Comparative Report - Lighting Design by Ingvild Funderud Bjørnstad

LOUIS POULSEN LE KLINT CASPER MADSEN

COMPARATIVE REPORT

By: Ingvild Funderud Bjørnstad Module DES5014 Date: 22.01.16

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CONTENTS Introduction

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Poul Henningsen’s ”Artichoke”

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Casper Madsen’s ”Flacopendant2”

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Aurélien Barbry’s ”Caché”

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Comparison

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Conclusion

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Reference list

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FINDING THE PERFECT PRODUCT ...............................................

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Finding the best products on the market of design is quite a challenge. With several categories to choose from, and even more products within those categories, certain precautions must be taken. Aspects like functionality, style, price and sustainability are all things to consider when searching for the perfect product. Lighting is one of the categories within the design market that show great diversity amongst the products produced, and Danish designers have come up with some of the most delicate lighting products. Their minimalist expressions and high functionality have made them profoundly popular all over the world. This report will cover information on three different pendant lights, all produced by Danish brands. The three lamps are as follow, the “Artichoke” designed by Poul Henningsen, “Flacopendant2” by Mads Carlsen, and “Caché” by Aurélien Barbry. In the end there will be a conclusion about which product meets the requirements of its target group, and hence is announced as the ”best” out of the three.

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Poul Henningsen

Introduction

AurĂŠlien Barbry

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Casper Madsen

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100% Glare Free

POUL HENNINGSEN’S ARTICHOKE The Classic Poul Henningsen’s “Artichoke” is a classic within the design world. Designed in 1958 for Langelinie Pavilion restaurant in Copenhagen, it is still in production today with very few alterations. It is today distributed by Louis Poulsen. Henningsen wanted to make lamps that reduced the amount of glare to a minimum. As he was designing the Artichoke, Henningsen was spesifically passionate about achieving the same mood as the oil lamps found in homes in the early 1900s. With electrical lights, some of the liveliness and charm disappears, and the challenge is rather to mould and manipulate the light to make it less sharp and harsh on the eyes. By researching different materials, reflections, colours and angles, Henningsen came up with a design consisting of 72 metal flakes put together in a pattern of 12 circular, descending rows. (How to design a light, 2010) Considering this lamp is a much sought after classic, one should assume the price is quite high. And it is. The “Artichoke” lamp is available in several sizes and in different materials, but the prices range from 4520£, to 7890£ for the biggest versions. If you would like to buy the anniversary glass version, you will have to pay up to a staggering 16000£. (Louispoulsen.com, n.d.)

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Louis Poulsen 4520-16000£ 7

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Seeing as the prices are so high, and the sizes range from big to bigger, it is only natural to believe that the target audience is not the common man. But to be remembered, the â&#x20AC;?Artichokeâ&#x20AC;? lamp was designed upon request from a restaurant in the 50s, and therefore the target group is still likely to consist of restaurants, hotels and other big, high-end venues. It is rather unlikely that people with little interest in design would be willing to pay this much for a lamp, but design enthusiasts who have the money can also be placed in the target group. When it comes to materials and durability, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Artichokeâ&#x20AC;? lamp scores high. The lamp is available in copper, bushed steel, and white painted steel, as well as a newer anniversary version made of glass. Visually, it looks robust, heavy and stable, and as far as life span goes, the first one ever made still hangs in the Langlinie Pavilion restaurant in Copenhagen. (Louispoulsen.com, n.d.)

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The copper version creates a warmer atmosphere

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CASPER MADSEN’S FLACOPENDANT2 The environmental friendly “Flacopendant2” is designed by the Danish DJ and designer, Casper Madsen, and consists of a series of paper-thin strips of birch or ash veneer. Completely hand crafted, made with only recyclable materials, ”Flacopendant2” is highly valued for its environmental friendly aspect. That being said, the aesthetic appearance is also something to notice and appreciate. The wood is cut out in delicate strips of light, flexible wood, then sculpted into a circular pattern. The lamp consists of approximately 36 wooden layers that all overlap each other in a way that allows the light to escape between the different positioning of wood. By arranging the strips of wood in this particular order, Madsen is avoiding the light shining directly at the surroundings, but rather scatter within the lamp itself, only letting through a soft light. Similar to Poul Henningsen, Madsen uses this technique to avoid glare. Although, Madsen has left a space in the bottom of the lampshade open, for the light to flow out, thus creating a source of lighting potentially optimal to light up a dinner table, like a subtle spotlight.

