Bronze Lighting Products and Fixtures Design · 2013
Prometheus ILight Pendant Light
by Ionut Sur
- A' Design Award 2013 Bronze Winner in Lighting Products and Fixtures Design
- Awarded April 15, 2013
- CLIENT: Ionut Sur
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 20,631
- Verification code A3528258CA · Verify this award
About Prometheus ILight Pendant Light
The project captures the moment in which Prometheus stole knowledge from the Gods so he can share it with mankind. It is designed to serves as a protective shell. The light from the sphere is warm because it is only a fraction. The cube represents the source, the Gods themselves and is fitted with a strip of LEDs, generating cold light, the boundary between the two levels of existence and perception.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The project is an interactive pendant light that captures the moment in which Prometheus stole knowledge from the Gods so he can share it with mankind.
It is designed using two basic geometrical shapes: the sphere and the cube.
-The sphere represents Prometheus light, the knowledge, it serves as a protective shell, releasing it only when the light is turned on.
The exterior is covered with wood veneer representing the view/projection of mankind, the first step in understanding.
The interior is covered with gold foil representing the complexity and true nature of knowledge. The light from the sphere is warm because it is only a fraction.
-The cube represents the source, the Gods themselves and is fitted with a strip of LEDs, generating cold light, pure light.
The light from the LEDs also represents the boundary between the two levels of existence/perception. - Dimensions & Packaging
- 'Sphere: 60 cm diameter x 37.08 cm segment height
Cube: 14 cm x 14 cm x 14 cm - Tags
- light, interactive, knowledge, prometheus, pendant light
- Production Technology
- - The 'sphere is 60 cm in diameter and deviated using the Golden Ratio, resulting a 37.08 cm in high segment. The position of the segment in relation to the sphere is also generated using the same ratio. The segment is then divided in 5 separate parts that open once the light is turned on and stay open until the light is turned off.
- The motion is generated using a spring return actuator, used in ventilation and air conditioning systems. 6 sec. Open / 2.5 sec. Close.
- The actuator is connected directly to a master spur gear that turns 5 pinions with a ratio of 3/1. The actuator starts at 0° and is limited, throw the master gear at 8.33° using a 3 point contact with the steel cable supports.
- The ceiling cup is a black acrylic cube; it is constructed using a ratio of 7/30 in relation to the sphere. It is fitted with a strip of LEDs and also houses: a 24 VAC transformer; a 24 VAC to 12 VDC Converter and a led potentiometer circuit.
- The base material used is acrylic with thickness raging from 2 mm to 8 mm, assembled using adhesive welding.
The exterior of the sphere is covered with 0.9 mm Wenge veneer.
The interior is covered with 24K gold foil that acts as insulation from the heat generated by the light bulb. - Design Challenge
- The challenge in this design was finding a reliable and simple system to power the motion of the segments. The system required needed to be maintenance-free (no batteries, switches, sensors); simple and compact; reduced weight; to have a fluent motion and to be able to close the segments without the use of electrical power.
- Project Duration
- This project is not available yet in true physical form. A working prototype will be available in the coming month.
- Operation Flow
- The project uses an actuator and spur gears to open the 5 segments once the light switch is turned on. When the power is turned off the spring incorporated in the actuator closes the segments without the use of electrical power.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by Greek Mythology and the desire to create a unique and interactive project that would reflect the idea/concept of light, knowledge and mathematics.
Colors of Prometheus ILight Pendant Light
Design Interview about Prometheus ILight Pendant Light
The main focus was to design a light that is unique, that is close as possible to being alive. A light that is complex both in the story and construction, but also simple and clean.
The main goal is to reach production.
One year, including the working prototype.
The project was born form my desire to create an interactive light that would reflect the idea of light, knowledge and mathematics.
I am very interested in finding a company that would produce the design and also in maintain my involvement in the refining of the project for customer use, especially because this design is only the first in a series of five interactive lights that I plan in designing.
I enjoy industrial design very much, especially light design because I can combine my experience as a woodworker and as a designer. Lighting design allows me to play with different materials and fully express an idea in an artistic way.
The name was chosen during the first phases of design, and the rest of the project evolved from there. From the start my goal was to design a project that reflects the idea of light as knowledge and the myth of Prometheus is the beast way in doing so.
Paper, pen, compass, carpenter's square, 3D modeling software, 2D software, plaster (for the mold), sandpaper, acrylic laser cutter, vacuum forming press, adhesive welding, arc welder, belt sander, power combitool, soldering station, epoxy, etc.
The project is entirely designed by me.
Laser cutting machines play a crucial role as well as 3D and 2D modeling software.
A big influence in choosing a direction was the book: “How Round Is Your Circle?” Where Engineering and Mathematics Meet by John Bryant and Chris Sangwin.
Firstly was finding “the right shape” that would best convey the message. Also a big challenge in this design was finding a reliable and simple system to power the motion of the segments. The system required needed to be an existing one, maintenance-free; simple and compact; reduced weight; to have a fluent motion and to be able to close the segments without the use of electrical power.
It was more a confirmation of my belief that no matter how difficult a project appears at the beginning, every problem has its own solution, you only have to work hard enough.
For more information on the working prototype please visit: http://surionut.wix.com/prometheus-ilight
Grand Interview about Prometheus ILight Pendant Light
The story of Prometheus and more exactly the actual moment the knowledge was given to mankind is what started the hole project. The entire purpose of the Pendant Light is too capture and convey the transfer of knowledge, the differences in perception form the 2 halves, the changes in consciousness that occurred.
It is important to signal the differences between the 2 worlds in order to mark the actual moment, the interaction and transfer. With and without knowledge are 2 opposite positions to the extreme.
The aesthetic of the project was entirely generated using a pocket calculator. Not a single sketch, only a starting sphere and a diameter.
That was the most difficult part, finding a system that can operate without batteries, limit switches, sensors etc. The main problem with a dynamic pendant light is that you have a switch that simply cuts the power when off. The pendent light can do what ever when the power is on, but once you flip the switch off the power is gone. The spring return actuator is perfect for this job because it uses electrical power to open the pendant and also to charge a spring and when you have no power it simply releases the stored energy in the spring.
The 2 materials represent the 2 worlds, the wood: a earthly existence. The gold: a divine existence. You can't get some thing more earthly than wood and more divine than gold.
No influence in particular. It is not a matter of influencing any thing, just capturing a crucial moment in the evolution of the human conscious.
I wanted to create a dynamic design because it presented a real challenge, there are not that many moving pendant lights. It is difficult enough to design something simple yet complex, but is exponentially more difficult to design some thing dynamic and clean.
That was a challenge because the technical part requires space for the moving parts and the aesthetic part requires slim shapes and narrow profiles. The result is always a compromise between the 2.
I don't think in terms of influencing anything, this is not my goal. One thing is certain it is very difficult for me to go back from this point forward in terms of static / dynamic design
The project is designed with manufacturing in mind from the start. Every element is ready for production, no changes needed because I have enough experience in manufacturing too now the importance in designing something ready for production.