WELL DESIGNED: LAVA LAMP

The Lava Lamp is a timeless innovative lighting piece that has resonated through generations since its creation in the late 1960s. This piece consists of a glass cylindrical shaped container that is 

usually encompassed by a metal enclosure that withholds an incandescent or halogen bulb that heats up the wax/oil mixture to create a lighting effect that showcases the movement and flow of lava. I feel like this object is so well designed according to Dieter Ram’s aspects of design. The piece is long lasting in an iconic way and was so culturally popular during the seventies and so forth that is ever present amongst today’s pop culture. Also, the fact that it was only created almost 40 years ago adds to its ability to last as a cultural icon. The piece also is just a manipulation of a functional, demanding item that populates our society’s home decor market - the lamp, which adds to its generational sustainability. Also taking an object that is needed pairing it with something that occurs in nature (the flowing/movement of lava) and making it unique stylistically yet sleek and simple so it can appeal to anyone is a brilliant concept. The design of the Lava Lamp is extremely understandable, honest and is as simple as possible. It consists of a plain color scheme that depicts contrast between oil and lava and the product is so straightforward because it is a product that is familiarized amongst our society. It shows how beauty can be created using anything, even a piece of hardware and to me good design is that - creating beauty out of objects that can be functional in an emotional sense and physical sense, which is why this design is so well-created. It hits the consumer on many different levels. It satisfies the visceral, behavioral and reflective aspects of a design - it connects with the consumer on a subconscious emotional level, whether they have the Lava Lamp for decor, fun, entertainment, lighting or etc. Its many uses and timeless design is what makes the Lava Lamp so well designed and that’s why I chose this unique lighting source as my object.

(PHOTOS TO BE POST SOON)