Platinum Lighting Products and Fixtures Design · 2020
Poise Adjustable Table Lamp
by Dabi Robert
- A' Design Award 2020 Platinum Winner in Lighting Products and Fixtures Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Unform
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 761,590
- Verification code 0E48429706 · Verify this award
About Poise Adjustable Table Lamp
The acrobatic appearance of Poise, a table lamp designed by Robert Dabi of unform.studio shifts between static & dynamic and a big or small posture. Depending on the proportion between its' illuminated ring and the arm holding it, an intersecting or tangent line to the circle occurs. When placed on a higher shelf, the ring could overhang the shelf; or by tilting the ring, it could touch a surrounding wall. The intention of this adjustability is to get the owner creatively involved and play with the light source in proportion to other objects surrounding it.
Within the tradition of twentieth and twenty-first century lighting design, where the luminaire has evolved from mere functional necessity to sculptural presence, Poise Adjustable Table Lamp by Dabi Robert represents a compelling meditation on balance, geometry, and the poetics of illumination. The work engages with a rich heritage of designers who have explored the expressive potential of the circle as both form and light source, suggesting awareness of historical precedents while asserting a distinctly contemporary vocabulary through its precise material execution and restrained formal language. The technical achievement evident in the seamless integration of LED illumination within the slender ring profile demonstrates sophisticated understanding of both engineering constraints and aesthetic imperatives, creating an object where technology becomes invisible in service of luminous presence. Compositionally, the design establishes dynamic equilibrium through the interplay of curved and linear elements, the perfect circle interrupted yet supported by its diagonal armature in a relationship that suggests both tension and resolution, movement arrested yet perpetually potential. The chromatic restraint, limiting the palette to variations of white light against dark metallic structure, allows the fundamental geometric dialogue to command attention without chromatic distraction, while simultaneously ensuring versatile integration within diverse interior contexts. Thematically, the work appears to explore ideas of balance in multiple registers, the physical balance required for adjustability, the visual balance between circle and line, and perhaps a broader meditation on equilibrium as both aesthetic and philosophical value. The title itself, Poise, suggests this multivalent engagement with balance, grace, and composed readiness. Viewers might consider how this object transforms the act of illumination into spatial composition, and how its adjustable nature invites ongoing dialogue between user, light, and environment.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- A glowing circle that freely levitates around a line. By changing the position, POISE can have a dynamic or static appeal. POISE has three swivel joints, which allows full flexibility. The heavy T-base serves as counterweight to the very slim and light arm & ring, allowing the lamp to always remain balanced in poise.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Light specs: LED, 3000K, 1500 lumen, 15 W
T-base and joints: brass
Arm: aluminium, diameter of 10 mm
Ring: aluminum, 6 x 6 mm
Cover: milky polycarbonate
Cable: with PET sleeve
Surface: powder coated in matte black (or other colors)
Switch: Customizable (plugged between lamp and socket). For example: dimmer or Zigbee smart home controller (compatible with Phillips Hue and Alexa).
Dimensions: L 15 x W 60 x H 70-110 cm - Tags
- light, ring, poise, unform, table, lamp, desk, lighting
- Production Technology
- The lamp manufactured by myself. The T-shaped base is made of brass which contains a custom made rotary joint with spring. This should on the one hand ensure that it is strong enough to balance the ring even when it's leaned far out, and on the other hand prevent the joint from getting loose over time. A switch is placed somewhere between lamp & socket with options for smart & dim controls, so that the way of controlling the lamp is future proof.
- Design Challenge
- I've been researching, designing & prototyping lighting objects for the last 2-3 years now, just because I became very enthusiastic about this subject. To me, lighting isn't something that is just there. I want to use it, alter it, observe it, interact with it. That's why I intuitively always try to design lighting objects that are not only interesting to look at, but also make you want to play with them.
- Project Duration
- This project is part of a series of lighting objects. Completing this particular lamp took about 2-3 months. It was supposed to be exhibited at the Light & Building, including the Trend Forum for Trends of 20/21. Unfortunately the Young Talent area was cancelled due to cost-cutting measures related to the Coronavirus, which affected my whole participation at the event.
- Operation Flow
- After placing the lamp on an even surface, the ring can be grabbed and moved by hand. It can be turned around the joint axis by about 320 degrees. The arm holding the ring can be tilted to the left and right, as well as turned around its' axis by 320 degrees. This allows all kinds of positions: folded in, upwards, leaned out to the left & right, with a static or dynamic appeal. When the lamp is for example placed on a higher shelf, it can even be moved further down to overhang the shelf.
