BA Product Design
Matt Wroe
With a methodical approach and a keen attention to detail, I bring an analytical and pragmatic perspective to every project. My engagement with interdisciplinary design drives me to integrate music and science into thoughtful, innovative solutions. Prioritising feasibility, I ensure my design outcomes are practical and ready for realisation.
Physics-led Design: The hands-off approach
This project was first inspired by the work of designer Paul Cocksedge and his use of gravity in his designs. Further research uncovered a whole niche of products designed with physics driving the forms, and so this project serves to classify a new field of design that encapsulates these: Physics-Led Design.
You can think of Physics-Led Design as a "hands-off" approach to design, instead of drawing and designing beautiful forms, designers are instead invited to design a process by which beautiful forms are created, driven by a physics-based interaction of objects and forces.
The Funnel Vase and Funnel Lamp are two examples of objects that can be created based on the same interaction: the mass displacement of sheet material when drawn into a funnel. The vase is made of a porcelain clay, and held in place with a simple hairpin stand that alludes to the confinement of its creation. The funnel lamp instead takes a sheet of Merino wool felt, suspending it from above and allowing it to fold to create an intricate form that takes on the light in unpredictable and unique ways. Both objects are made to order, and make striking centrepieces for any room.
Precipice: on the edge of modern Bauhaus
Precipice is a lamp designed for John Lewis in response to WGSN's prediction of the retro-replay trend, a return to the bold colours and forms that were cornerstones of the Bauhaus movement. I wanted to play with tension too, designing the lamp to look like it may fall over: but in reality, a 6mm steel weight keeps it securely upright, making it BSEN 60598-1 compliant.
The entire body can be manufactured in one step utilising aero-ply bending technology, minimising production cost and enhancing structural integrity all whilst harkening back to the classical material choices of the Bauhaus movement. This is also reflected in the choice of finish: formica, chosen for its tactility, consistent colour finish, and wide variety of colour options. The bent lamination process also allows for another unique feature - its embedded powerflex cable, minimising disruption of the overall form.
The user was considered in a number of ways throughout the process, for example, the lamp is designed to be as simple as possible to take apart for home repairs, and the small side table built into the body gives the lamp secondary purpose, additionally, the light is dimmable, and the temperature adjustable via app control.