Objects Come Alive Sfeerverlichtingssystemen by Fengsheng Cai

Objects Come Alive Sfeerverlichtingssystemen by Fengsheng Cai is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award in Zilver in Verlichtingsproducten en Armatuurontwerp Competition Category.

ZilverVerlichting· 2023

Objects Come Alive Sfeerverlichtingssystemen

by Fengsheng Cai

Client: Musashino Art University

A' Design Award in Zilver Winner in Verlichting Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #146602

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Objects Come Alive Sfeerverlichtingssystemen

De armaturen zijn ontworpen met een onderzoeksfocus op biofiel ontwerp en kinesthetische empathie. De beweging van de armaturen bootst de groeigewoonten, bewegingspatronen en ritmes van de planten na, waardoor de armaturen herkenbaarder worden. Door naar de richting van het product te kijken, worden angst, spanning, vermoeidheid en andere emoties verlicht. De armaturen veranderen afhankelijk van de omgeving (temperatuur, wind), waardoor ze toegankelijker zijn voor dagelijks gebruik en tegelijkertijd sfeer creëren.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Zilver

Objects Come Alive Sfeerverlichtingssystemen is winnaar van de A' Design Award in Zilver, een buitengewoon prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan topontwerpen die prachtig en indrukwekkend zijn. Winnaars in Zilver zijn enorm briljante en uiterst creatieve werken die de uitmuntende expertise, het talent en de scherpzinnigheid van hun ontwerpers illustreren. Objects Come Alive Sfeerverlichtingssystemen wordt verwacht een prachtig paradepaardje te zijn dat opmerkelijk professioneel en diepgaand innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in Zilver heeft gewonnen, is een hoogst opmerkelijke, bewonderde uitvinding die baat en de grenzen van kunst, wetenschap, ontwerp en technologie verlegt. Objects Come Alive Sfeerverlichtingssystemen is een zeer benijde creatie die verlangens oproept, positieve gevoelens brengt en verbazing en verwondering doet ontvlammen.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The luminaires are designed with a research focus on Biophilic design and kinesthetic empathy. The movement of the luminaires mimics the growth habits, movement patterns and rhythms of the plants, making the luminaires more relatable. Viewing the direction of the product relieves anxiety, tension, fatigue and other emotions. The luminaires change according to the environment (temperature, wind), making them more accessible for everyday use while creating a sense of atmosphere.
Dimensions & Packaging: Floor Lamp of Wheat (rising H250mm X W780mm X D405mm, falling H475mm X W600mm X D405mm); Table Lamp of Dandelion (shrinking H545mm X W350mm X D350mm, swelling H545mm X W350mm X D350mm), each component has been designed to be sophisticated, stylish, and modern without much visual burden.
Tags: Lighting, Lighting System, Interior Design, Biophilic Design, Bio-likeness, Alive, Movement, kinesthetic Empathy
Production Technology: Firstly, we have recreated the miniature silent motor and electronic components for the mechanical design to form a compact and stable light structure. And we combined this with programmable materials, thus ensuring the overall sensitivity and fluidity of the movement. Secondly, we analysed the rhythm of the activity of natural plants. We programmed the luminaire to move at a rhythm like the plants. We also use self-developed sensors to capture changes in the environment constantly.
Design Challenge: The challenge regarding its overall structure and programming. 1. to design robust, quiet and compact hardware and to use programming techniques to enable the luminaire to adapt to the changing environment at any given moment and perform rhythmic movements like a plant. 2. to make the product exist like a living creature that can read environmental changes and simultaneously become a new interface to inform people of impending dangers such as earthquakes.
Research: This research began to address how to bring products closer to people, to feel the interaction with them naturally and to have a positive psychological effect on humans. In this research, we found that "signs of life and intelligence" were often found in artefacts of autonomous movement. Still, there had been little attempt or study into the psychological effects of "Bio-likeness" in artefacts on people. We then analysed and systematised the abstract concept of "Bio-likeness' into products that give companionship to evoke hidden feelings. From this, we found that the images produced by the movement of natural objects have a positive psychological impact on humans. Therefore, in this design, I designed with a research focus on biophilic design and kinesthetic empathy, and through statistical analysis, found that this interaction by mimicking the movement of plants and changing according to the environment has a positive impact on the aesthetic and sensory feelings of the observer and can effectively relieve people's anxiety, tension, fatigue and other emotions.
Inspiration: Inspired by poetry, the beauty of movement is created by the plants described in the haiku as they change in response to their environment. In such an interactive way, the luminaire is considered alive, giving a sense of companionship. The luminaires mimic the forms (wheat grown with the sunlight, dandelions fluttering in the wind), the way they move and their rhythm. The move immerses people in nature, eases their mood, and increases creativity and well-being.
Project Duration: The project started in 2021, and after multiple prototypes and refinements, it was completed in 2022. The first version was exhibited at the international luxury exhibition at the Shanghai exhibition centre in 2021. All development was done in Tokyo.
Operation Flow: The work combines programmable and natural materials to simulate as realistically as possible the effects of plants, such as the swaying of the sheaves of wheat and the softness of the dandelions and lamps depending on the environment (temperature, wind) or the behaviour of the person (body temperature when touched, blowing). The interactions are 1. the light of the wheat ears increases and decreases with the ambient temperature, and 2. the light of the dandelion contracts and expands with the breeze in the room.
Patents: Patented By Fengsheng Cai
Team Members: Creative Director [Fengsheng Cai]
Image Credits: Fengsheng Cai, 2022.