......................... Casper Madsen 346£

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The price of this unique lamp is set at 346£, which is an acceptable price compared to what you get: a fully functional, beautifully crafted lampshade. When it comes to durability, there’s nothing that contradicts this product from having a long life span; if well tended to. Still, the lamp looks far more fragile than other products in its category, and it would seem that it would break more easily than others. On the subject of environmental friendliness, “Flacopendant2” scores as high as it can. The lampshade is 100% recyclable, making it a highly valuable product. (Flacodesign.dk, n.d.)

100% recyclable

AURÉLIEN BARBRY’S CACHÉ Clean and stylish “Caché pendant x-large” is designed by the French industrial designer Aurélien Barbry, for Danish Le Klint, known for their origami lamp shades. “Caché” is made of steel, brass and a folded piece of a special, long lasting type of paper. This pendant lamp is one of a series of five, available in the colours black and grey. The pendant is 25 cm high and 55 cm in diameter, making it small enough to suit most homes, but at the same time big enough to give a significant impression.

Le Klint 478£

This pendant light’s smooth surface combined with the intricately folded skirt creates an interesting contrast. The matt top layer of the steel subtly transits to the inward folded paper and the simplicity of it makes it seem almost obvious that these materials should be combined. As with every other Le Klint lamp, the paper part on the “Caché” lamp is hand-made, bringing in an extra factor of quality. (Leklint.com, n.d.)

Fits perfectly in modern surroundings

Hand folded paper

Even though the designer is French, he appears to be inspired by Scandinavian design, with clean surfaces, subtle colours and a minimalist style. The sturdy top frame of steel is steady and durable. The paper part of the lamp does not exactly strengthen the product physically, and is what would serve as a negative when it comes to durability. Aesthetically on the other hand, it serves as a most interesting and elegant detail, and adds a sense of exclusiveness to the product. “Caché” is available for roughly 478£, which on the design market is quite an acceptable price. What you would not get for your money is a green product with possibilities of recirculation. That being said, what you do get is a beautifully designed product that probably could last a lifetime. (Leklint.com, n.d.)

THE COMPARISON All of these three pendant lights are successful products, worthy of appreciation and praise. All of them are made by Danish manufacturers, and have a similar quality of aestheticism. Although, there are some differences in expression, eco friendliness, price and durability. When it comes to durability there is no question which one of the lamps scores the highest; the “Artichoke”. Even though Carlsen’s “Flacopendant2” is well produced and has the potential to last for a long time, it is easy to see that it is much more fragile than the other lamps. “Caché” has the advantage of a strong steel frame, and although you can only imagine that it will last for a long time too, one cannot overlook the fact that paper will not last as long as steel or metal. Overall, it is much more likely that a product made entirely out of metal will be the winner in the durability category. Proofing this theory is the original Artichoke lamp, still hanging in its original home after 58 years. In the category of aestheticism all of the products are satisfactory, but their looks still differ. The “Artichoke” has very strong and conspicuous visual features, whereas “Caché” has a calmer appearance, where the details are the most interesting. “Flacopendant2” also has a much more understated expression, still, it is similar to the “Artichoke” lamp because of the pattern created with the material, forming an interesting and almost mesmerizing dynamic.

The original lamps in Langelinie Pavilion restaurant in Copenhagen 19

..................................... Both “Caché” and “Flacopendant2” are within the same price range. They are both affordable compared to the “Artichoke”, and you get quite a lot of value for your money. “Artichoke” on the other hand, is extremely expensive, and can only be afforded by a few individuals, and as previously mentioned, companies, restaurants and corporate office spaces. One can argue that the price should be this high just because it is a classic piece and a big part of lighting design’s history. Actually, it almost appears to be a piece of art as well as a design object.

