Milan Design Week 2018: Design students made these lights with Foscarini!

Text by Asih Jenie

At Milan Design Week 2018, ECAL (the University of Art and Design Lausanne) and Italian lighting brand Foscarini presented an exhibition at Palazzo Lita. Titled ECAL + Foscarini, the intimate exhibition showcased 9 lighting objects designed by the second year students of ECAL’s Master of Product Design programme and developed based on a brief from Foscarini.

The students were asked to work on new ideas of portable light and how the product can accompany our movements through space. Foscarini provided counsel throughout the design process, from understanding and reviewing the brief, all the way to troubleshooting and facilitating alternative solutions.

The collaboration has given both the brand and the students a valuable experience. The showcased results are intriguing and we’ve picked our favourites below.

#1 Cocoon by Bastien Chavrier

Cocoon combines silk making tradition and LED technology. Chevrier let the silkworms weave its silk directly onto Cocoon‘s metal rods, which form the lamp’s diffuser.

#2 Ombra by Eva-Maria Beer

This sculptural lamp is a play of volumes and contrast between closed and open surfaces. Ombra can emit light both directly and indirectly, depending on how the lamp is positioned.

#3 Arc by Sebastian Maluska

The Arc comprises two light elements linked by a rubber string that will light up once they are placed on a flat surface or linked together. It can be set and combine to create a garland.

#4 No.16 by Kohei Kojima

It comprises 16 wooden rods held together with rubber strings that cleverly hides all its electrical components. No.16 lights up when the structure is twisted, making it appear like a magic trick.

#5 Pina by Oscar Estrada