What a difference almost two years make. Time is strangely elongated and twisted – and it may just be me, but the way that Covid has concertinaed events is making it hard to remember when things happened and when they are didn’t. I mean isn’t it the World Cup next year? And we did just have the European Cup, right? A football paradise for some (me), a nightmare for others.
Then there is the annual [d]arc room and awards night. This is an event that I can relate to. The way [d]arc is curated allows smaller companies to show their products on an equal footing with the giants, and because [d]arc room presents these as part of the London Design Festival), opening [d]arc to a wider audience and giving it a larger and more rounded feel, there also seems to be an effort to exhibit in places that have a creative edge, or at least as close as you can get for a trade fair .
Artemide’s stand was a mixture of some old classics and new additions, we can sometimes forget the depth of a company and where they come from. New products on show were the ‘Gople’ a pill shaped product that reminded me of something you might find on the set of 60’s cult classic ‘The prisoner’. I can imagine this product sitting in the gardens of a villa or hotel in Greece, South of France or Italy, dotted about the place to give pools of light, and then there was the ‘O’ (no prizes for guessing where the inspiration for its name comes from), but equally interesting from the point of view that it gives a subtle glow whilst blending into the space, without being obtrusive.
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The Gople outdoor is designed by BIG and made in lightweight durable plastic. Derived from the Gople indoor lamp of the same name, it forms part of a family which allow it to be used with a degree of flexibility. As Artemide says: ‘Gople Outdoor can be reused and reinterpreted in multiple spaces and situations, the different versions interpret a common approach to light, that develops close interactions with activities and people.’
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Haberdashery were exhibiting ‘physically for the first time, ‘Flux’, an infinite cascade of light, evoking a sense of calm and wonder‘. The lights can be configured in 3 different compositions, utilising the three different tube lengths of 550mm, 875mm, and 1225 mm, although ‘Flux is designed to be endlessly customisable, incorporating any combination of the 3 standard tube lengths to suit the project’s requirements.’
In a way the product put me in mind of a gently cascading waterfall, as the lights can be dimmed, perfect for those high stairwells and atria, the light effect is random, and effect quite calming.
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iGuzzini showed their Superrail system which, even though it was released in 2020, counts as new for me in a world which has continually been hitting the pause button. I guess you could call it a track for all applications (well, a lot at least) given that it can be used as a recessed, minimal or frame, ceiling and or suspended system. Due to its functionality, it offers a design solution whereby you can offer direct and/or indirect lighting integrated with a ‘Robin’ spotlight, a mini track light from iGuzzini also.
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It was great to see on show a product from The Light Lab that broke the mould and left you thinking of innovative ways you in which you could use it. The world is certainly moving towards – and expecting more from – everyday objects. We are entering an age where you can simply text your washing machine to start the laundry or check in with your smartphone to see if there is any milk left in the refrigerator. The Light Lab was showing for the first time a ‘Tailored Light Panel’ with interactive digital pixel LED. As Chris Burridge (Sales Director) explained ‘We’ve been producing tailored light panels for years but have never really demonstrated them using digital pixel LED to create interactive experiences with sound and video.’
The product reacted and mimicked movement from the surrounding area, but also with an almost super soft lens form, replicated the visual scene in real time. It can be programmed to react with sound, and with your imagination at the helm, can produce visual feedback. At the show graphic equaliser images showed peak & troughs in the manner of a 90’s record deck or Hi Fi. Due to the nature of the product the only way really to view it is via video, so check it out below.
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Although it’s hard to draw any hard conclusions in terms of current trends, (there were a relatively few manufacturers), one recurring theme this year was the answer to my question, ‘Are you exhibiting any new products this year?‘ To which the response was in the main: ‘well, its sort of new as even if we developed it a year ago, no one has really seen it!‘
A great event, not least of all to see so many familiar faces after the past few years of lockdown. A special thanks to Judith Fereday of Camron PR, who not only answered my tongue in cheek comment about there being no coffee on site, but also provided it for all, the day after!
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