Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Last week’s post was more than a New Year’s greeting, it was just one step in the process of design inspiration.

What initially caught our imagination was the structure of an insect’s compound eye. We marveled at images of the radiant surfaces formed by the arrangement of thousands of tiny hexagonal lenses.

However, it was what lay beneath that surface layer that grew our inspiration to the point we felt compelled to begin design exploration. Cross-sections of the eye revealed crystalline cones and long tubular photoreceptors. We wondered how a design that mimicked these natural structures would transmit light.

We set out exploring, quickly creating 3-dimensional sketches and prototyping them using our 3D printers. We investigated hexagonal arrangements of tubes and cones with varying depths, materials, and translucency. We studied our models in front of different types of light.

We found a material that transmitted light with pleasing diffusion, and a cell design that revealed both hot and cool gradients of luminance through its conical forms.

Using this foundation, we explored an undulating arrangement that added another dimension, varying the light quality along its waving surface—from soft, broad circles to bright, precise points.

This design is featured in our 2022 New Year greeting.

We will continue exploring this form and brainstorming its potential applications for lighting in the coming year.