Academic Product Design Project
Lighting Design & Physical Prototyping
Concept Development · Rope Structure · Epoxy Resin · Custom Support · Electrical Integration · Physical Prototype
CLIENT
Academic Project
ROLE
Product Design & Prototyping
SCOPE
Lighting Design & Physical Development
PROJECT
Knotlight
DURATION
2015
DELIVERABLES
Concept Development · Prototyping · Custom Support · Rope Structure · Electrical Integration · Physical Prototype
THE PROJECT
Knotlight is an academic lighting-design project developed from an initial exploration of Marcel Wanders’ Knotted Chair and the visual structure of graphene.
The project evolved into a compact wall-mounted lamp based on a woven rope structure, using a hexagonal visual language as a formal reference. The objective was to develop a lightweight, expressive object that could be physically prototyped and adapted through rotation.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
The design was progressively refined through studies of proportion, orientation and attachment. The original square-ended configuration was abandoned in favor of a more open geometry, giving the woven structure greater visual fluidity.
The lamp was designed to rotate through 180°, allowing the lighting direction and appearance of the object to be adjusted. Knotted rope hooks were also explored as an alternative to visible screw fixings, reinforcing the role of rope as both structural and visual language.
PROTOTYPING & PRODUCTION
The physical prototype required the development of a temporary support capable of holding the rope structure in position during weaving and resin curing.
Different support configurations were evaluated before a removable wooden jig was selected. The rope pattern was first tested with string to identify knot positions and tension, then reproduced using the final rope.
Epoxy resin was applied in successive stages to stabilize and strengthen the woven structure. Once cured, the temporary support was removed, the edges were finished and the electrical components were integrated into the final assembly.
PRODUCT IDENTITY
The prototype was given the product name RAFF, derived from the project’s graphene-inspired geometric reference. A dedicated logo was developed to extend the project into product identity and presentation.
FINAL PROTOTYPE
The completed prototype combined the hardened woven rope structure, the custom mounting support and the integrated lighting system into a functional wall lamp.
The final result preserved the irregularity of the handmade weave while maintaining the intended form and allowing the object to be repositioned through its rotating configuration.
