A lamp designed and created by Eric Rosen

Inspiration:

I set out to create a lamp where

it isn’t immediately apparent

that it is in fact a lamp. A secret

lamp if you will. A magic lamp.

I scoured the internet for lamp

designs and, based on what I

found, I came up with a unique

design that is exactly that, a

secret lamp. A lamp to surprise

and delight the unexpecting.

Sketches:

These were some of the early

sketch ideas I had for a magic

hidden lamp.

Sketches:

Once I decided on the final form, I

then focused on the pattern design

that would compliment my lamp. I

wanted a pattern that was complex

yet would highlight the uniqueness of

this lamp. It also had to be able to

carry the light uniformly. I also

thought about the idea of having a

different pattern on each side of the

lamp, but ultimately decided that

uniformity was going to look the best.

Prototype:

I began the journey to create a

magic lamp by creating a prototype

out of foam core. This step was to

insure that the idea was sound and

also to give a three dimensional

platform from which to build upon.

After building a box out of foam core

I transferred a pattern to the interior

and carefully carved that pattern out

of the foam core. In adding a light

source the pattern comes through

much stronger through the thinner

areas. This was exactly what I

hopped to accomplish with my lamp.

Second prototype:

I then proceeded to build a

second prototype out of wood to

get a better sense of how

everything would fit together.

Solidworks/

Toolpath:

After designing the lamp in

Solidworks I exported the files to

Shopbot and created a toolpath for

the CNC machine.

Construction:

To build the lamp I entered the

Solidworks designs into the Shopbot

to be cut out on the CNC machine.

This allowed me to play with various

different patterns before deciding on

the final pattern I wished to go ahead

with.

Initial issues:

Because my lamp was a completely

closed system I was having trouble

with heat. The heat could not escape

so it was affecting the veneer. To

countermand this I created a push

top mechanism where the top of the

lamp can be opened or closed . This

technique still allowed my lamp to

maintain the hidden mystery I was

seeking.

Interior:

This is a picture of the

finished lamp from the

inside.

Hidden switch:

Because this lamp was created to be

a mystery, a big giant switch would

not work for me, so I set out to find a

mechanism that would be hidden. In

my search I came across this touch

switch. It works by your body’s

resonance which triggers a switch. I

inserted a metal switch flush with the

lamps body so that only those that

know of the secret switch can

activate it.

Three Settings:

Open or closed:

Size:

5”X13 ¾‘”

Materials:

Poplar wood

Red Oak Veneer

Standard light fixture parts

Touch switch

Spring loaded magnetic

cabinet latch

Screws

Glue

Bill of materials:

Total cost $41.81

Material Amount Cost

Poplar Wood 66” (6 board feet) 3.19b/f= $17.55

Quartered Red Oak Veneer 61” $8.70

Touch dimmer 1 $5.87

Double touch latch 2 $4.21

Screws 11 @.07= $0.77

Glue 1 bottle $4.71

Alternative design:

Unlimited possibilities for “What

Lamp” design. Possible markets

for the “What Lamp” include

museum stores, boutiques and

customizable online ordering.

Customers could have a

selection of various designs to

choose from or could upload

designs to have custom made.

Eric Rosen

DINODESIGN.WEEBLY.COM