Twist.
While Twist has the silhouette of a traditional pendant lamp, it was designed with the intention of altering quality of light with a simple, physical action. The rotation of a discrete, wooden knob causes the form to swell or deflate, controlling the amount of light allowed to escape.
See more at www.LeahKSAmick.com/Twist
The silhouette of a traditional pendant light hangs down from a round, wooden dome. A sparse array of thin, white strips curve and bend to outline an open volume at the end of a brushed aluminum rod. A warm light fills the form and pours through the open spaces. A small wooden knob caps the end and solicits an interaction.
As the handle is turned, each delicate strip twists and tightens around a central axis, perfectly synchronized. They begin to squeeze together and as what was once the broadest point closes, the light is wrung out of the object, dimming the room. With the simple twist of the wrist as the spaces close and the warm glow darkens, the revolved body is completely inverted and closed into the form of an hourglass.
If it were the light of a candle, one would fear it smothered out, but with a twist in the opposing direction, the form swells and expands as if inhaling. Dilating, the spaces between the strips expand, allowing the light to once again escape and fill the room. Such a slight interaction causing an unexpected and drastic metamorphosis challenges perceptions and awareness; that simply turning a knob can effectively stoke or smother the glow.
Materials.
The lamp's shade is made from strips of thin polypropylene, ideal for its flexibility, translucency, and durability, while the canopy and handle are turned from ash. The structure as well as decorative elements throughout the piece are constructed from aluminum for its light weight. A touch of color is added with a teal thread which holds the plastic strips in place.
Design process.
Many rounds of models and prototypes were developed and explored in search of the right mechanism to manipulate the intesity of light along with experimentation with a variety of materials ranging from paper to vinyl window blinds. Although not every iteration and mechanism was successful, every step in the process was invaluable.
