In the summer of 2024, I went to Pratt and studied Industrial Design and Sculpture. The experience blended hands-on making with thoughtful design, and it pushed me to think about objects that are both useful and expressive. For Industrial Design, the final project was to design and build a lamp that looks good and shines well—a piece that could sit on a desk or shelf and feel at home in a real space.
The first step was to get inspired. I started with a simple design sketch to explore ideas and shapes. My goal was to draft a form that is clean and minimal, yet has a subtle twist that would cast interesting light and shadows when illuminated. I kept the sketch loose at first, focusing on silhouette, balance, and how the lamp would sit on a surface.
The next step was to 3D-model the idea. I explored different shapes and experimented with various combinations for assembling the parts. After evaluating balance, grip, and how the pieces would come together, I decided to build the lamp using mortise-and-tenon joints, cut from wood with a laser cutter. This approach gave the lamp a clean, tactile feel and sturdy joinery that matched the minimal, expressive design I was aiming for.
The final lamp turned out to be the standout piece of the project. Crafted from laser-cut wood, it is the smallest of the set but the clearest expression of the approach I was aiming for: clean lines, tactile joinery, and a light that feels honest to its materials. Remarkably, it was assembled without any glue, relying on precisely cut mortise-and-tenon joints to lock everything together. The result is a compact, sturdy lamp with a quiet presence—warm in texture, precise in form, and designed to sit comfortably on a desk or shelf. This piece feels like the culmination of the Pratt process: think, model, and make with intention, letting the material’s natural qualities lead the design decisions.
After the exhibition, my project was designed to be easily disassembled and packed for transport. This wasn’t just about portability; it reflected my mindset: modular, open, and accessible design that could travel beyond the gallery and into everyday life.