- Research
- I noticed that the perception of a lamp is very different when the light source itself, as in single LEDs or light bulbs, are visible to the naked eye. For example, one common trend was to use naked bulbs in lamps. A relatively small light source results in hard shadows and glaring. I think many people don't deliberately notice how uncomfortable a light source can be. A visible source can easily result in glaring, at the same time a diffuse light can look inconsiderable. That's why I tried to find ways of "showing but not showing" the direct source of light.
In the preceding 2-3 years before designing Poise, I've spent a lot of time researching and testing methods of converting arrays of single LEDs into thin lines using lenticular or micro prism filters. At the same time, I tried to find the best way of incorporating very thin but completely spotless lines of LED light into lamp designs. - Inspiration
- Minimal, contemporary and flexible are often used terms in my design language. My lamp concepts involve a certain amount of interaction in order to modify the way light is perceived. This should encourage curiosity and human interaction with the light source, instead of just putting it somewhere to rest. I strive for a deeper relationship to the interior product.
- Image Credits
- All image credits by myself.
Colors of Poise Adjustable Table Lamp
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Design Interview about Poise Adjustable Table Lamp
My concepts involve a certain amount of interaction in order to modify the way light is perceived. This should encourage curiosity and interaction with the lamp, instead of just putting it somewhere to rest. I strive for a deeper relationship with the product.
There are many possibilities to adjust the lamp, so one of the tings I focused on was that the overall appearance of the lamp is coherent in every position.
I would like to produce and sell this lamp. I am currently checking if that could be done under an own brand.
It took about 3 months, alongside other projects.
I pursued my own inspiration because I am very enthusiastic about designing lighting products for about 3 years now. I'm constantly researching and have far more ideas than I have time to prototype them. This lamp is only one of many, I also built other prototypes.
It's not yet being produced, I'm just looking for possibilities. I could imagine both ways, either producing it under an own brand or licensing it to a company. For both options I need help from a partner.
In the preceding time before designing Poise, I did a lot of researching and testing about methods for converting arrays of single LEDs into thin spotless shapes and patterns using lenticular or micro prism filters. At the same time, I experimented with different thin LED light profiles, so it originated in this pursue of working with slim lines of spotless light.
Yes there are many design(er)s that inspire me. For example the designs of Arnout Meijer kept me occupied a lot, I love the design language of Pietro Russo, Mathieu Lehanneur, Carlo Bernardini, Morgane Tschiember, and many more.
I think the production costs of a smaller quantity of this lamp might be comparatively high, so it wouldn't be something for a very broad audience. I don't want it to be super expensive either. I can imagine it to be used as a decorative element in design oriented environments like homes or shops to complement with an unobscured, straightforward styling.
The glowing ring and the straight line holding it create a dynamic or static appeal depending on the position to each other. It encourages curiosity and playfulness, instead of just putting the lamp somewhere to rest. The ring can be moved by hand and be placed in any position around a certain radius to the base. The ring can be rotated around the joint axis, the arm holding the ring can be tilted, as well as turned around its' axis.
The word "poise" has meanings like: maintaining in a balanced position, floating, equilibrium, to remain in a posture. I thought it was the perfect name because the lamp can change its' posture just like a body, and switch between a sweeping, almost float-like composure to a very stable one.
I designed some parts in CAD to have a better planning for manually manufacturing the parts in the workshop afterwards.
The ability to move the glowing circle around quite freely.
No, I worked on it alone.
Digitalisation transforms every market it touches very fast. This also goes for lamps with smart home technology, I think it is evolving even faster than the lifespan of a LED based lamp is. Therefore I would build it into the lamp, but attach it externally, for example by using a zigbee controller between power socket and the lamp. The lamp itself is "dumb" and only contains the LEDs. So if you change your smart home system in 5-10 years, you can simply change the controller instead of having to change the whole lamp.
No, I didn't really make any specific research apart from getting inspired. What I paid attention to is that the light source is always comfortable and doesn't glare. A directly visible source can easily result in glaring, at the same time a diffuse light can look inconsiderable. That's why I tried to find ways of "showing but not showing" the direct source of light.
For example the hinges, most of all the bottom one because it has to hold the weight when the pole and ring are moved far to the side. I didn't really know how to construct them because I had no experience with things like that. I also had to figure out how long and heavy the base has to be in order to work as a counterweight.
I didn't want to sit on the concept and wait until it will eventually become mass produced. I experienced earlier, that it can be an advantage to publish ideas even if they are in an early stage. There is always a risk of ideas being stolen, but at the same time it can also be a chance.
Since consider myself still being pretty new in this field of light, I learn a lot from all lighting projects I do, such as this one. From this one I learned how to bend aluminium profiles, or how to built a T shaped metal construction for the base for example.
In case anybody reads this and wants to get in touch with me, I'd be delighted. I have a couple of other designs which may be interesting but could need some help.