A Designer's Deliberations

A Light bulb moment!

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:22:00 +0000

Ready Steady Light 2010.

Light IQ joined in the fun at Rose Bruford College in Kent.

Now in its seventh year, the 'Ready Steady Light' competition has developed into one of the 'must attend' events in the Society of Light and Lighting's busy calendar.

There was no specific theme given to each team, other than to interpret the landscape and use only lighting effects without any props. Each team was allocated a site, a selection of light fittings and three hours to complete an inspirational lighting installation.

The enthusiasm, vision and ingenuity expressed by the teams in adapting the limited equipment at their disposal to achieve their aims was inspiring; creating friendly competition and team spirit.

A tiring, but interesting afternoon and evening was enjoyed by the team at Light IQ.

Ready Steady Light
The Society of Light and Lighting
Rose Burford College

The Lighting Design Awards

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:13:00 +0000

The most prestigious architectural lighting competition in the world, The Lighting Design Awards took place on the evening of March 11th 2010, at the London Hilton, Park Lane, to celebrate the cream of the industry's talent.

Lighting Design professionals gathered together for the annual event to celebrate some of the best project designs and designers in the industry and to see who has inspired the lighting design community over the past year.

There are fifteen categories in total and this year saw the launch of the Restaurants and Hotels category, introduced to reflect the growth in quality and quantity of the hospitality industry. We can all be sure that the future looks bright for Lighting Design.

The ballroom was filled with glorious, sparkly luminaires giving the evening an essence of glamour and excitement with Light IQ committed to enjoying themselves and having a great time.

A great evening was had by all the team!

Andromeda's Fluxus

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:09:00 +0000

Karim Rashid worked with the artist Michela Vanello whose inspiration and creative mind gave shape to the concept of the sculpture. Karim Rashid designed the Knit, with 80,000 individual hand-made glass elements to produce a unique glass sculpture, with an apparently fluid surface that seems to move and flow in the air. Its wave conceals an almost invisible mesh of 5,000 dot-like halogen bulbs that generate capillary lighting.

Technologically advanced objects of art cleverly conceal their mechanisms and connection systems and the intricately knitted mesh design of metal, plastic and glass creates a very modern strong and malleable material. A fabric of energy which covers 646 square feet and flows through points and lines to generate the expression of motion in space.

Andromeda: Fluxus
The White Gallery, Rome, Italy.
Karim Rashid and Michela Vianello

Design your own lamp shade

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:00:00 +0000

Your designs can be stuck onto sticky backed paper. You can use wallpaper, fabrics, photographs and more to create a completely unique and bespoke lampshade to match your home design.

Designing your own lampshade works brilliantly as a pendant lamp shade or a standard floor or table-lamp shade, fitting most standard fittings.

Images shown are just a few examples of the unlimited possibilities that can be made.

Design your own lampshade Kit and instructions on how to get sticking you can be found on.http://www.glow.co.uk/

Agnieszka Fronczak

The Enlightenment

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:57:00 +0000

Light up your library!

Not a heavy book but a 'light' book, this fun, but functional luminaire was shown around the office recently and we all loved it, so did our clients. We all wanted one for our bookcase, but if you have a library you could have several giving the room a warm glow and an ideal light to pin point books you constantly go back to for reference or a good read.

"It is a book that sets you thinking, but does not tell you what to do, it will help you in dark days but other people as well."

By purchasing "The Enlightenment" you will be supporting educational projects by Edukans a charitable organization which will help give a brighter future to many. Edukans believes in education as the most sustainable form of development, so more schools, more teachers, and more books.

A win, win situation, a great lamp for your home and a contribution to charity.

The Enlightenment by Studiomeiboom

The Enlightening Army of the Empire 2008 - Saatchi Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:29:00 +0000

Tushar Joag has exhibited widely and had two solo exhibitions in Mumbai. His present installation at the Saatchi Gallery comprises figures made from electric lamps, wire, Perspex, plastic, brass, steel and wood. The robot style figures are animated by electric lamps and stop lights. Each figure stands approximately 183x49x61 cm creating a very life sized army of sixteen figures.

The robots are crafted to give each one an individual and quirky personality, while each robot appears to stand to attention holding florescent light tubes as possible weapons.

