An immersive installation of 100 unique 3D printed lamps

All of the Lights

A unified exhibit of individuality representing a bright future where individuality is celebrated.

QUESTION NO. 100-2014-06

WHAT IF OUR ENVIRONMENTS COULD BE AS UNIQUE AS WE ARE?

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Watch the process from design to installation

Budmen Industries

All of the Lights is a unified exhibit of individuality. It represents a bright future where individuality is celebrated and reflected in environments that are as unique and complex as we are.

Thinking With Our Hands

Early explorations in the form of loose sketches

More pencil sketches of 3D printed lamp concepts

Hand-drawn concepts exploring form and light

Even more sketches of 3D printed lamp concepts

Iterating through ideas with pencil and paper

Hand-Crafted Digital Designs

To bring a personal and human element to each of the designs, we decided to digitally sculpt each one by hand.

As the process unfolded, a variety of form families emerged while the personality of each lamp remained unique. Some were symmetrical and appeared rooted in pure geometry. Some were gestural, feeling like captured motion. Others swirled and stretched into splendid spirals. Some were representational, reminding us of abstract avocados, handsome hats, and timeless toys.

Wireframe render of a lamp design. Spiral shape.

Rendered concept of lamp: narrow at top, wide at bottom

Early Lamp Renders — Computer generated visualizations exploring light and shadow

Rendered concept of lamp: five bands stacked on each other

Stacked forms creating rhythmic patterns

Rendered concept of lamp: vertical swirling channels

Gestural motion captured in digital form

Rendered concept of lamp: lots of individual dimples and ripples

Organic textures and surfaces

Rendered concept of lamp: vertical spirals

Splendid spirals stretching upward

3D printers can make hundreds of the same object but their real strength is in making hundreds of different objects at no extra cost. 3D printing is a shift from a world full of mass manufactured products to one where each item can be a unique reflection of our individuality.

Large Luminous Layers

Layer by layer by layer, a 3D printer creates objects. This process produces surfaces with striations similar to those seen on rock formations and tree bark.

Printing with thick layers produces even more dramatic striations—you can see each individual layer stacking to build the form.

We love this uniquely layered aesthetic. Not only is it a signature of the process, but the object takes on an entirely new character when illuminated.

Close up image of stacked 3d printed layers illuminated

Layered surfaces catching and refracting light

Abstract image of lamp shape in purple hue

Color and form merging in luminous display

Abstract image of lamp facets with strong contrast

Dramatic contrast revealing texture and depth

Perfect Imperfections

What if you intentionally run a 3D printer too fast or too hot?

The speed changes will cause the plastic to skip and an array of randomized holes will appear. The temperature changes will cause different bands of tonality.

We don't consider these inconsistencies to be glitches, they are perfect imperfections—part of the lamp's character. The result is an aesthetic that is simultaneously computational, organic and unique.

3D Printed lamp layers with slight randomized gaps with light peaking through

The Budmens

We don't consider these inconsistencies to be glitches, they are perfect imperfections, part of the lamp's character. The result is an aesthetic that is simultaneously computational, organic and unique.