How might Charles and Ray Eames have approached the growing desire for outdoor living? What if they had access to today’s modern LEDs and compact battery technologies? How might they have handled our challenge to decarbonize and detoxify architectural lighting?

Before finding my new role at Megapixel, this past summer I developed an idea for a beautiful mid-century-modern portable outdoor fixture system inspired by Charles and Ray Eames. I don’t have a manufacturing partner yet, so I decided to take a gamble and submit the concept to the LAMP 2023 Competition for Design Milk.

*** PLEASE VOTE! *** For all my loyal readers of Lucept, you can really help me gain attention in the competition by voting at this link!

Know a manufacturer who might be interested in licensing the design and bringing it to market? Hook me up! Email me: brad [at] koernerdesign.com

The Concept

Let’s bring the timeless elegance of mid-century design paradigms to an innovative application concept: A portable lighting system that accommodates the growing desire for flexible outdoor and indoor living. Let’s continue the Eames’ creative use of formed plywood to create a beautiful fixture with high percentage of natural, biodegradable material content.

The system includes a distinctive tabletop lantern for a warm, sparkling meal. A floorlamp provides a large glowing volume, gracefully shaped to be reminiscent of a firepit and perfect for lounging around after dinner with cocktails in hand.

Modern LED lighting with a unique multi-channel effect mimics the playful dance and golden warmth of candlelight. The tabletop unit has a stacked brass diffuser to provide plenty of light without glare. The floorlamp creates layers of light with a unique double diffuser.

The luxurious, solid feeling of formed plywood. The tactility of knurled brass hardware. The softness of the leather-like handle. The warmth and sparkle of candlelight.

A USB-C wireless charging ring can be used separately or placed in a formed plywood stand. With a tapered centering-ring design, either fixture can be simply dropped onto the charging stand in any orientation. During the cold winter months, the stand and charger are particularly useful for continuous indoor use.

Koerner Design

Koerner Design helps our clients develop innovative new products, experiences and environments.  We are specialized at the intersection of architectural lighting and digital media systems and provide a range of services, including experience design, lighting design, product design and product marketing.

Founder Brad Koerner was previously in the architectural lighting and construction industries, designing award-winning architectural lighting projects as well as innovative new LED lighting products. Koerner Design was founded in Amsterdam in 2018.