The figures seem to stand loosely to attention, while their individual light configurations illuminate their location and a mass of loosely tangled wires join their feet in a collective, if chaotic troop.

A fascinating installation and well worth a visit.
The Enlightening Army of the Empire 2008 - Tushar Joag
Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York Square, Kings Road, London SW3

Osh Lamp

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:30:00 +0000

Have you ever wanted to use a specific light fitting outdoors or in your bathroom and been told that the IP rating is not high enough?

Hector Finch Design has produced the revolutionary Osh Lamp, an Eco lamp that can be retro fitted to almost any light fitting that needs to be used in a high moisture area; using a mains voltage halogen lamp it has the added advantage of consuming 30% less energy than conventional incandescent lamps.

This simple enclosed lamp holder capsule solves many of the issues associated with IP44 certification and can be fitted to most light fittings. Hector Finch will do the adaption for you, after that it is just a question of changing the lamp when necessary.

Hector Finch Lighting
http://www.hectorfinch.com/

Found

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0000

'Found' Stuart Haygarth's first exhibition at the Haunch of Venison, showcases his ongoing relationship with abandoned objects and his fascination with taxonomy; this is exhibited through a series of new works. Taxonomy - or the scientific practice of classification - may seem less than stimulating but Stuart Haygarth imbues the topic with his trademark self-proclaimed obsession with arbitrary and abandoned objects.

Gathering together seemingly insignificant items he reconfigures his objects of choice to form a synthesised whole. In the process, each piece acquires a new and unexpected meaning. Whether a revolving mirror ball constructed from 350 crushed car wing mirrors or a scrappy series of 'Urchin' chandeliers that are meticulously formed from a cascade of spectacle frames, he never balks from challenging established notions of beauty. Indeed, his approach is as eclectic as it is generous.

New pieces include a lamp stand made of toothpaste-tube caps, and lamps where the base is filled with porcelain figurines.

Practical, pared-down and ecologically sound, Stuart Haygarth's exhibition provides and enticing insight into the creative process of one of London's most intriguing talents.

FOUND

HAUNCH OF VENISON

Open 1st December 2009-30th January 2010

6 Burlington Gardens, London W1S 3ET

(020 7495 5050)

The Essential Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:58:00 +0000

'The Essential Guide'; is an authoritative source of reference on electrical installation safety matters. It is sure to become the 'must have tool' for professional electricians and others having an interest in the safety of electrical installations.

Building on their success with the Technical Manual, January will see the launch of an updated version with a new look and new name. The guide has an intuitive search facility and easy to use interface, giving users quick access to favourite topics and latest updates.

The Guide is available by subscription at www.eschub.org.uk

The Electrical Safety Council

Lynda Moule

Cambridge celebrates 800 years with light

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:32:00 +0000

The University of Cambridge has just celebrated 800 years since its foundation. The 800^th Anniversary has been commemorated with a wide variety of events throughout the year culminating in a spectacular light show, where light focused on the future and the transformative work taking place at Cambridge. Stunning images across the University showcased the breadth of work happening at Cambridge today.

The light show was designed by world-renowned light artist Ross Ashton.

Cambridge University 2009

Wine-lovers beware!

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:59:00 +0000

Wine may taste better and more 'expensive' depending on the ambient lighting of your favourite wine bar, pub or restaurant. Your senses could be tricked into perceiving a wine is nicer if you drink in a room with blue or red ambient lighting rather than green or white lighting. You could also be happy to spend an average of 70p more for the same glass of wine.

German researchers claimed the same bottle of Riesling given in different ambient light settings was perceived as being one and a half times sweeter in red light rather than white or green light and its fruitiness was also more highly rated in red light.

The findings concluded that background ambient lighting influences how we perceive the wine to taste, even though it has no direct effect on the colour of the wine in the glass.

How we respond to light has seen the dynamics of lighting design change in an unprecedented way in all areas of our lives.

Happy New Year - Lighting does make everything appear Rose

Research Dr Daniel Oberfeld-Twistel
Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

BT Tower in London - Olympic Countdown

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:53:00 +0000

BT has installed what is believed to be the highest 360 degree LED information band at the top of the BT tower in London.

