Synopses & Reviews
The Series: Design plays a crucial role in today's culture, both as a fundamental component of lifestyle and a vital mode of creative practice. But who are the authors of the things that surround us? What drives the thinking behind the development of new products? This series will explore the nature of current design practice, from the designer-maker to the architects of digital environments. The first title: Brilliant will take a critical and informed look at world of lighting, built around interviews with designers and commentaries on selected products and projects. It features a range of internationally renowned designers from Ron Arad to Karim Rashid. Covering products from the unique to the mass produced, it also charts crossovers in design practice, incorporating textiles, fashion, and ceramics as well as product design and new technological developments. Light is one the key factors in any design, it affects our use of space, ambiance, and even state of mind. The technological possibilities offered by contemporary lighting have made it a fertile area of experimentation and innovation in design. New materials that pulse and glow, alternative means of power conduction that negate the need for wires, heat resistant fabrics, and "cool" light sources all offer new opportunities to designers. Others challenge the normative uses and forms of artificial light - lighting becomes something we can sit on, sleep under, or something that we can wear. This book introduces some of the most innovative names in contemporary lighting and discusses with them the significance of light in the designed environment.
About the Author
Jane Pavitt is the University of Brighton Senior Research Fellow in Product Design at the V&A. She curated Brilliant, the V&A's first-ever lighting exhibition.