Plié Lamp by LAGARD Jean

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DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

LJ : The "Lampe Plié" is a table lamp, sober and pure design. The main idea was to highlight a simple sheet of metal.

DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

LJ : After a lot of research and prototypes, I came to a final design. I realized in my exploration that the light of a lamp could have several interpretations. I have thus improved the design to have several lamps in one: desk lamp, bedside lamp, ambient lamp.

DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?

LJ : I would like to decline this model in several other lamps

DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

LJ : I love to sublimate metal profiles in beautiful objects. Often the metal parts of objects are camouflaged to the detriment of more noble materials.

DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?

LJ : I intend to produce your work myself

DI: What made you design this particular type of work?

LJ : After 10 years of boilermaker work, I have always loved the rigorous side of this trade. It was after I wanted to vary my experiences when going to work in Canada that I worked at Lambert & Fils. This is what I discovered that not only had a technical side, but also a creative side. Since then I have tried to deplore the creative side of metal in my creations.

DI: Who is the target customer for his design?

LJ : For lovers of simple and elegant objects.

DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

LJ : The simplicity and the playful side.

DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

LJ : "Plié" is a French word which means: folded It is indeed the two folds judiciously positioned that make the beauty of this lamp.

DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

LJ : As a first step, manual tools: cardboard... Then once the proportions I like, I tried with different strips of metal. Finally, I transcribed on computer the final prototype.

DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?

LJ : The light is always different, according to how the lamp is positioned

DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?

LJ : I know the work of metal. I am autonomous for design and prototyping.

DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?

LJ : I tried to push the limits of folding. No conventional bending machine can bend this lamp. So I designed my own tooling.

DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?

LJ : I always wanted to keep the design of the final prototype

DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

LJ : No conventional bending machine can bend this lamp. So I designed my own tooling.

DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

LJ : I decided to propose to this contest when I did my research to deposit this model.

DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?

LJ : As the tests progressed, I evolved the manufacture.

DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?

LJ : I am happy to participate in a competition open to all and not reserved for designers.