-free assembly from a flat felt sheet, offering effortless scalability in mass production while minimizing material waste, thanks to its sleek rectangle design. Drawing inspiration from the sharp lines of a business suit's front cut, accentuated by a vibrant red hue to captivate attention, Blazer's minimalist silhouette guides viewers through a harmonious sequence. Enhanced by black snaps, the design strategically punctuates this fluid narrative, adding intrigue and dimension.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Blazer is a felt hanging lamp that can be assembled completely tool-free from a flat felt sheet and can be easily mass-produced with minimum waste of materials due to its clean rectangle shape. Inspired by the business suit cut on the front, with its bright red color to catch people's eyes, Blazer's simple shape creates a flow and sequence for the viewers to follow, and the black snaps can give the design a highlight and pause the flow.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Dimension:
Flat: 380mm x 1525mm x 5mm (W x D x H)
Assembled: 787mm x 254mm x 432mm (W x D x H) - Tags
- Light fixture, Felt, Lamp, Mass production, easy assemble, Red
- Production Technology
- In the progress of prototyping, many adjustments was made on both the material and position of details. AutoCAD was used to draft out the plan drawing of Blazer, including the felt dimension detail to help later hand cut and the water jet cutting drawing of the customized metal washer.
- Design Challenge
- The fact of mass-producing with limited facilities access is the most challenging part of the design process. During the height of the pandemic in 2020, public crafting studios were largely shuttered or inaccessible, posing significant hurdles to obtaining necessary facilities.
- Project Duration
- The project started in August 2020 in Iowa, USA and finished in December 2020 in Iowa, USA, and was exhibited in Salone del Mobile in June 2022.
- Operation Flow
- To transform the Blazer from flat to functional lamp, the process initiates by laying it flat on a surface, then mimicking the method used for crafting a Mobius ring by grasping both ends of the felt twist and securing them in position using the button.
- Research
- The Blazer project represents applied research focusing on environmentally friendly production practices within both handcrafted and assembly line industries. Data on material waste and pollution created were collected from online resources. Started by making variable paper prototypes, the shape of Blazer minimized the waste of material, and the final selection of material controlled pollution that could be potentially created.
- Inspiration
- Blazer the lamp is inspired by the cut on the neckline area of the blazer cloth. Clean cut and elegant folding on the cloth blazer was once leading the trend of the fashion industry. The meticulous tailoring and attention to detail is very inspiring. It has a significant and interesting historical importance, particularly in the context of fashion and social culture.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Ninglu Zhang, Blazer, 2020. Image #2: Photographer Ninglu Zhang, Blazer, 2020. Image #3: Photographer Ninglu Zhang, Blazer, 2020. Image #4: Photographer Ninglu Zhang, Blazer, 2020. Image #5: Photographer Ninglu Zhang, Blazer, 2020.
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