Lily is the final product developed from my Minor Project at University. The project itself began as an exploration into the use of flower forms in design and there use in decorative products.
Initial research was conducted into the use of flower forms in design to define a possible direction for the project, finding out what is already in the market and whether their were any areas that remained untouched.
Following this research, I found an untapped market for a commercial moving light aimed at the mid range decorative light sector. Particularly one that mimicked the movement of flowers.
A target market was chosen. The product was going to be aimed at the decorative light markets of Heals, John Lewis and the upper market of Made.com. The light itself would be designed to fit in the social rooms of a young professionals home, mainly the living room and dining room. This way, as with most decorative lights, the user can show family and friends the light as it moves, sparking conversation in the room. The style aimed for was again similar to the styles found on Heals and in John Lewis, Scandinavian/Contemporary.
Following this decision development of the design and the moving of the light were looked into. Bi-metals were a focus for the project originally, due to there ability to bend away from a heat source much like a petal of a flower. However it was found that bulbs didn't get hot enough to make the metal curl away from the heat source. Because of this, other methods of movement had to be researched and tested.
In the end a selection of pulleys was the chosen method of movement, connected to a central motor wired to the same switch as the light itself.
This development resulted in the creation of the Lily, the Blooming Light. The light not only takes the aesthetic form of an asiatic Lily but also mimics the movement of the flower when blooming. This movement affects the amount of light in the room and how the light is distributed, creating a unique lighting pattern and making a rooms lighting adjustable to different uses and situations.
Various color and material options also allow the light to suit the variety of different styles found in the Scandinavian and Contemporary furniture market.
The entire light is operated using a dimmer switch with allows for the bulb itself to be dimmed and the petals of the light to be adjusted. This minimizes the amount of work required of the user and maximizes the adjustability of the product. The piece also could be assembled and disassembled simply through the use of snap buttons and removable electronics. This allows for the piece to be repairable, maximizing its life time, and be stored when not in use.
To continue the product I would look into other flowers that could be mimicked by this product, in terms of blooming and aesthetic. Other types of light could also be explored with the concept such as wall lights or table lights. Unfortunately I wasn't able to build a working electric version of the product, however a hand operated version can be found on the Light Night and Degree Show page's representing the movement of the product.