The giant 280 square metre LED screen was switched on for the first time on Saturday October 31^st 2009, 1,000 days to the start of the London 2012 Olympic games and will deliver messages and information across London during the event.

Installed by Multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Buro Happold

Agnieszka Fronczak

The Kiss

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:32:00 +0000

Christmas is only a couple of weeks away and the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe has taken on a completely new and wondrous dimension.

Paul Cocksedge has been invited with young and great designers to transform the city of Milan into an open air stage of installations to illuminate squares, avenues, historical parks, monuments and buildings.

The Kiss re-invents the traditional art of kissing under the mistletoe; it consists of a huge LED canopy hanging above a stage from the centre of the dome of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele 11. When a couple kiss under the canopy it sparks a charge that activates a sequence of coloured lights in varying intensity, ultimately forming numbers in the sum of kisses given under the mistletoe.

Paul Cocksedgen Studio
The Kiss - Galleria Vittorio Emanuele 11, Milan

Wishing you all a magical and very happy Christmas.

Lynda Moule

Carbon 451 lamp

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:26:00 +0000

American artist/designer Marcus Tremonto has created the Carbon 451 Lamp.

When Patrick Brillet of The Apartment Gallery, London, asked Marcus Tremonto to design a light out of Carbon Fiber, he decided to make a work that would utilize all the properties of the material beloved of supercar manufacturers; its lightness and strength were able to support the complexity of curves while being able to support itself.

The light comes from electroluminescent electronic paper that is no thicker than 0.5mm, which works by placing phosphor crystals between two electrically conductive layers which, once given 240 volts of power spurs the phosphor into lighting up creating…

more than a light fixture, this chandelier like light sculpture is a stylish masterpiece of form and shape, which utilizes new techniques and manufacturing processes.

An inspirational work of art if you are lucky enough to have a very high ceiling space!

Marcus Tremonto - The Apartment Gallery

Lynda Moule

The Galaxy dress - a shower of coloured starlight

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:08:00 +0000

'Statement piece' is probably an understatment when looking at the 'Galaxy dress', designed by two London based designers, Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz who run the interactive clothing company CuteCircuit.

The dress is embroidered with 4,000 hand-applied Swarovski crystals that range in colour from clear to bright pink and 24,000 full colour LEDs which measure only 2mm by 2mm. The circuits are extra thin, flexible and hand embroidered on a layer of silk which enables the fabric to move with fluidity. To diffuse the LED light, four layers of silk chiffon are placed over a pleated silk organza crinoline skirt which hides the tiny batteries so that they are not visible or uncomfortable.

The dress is beautifully made and looks dazzling even when the LEDs are switched off.

Exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

Photo: J.B. Spector/the Museum of Science and Industry

Lynda Moule

15,500 LEDs sparkle

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:29:00 +0000

A gigantic chandelier produced by Munich-based firm Faustig measures 10m in diameter, and shines from a height of 15.5m. It is fitted with 15,500 LEDs.

Gold-plated brass, coloured glass elements and Swarovski crystals adorn this luminaire that weighs 12 tons. Inside, the chandelier is accessed via stairs to facilitate maintenance work.

Not only a beautiful work of art but an amazing feat of design and engineering.

Agnieszka Fronczak

A lamp or shower?

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:22:00 +0000

A shower experience with ethereal sensory delights The changing colours stimulate the mind and body to regain natural balance; the red colour for an energising shower, green for balancing and blue for relaxing. All eventualities are covered!

The showerhead is a transparent cylinder made up of 144 LED lights carefully positioned to create a cascade of coloured water and a diffuser at the top gives out a gentle wash of light. Different programs can be selected by a key pad.

The shower lamp 'Sandwich colours' was designed by Architect Gianluigi Landoni for Cristina Rubinetterie.

Lynda Moule

Supporting St John's Ambulance

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:35:00 +0000

Light IQ are happy to support Abby and Peter in their Marathon run next year. The countdown has begun, not only to becoming marathon runners in five months, but Abby and Peter are getting married next December. We all wish them lots of luck in completing the marathon and great happiness on their wedding day.

Lynda Moule

The Geo Bulb

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:30:00 +0000

The Geo Bulb is the first high light output, direct replacement LED lamp, it uses just 7.5 Watts of power to produce as much light as a 60-Watt incandescent lamp and lasts for up to ten years of daily use.

