Kipper is a trans designer who designs products for a shifting world.
He’s passionate about emotional and intuitive design & loves to set a mood. ︎
🕶️ Resume 👀️



Sunset Mood Lamps
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.

-
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


Distorted and boneline optics
Slightly too dim

2.5 W T6 LED TUBE



Beautiful, soft caustics
Large bulb profile
Harsh Lighting

1 W MINI LED SPOTLIGHT


Crisp optics
Low bulb profile
Indirect, discreet lighting


Though I like the effects of the 2.5 W T6 Tube, the lighting eminating from the bulb was too bright, and the double filaments added distortion.

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.






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







Connect

Email
kip.reinsmith (at) gmail (dot) com
Instagram
@kipperreinsmith


︎
About

Kipper Thomas Reinsmith designs objects that celebrate unique ways of being in the world. Centering joy as a lead design principle, his work encourages perspective shifts by exploring nontraditional ways of occupying the interior. Before RISD, Kipper worked as a creative director and producer for Square/Block, YouTube, VICE and more. Kipper graduated from New York University with a BFA in film and television production with a focus in documentary. Master of Industrial Design @ RISD ︎ May ‘24