Bloom: Revitalizing Handcraft through Digital Design

Lead Designers Kevin Brown

Entry Description

This project explores the intersection of traditional handcraft techniques and modern digital design tools. The project employs an experimental methodology which is meant to reimagine how a designer might use traditional craft in modern design. The goal of this design methodology is to delve into material exploration, process experimentation, and advanced digital design tools to create abstractions of traditional craft. The designer is then tasked with using these abstractions as the basis for developing an innovative product that is deeply entrenched in the heritage of traditional craft.

The outcome of this exploration was the Bloom lamp, an innovative fixture inspired by the traditional art of decorative knot tying, specifically drawing inspiration from the Valknop Knot. The lamp itself consists of two main sections, a “woven” diffuser atop of a five legged base. The woven diffuser consists of five bent plastic “petal” modules intricately woven into the legs of the lamp base.

Bloom was not only created to be a visually unique and functionally innovative lamp but also sets a precedent for the future of traditional crafts. Ultimately, this project reimagines tradition, crafting a future where the threads of heritage are interwoven with the digital fabric of innovation, creating a tapestry that honors the past while embracing the endless possibilities of the future.

Sustainability Approach

During the design and development of the Bloom lamp sustainability was a key imperative. From a material standpoint, the lamp is made from recycled aluminum base components, and PLA (Polylactic Acid) diffusers. Recycling aluminum requires significantly less energy compared to producing it from raw materials. PLA is a bioplastic made from renewable sources such as corn starch or sugarcane. Unlike traditional plastics derived from fossil fuels, PLA is biodegradable under the right conditions. The lamp also utilizes energy efficient COB LED strips to provide illumination to each of the five lighting modules. Keeping repairability in mind, each of the lighting modules within the fixture are designed to be easily replaceable by the end user if any issues arise during the product's lifetime. Lastly, this project demonstrates a sustainable way to preserve heritage crafts through modern design.