Sunset Mood Lamps
Lighting Design
Interior Design
Product Design
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Lighting Design
Interior Design
Product Design
BRIEF
design a series of mood lamps for The Columns Hotel in New Orleans
MATERIAL CONSTRAINTS
custom blown glass lamp shades
VIBE
moody, elegant, timeless, magical, playful
USER
bartenders and bar patrons
PROJECT INCENTIVE
experience with CMF (color, materials, finish) in lighting
THE SPACE
Images courtesy of The Columns Hotel © 2023
Material highlights:
Antique glass and fixtures, brass, crystal, dark wood, velvet, stone, lush greenery
Images courtesy of The Columns Hotel © 2023
IDEATION
Questions First.
Chandlier or table lamp?
One fixture or multiple?
Fixed or adjustable/interactable or stationary?
Who is the user, bar owner or patron?
How can I highlight the glass and optimize its optic possibilities?
Sketches Next.
Learning through process
UNDERSTANDING NEW MATERIALS
I wanted to learn about the material properties of glass, so began practicing glassblowing weekly in the hot shop.
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Photos by Protyasha Pandey
Blowing into optic molds
I came across these optic molds gathering dust in a cabinet.
They produce spectacular optical effects when lit.
COLOR EXPLORATION
I’ve long been obssesed with sunsets, and seem to be chasing their colors for quite awhile.
In a color test of cobalt blue glass, glass morphs from red to pink to violet to indigo in a gorgeous ombre pattern.
Color Deep Dive
Monochromatic gouache experiments of sunset color exploration
This inspired me to curate a selection of colored glass that would individually cast their own unique caustics, and in combination, emulate a gradual sunset across a room.
I worked with gaffer Jocelyne Prince, renowned glass artist and head of RISD’s Glass Department, to design unique shapes utilizing optic molds
Comparing glass colors at sunset with pictures of sunsets I’ve photographed.
LIGHTING TESTS
Finding the right lighting source to optimize the optics of the glass was critical to my process.
Considerations: produce interesting caustics, limit distortion, avoid harsh direct lighting, low bulb profile
To do early lighting tests I thrifted and repurposed lamp parts.
Top Contenders
.5 W LED NIGHT LIGHT
Slightly too dim
2.5 W T6 LED TUBE
Beautiful, soft caustics
Large bulb profile
Harsh Lighting
1 W MINI LED SPOTLIGHT
Low bulb profile
Indirect, discreet lighting
The 1 W Mini Spotlight’s low profile and directional beam made it the best of many I tried.
PROTOTYPING FORM
After interacting with the glass pieces and having a blast producing effects, I wanted to bring that playful experience into the design of the lamp itself.
Existing bar lighting
Early prototypes focused on possible sliding/rotating action.
The designs also need to compliment the low profile of the existing bar lighting.
The designs also need to compliment the low profile of the existing bar lighting.
INTRODUCING: The Columns Hotel Sunset Mood Lamp
NEXT STEPS
Work with local brass business to standardize parts and process
Create bases for multiple color glasses
Stability for the base
Troubleshoot sliding action to make it smoother