Out of the three, the “Artichoke” is the only one with a very obvious target market, as it was designed for a specific client. Therefore, it is easy to measure whether or not it meets the requirements of its market, which it does. The target market for “Flacopendant2” is most likely working people interested in craftsmanship and green products. The ”Caché” lamp’s target market is approximately the same as the “Flacopendant2”’s although the green aspect is not as important. The most environmental friendly of the three is without a doubt Madsen’s “Flacopendant2”, considering it is made exclusively out of eco friendly materials. Even though its durability might not live up to the “Artichoke”’s and the “Caché”’s, it is still the only one that has the possibility to be completely recycled.

Visible craftsmanship in both products

CONCLUSION These three pendant lights all have characteristics that make them noteworthy, and they have strengths in different categories. Still, some essential differences separate the three. One of them is price. The“Artichoke” is ridiculously expensive, even for its assigned target market. There is a reason why the price is so high, and it is not only because it supposedly is worth it, but also because people are willing to buy it. It would seem that its popularity only transcends, and that the price is no obstacle. “Flacopendant2” is somewhat weaker than the other two aesthetically. Its natural wooden appearance is beautiful in itself, but it is much less striking than “Artichoke” and “Caché”. The positioning of the wooden strips is clever and well designed, but it simply lacks the refinement and exclusive feeling the two others have. Even though it is the most environmentally friendly out of the three, and still should be considered as a good product, ”Flacopendant2” does not live up to the standard of the other two pendant lights. Therefore “Flacopendant2” will get the third place in this little competition between the pendants.

Because of the fact that “Artichoke” is such a well-known and established product, one could easily draw the conclusion that it is the most successful. The real question is if it lives up to its target market’s requirements or not. When it comes to aesthetic, durability and quality of design it scores highest of all. But even though it is a classic piece, the price makes it falter somewhat. “Caché” is an elegant, sleek product deserving of appreciation. Although both “Caché” and “Artichoke” both have a strong visual expression, the first mentioned is a bit more minimal than the latter. They both seem to be significantly durable, but lack the green aspect that “Flacopendant2” has. “Artichoke” meets its target market splendidly, and so does “Caché”. The only thing that draws “Artichoke” down is, as said, its price tag, which makes Aurélien Barbry’s “Caché” the most successful product according to its target group. But just barely. After all, it all comes down to what kind of personal preferences you have, and what you value the most in a product.

REFERENCE LIST Design Museum, (2010). How to design a light. London: Conran Octopus Ltd Watson-Smyth, K. (2011) The Secret History of: The PH Artichoke [online] Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/property/interiors/the-secret-history-of-the-ph-artichoke-2271190.html [Accessed 19.01.16] Flacodesign.dk (n.d.) Home. [online] Available at: http://flacodesign.dk/ [Accessed 21.01.16] Flacodesign webshop (2016) Flacodesign. [online] Available at: http://flacodesign.bigcartel.com/products [21.01.2016] Torp, A. (2012) Ugens ting: Flaco. [online] Available at: http://bungalow5.dk/ugens-ting-flaco/ [Accessed 21.01.2016] Wikipedia.org (2013) Le Klint (virksomhed). [online] Available at: https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Klint_(virksomhed) [Accessed 18.01.16] Leklint.com (n.d.) Products, Caché. [online] Available at: http://www.leklint.com/en-GB/Products/Categories-CACHE.aspx [Accessed 20.01.16] Leklint.com (n.d.) Caché pendant grey x-large. [online] Available at: http://www.leklint.com/en-GB/Products/Show-Product/Categories-CACHE/CACHE-PENDANT-GREY-X-LARGE.aspx?Product=PROD805 [Accessed 21.01.16] Leklint.com (n.d.) Aurélien Barbry. [online] Available at: http://www.leklint.com/en-GB/Designers/Designere-Aurelien-Barbry.aspx [Accessed 21.01.16] Louispoulsen.com (n.d.) PH Artichoke. [online] Available at: http://www.louispoulsen.com/int/products/indoor/pendants/ph-artichoke/c-24/c1422/p-55590 [Accessed 21.01.16]

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