This Led bulb does not contain hazardous mercury or lead and uses half the energy of a compact fluorescent. This is a fairly costly replacement, but over time there will be an enormous saving on energy and time. The GeoBulb is available on http://www.ccrane.com/.

Agnieszka Fronczak

Sea of CD's

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:10:00 +0000

Bruce Munro's CD Sea will be installed at Long Knoll Field in Wiltshire where his prototype of the Field of Light was first seen.

Bruce Munro conceived the project as an inland sea, with the light of the sun glinting off the CDs during the day and at night reflections of the silvery moon will create a dazzling and ethereal display of light and shadows, just as it would do on the sea. A public footpath intersects the field where walkers can admire the installation coming to life either by day or night. The project will be made with one million discarded CD's laid over ten acres of grass.
Once more Bruce Munro has produced and inspirational and dynamic concept full of life and fun and taking advantage of natural light.

Bruce Munroe

Sea of CD's

Lynda Moule

The Bulb that Lasts 25 Years

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:48:00 +0000

Without making concessions to our love affair with the incandescant lamp Lemnis has introduced the first LED light bulb that can be viewed as a replacement, with the same quality of light and which brightens instantly.

The new bulb costs around £30.00 but saves up to 90 percent energy, compared to an incandescent lamp and up to 50 percent over a traditional compact fluorescent.

With a lifetime of around 25 years, based on four hours of daily operation the lamp works well indoors and outdoors and stays cool when switched on. The 6 watt, replaces up to a 60 watt incandescent lamp and is fully dimmable.

The Pharox fits most regular fittings and contains no mercury making it a very 'green' alternative to the compact fluorescents on the market at present.

The Pharox LED light bulb
Lemnis Lighting

Lynda Moule

The Tulip

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:59:00 +0000

The Tulip table light joins the extensive range of exceptionally beautiful lights in seemingly impossible designs created by Within4Walls. The bouquet collection features flower shaped laser sintered lights which take their shape from organic forms that although unknown feel familiar.

The lights are created by using ultra high-tech Digital manufacturing and are built with successive layers of powder bound by a lazer beam, creating a self supporting structure.

Translating a beautiful object from our visible world into a work of art.

Within4Walls
Bouquet Collection

Young at heart

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:33:00 +0000

Thomes de Lussac caught our eye at 100% Design with his fun and quirky light fittings.

Originally we thought the Bony Pirate wall light and Rocket table light would be wonderful for a boy's bedroom but on reflection we decided we loved the Moonwalk Cosmonauts and would like them for ourselves. They look great individually or walking along shelves in groups.

Thomas has been designing since 1999 and concentrates on a minimalist style. Influenced by the 1930s he finds a lot of his inspiration comes from observing life, the environment and the lines in nature.

The Moonwalk Cosmonaut lamp and Pirate Wall light are made in lacquered steel, cut by lazer and folded, they are available in three colours Orange, White and Black. The rocket ship is made of satin plexiglass with a blown glass nose and comes in orange and violet.

http://www.thomasdelussac.fr/

Susan G Komen for the Cure

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:59:00 +0000

Light IQ are pleased to have sponsored Susan G Komen for the Cure the global leader of the breast cancer movement. Thanks to these events they have become the largest source of non profit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. We congratulate all the competitors for taking part in such a worthwhile event knowing that everything that we do makes a difference.

The Urchin - playful and tactile

noreply@blogger.com (Light IQ) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:08:00 +0000

The Urchin soft light is irresistible, a conversation piece inviting hours of playful interaction. The Urchin will morph through a multitude of forms as it is rotated through and around its own centre with your hands. The elastic movement and shifting organic form are similar to the wonderful sea creatures that flow and undulate under water.

The softlight is part of Molos's innovative award winning collection and will include an undulating overhead canopy called 'cloud soft'. The series is an exploration to provide animate, ambient diffusion for the energy efficient light sources of compact fluorescents and LEDs. Made of flexible, durable honeycomb weave craft paper, the fold-up lanterns embody Molo's versatile design philosophy and come in a variety of shapes and sizes which work well alone or in groups.

www.molodesign.com