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Foglia Environment Cleansing Floorlamp by Kevin Chu |
Home > Winners > Design #62757 >Interview |
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FS: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
KC: In 2008 while doing a backpacking trip in Thailand i was camping under a moonlight below a banana plant. During the day when i was shading from the sun i notice how beautiful the sunlight reflects over the leave's fibres. This started to inspire me into designing the lamp by infusing the constant changing tropical floral colors with the geometry of a leaf, thus appropriately naming it Foglia. The design went through many many revisions in geometry, material and finished through the years and in 2016 we started to adapt photocatalysis into the concept as a leaf uses photosynthesis to supply oxygen to the atmosphere while absorbing carbon dioxide which is exactly in tune with our biosynthesis concept to the design. The lamps was always thought of to include the latest Wifi control lighting technology that changes brightness and color all at the ease of a mobile device.
FS: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
KC: Although my firm focuses solely on modern design. I wanted to create a lamp that can suit any interior. The geometry of the lamp not only serves the purpose of aesthetic but acts as a larger surface area to catch light in order to maximize the photocatalytic cleaning process. The introduction of the screen accessories opens up huge possibilities and future corporate customization to the design. It is our idea that accessories are not simply redundant materialistic purchases but you are also buying something that benefits your health and our planet which becomes a great marketable potential. Since the basic structure of the lamp is in stainless steel, the idea of the magnetic securing system for the screens makes the user easily change the look of the lamp into any combination he/she sees fit and if more screens are bought, they can be secured on to any magnetically conductable surfaces that also increases the interior cleansing ability as each of the screens are double side photocatalytic treated.
FS: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
KC: The design is going into final phase of prototyping in Italy and will be launch on the market later this year. It will be on Kickstarter and Indiegogo once its ready. We already have quite an extensive back order to our design as i think it really reflects the "moment of our times" where the product serves far more functions then it costs while also giving so much back to the manufacturing industry and our planet.
FS: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
KC: It started from 2009 with the first prototype and went through many changes until our final market launch later this year. It is long process of learning and adapting to become one of the most environmental and advance commercial light product on the market.
FS: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
KC: I simply decided to pursuit my own inspiration and retain as much creative freedom as possible!!!
FS: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
KC: The lamps is currently produced by my company. We are currently looking for distribution channels/production collaboration. We have been offered collaborative manufacturing from several prospective companies that we are still considering.
FS: What made you design this particular type of work?
KC: I simply decided to pursuit my own inspiration and retain as much creative freedom as possible!!!
FS: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
KC: Yes, my long life collaboration partner and constant muse: my wife as well as the amazing rendering skill of my technical director Mauro Berti. I also did quite extensive market research on the design of the lamp.
FS: Who is the target customer for his design?
KC: I believe anyone who wants an extremely well made, contemporary, beautiful and totally customizable product that also improve your life quality in your own environment as well as our planet. One of the key clientele we are working on is the hospitality industry such as restaurants, hotels or offices.
FS: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
KC: We know for a fact we are the first company in the world that are working on environment cleansing furniture as we already been awarded the world wide patent. I also think it is the first lamp that can change through geometrical customization and the future accessories market for the design is endless. One of the ideas is to display several of these lamps in an open space with an abundance of the screen accessories composed as an architectural enclosure, advertising it as the world cleanest art installation that also constantly working to rejuvenate our planet. Just like leaves in nature itself.
FS: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
KC: Inspired by leaves of nature thus i name it Foglia (meaning leaf in Italian) as i work a lot on the design in Italy.
FS: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
KC: 3D printing, 3D Max, AutoCad, CNC Machining, Laser engraving
FS: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
KC: The illumination geometry can be changed by the user and the illumination also act as a catalyst to clean the environment from bacteria, odours and toxins. Very similar to photosynthesis from nature. Highly customizable screens that can be easily places by users. The most advance APP control lighting system that can be adjustable to 17million colors, mimic natural daylight through photos, voice controllable through Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Finally the more screens one owns the better it is at cleaning your interior and our planet.
FS: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
KC: I work with my technical partner to come up with the photocatalytic technology as well as evolution of the design and manufacturing.
FS: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
KC: Standard photocatalytic treatment that are on the current market need UV light and air to work. But with our patented invention we have expanded the light spectrum to visible light as UV are harmful to humans. During the day Any Light Source and air will start the photocatlysis process and during the night when the light is switched on, the process will continue. It becomes a constant cycle that rejuvenates your environment.
FS: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
KC: We have been working with many universities on photocatalysis research as well as read many papers on the study. One of the upcoming University that will further test our lamp is D'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pesacra in the Abruzzo region of Italy with Doc Giovanni Di Bonaventura, who is the head of microbiology. Please see link: https://en.unich.it/
FS: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
KC: It all comes down to detailing in manufacturing as i am a perfectionist when it comes to product realization and since with this design, since the screens has to be placed on the steel body with magnets, we have to come up with the right magnetic force in order to provide the perfect mix of strength and user ease of operation. The laser cut geometry went through many changes in order to achieve the right balance of aesthetic and surface area. Also the testing of the photocatalysis process is quite extensive and arduous with many finishing of the screens tested so that the treatment can last for a lifetime and never degrade.
FS: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
KC: We always knew we will submit this design to many esteem/global top level competitions as the technology and design is so unique, in order to get to market launch we need as much publicity as possible to gain market share and hopefully recoup our extensive R&D cost and time.
FS: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
KC: I think this lamp lays the foundation to all our current and future concepts that offers air clean technology as well as highly customizable designs. Because i followed through from initial sketch, 3D model making, manufacturing collaboration, scientific research, graphic design, marketing channels and suppliers collaboration. It has made me highly knowledgeable in all the steps when coming to realization of this product. As per usual i am never satisfy with any product even when is market launchable so i am constantly working on updates and improvement on current and future versions. Our photocatalytic technology is also an on going process as scientific research are evolving in leaps all the time.
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
KC: No. Thank you and i hope all the answers are helpful
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A' Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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