Gold Lighting Products and Fixtures Design · 2021
Apex Cordless Lamp
by Peter Ellis and Gabriel Tam
- A' Design Award 2021 Gold Winner in Lighting Products and Fixtures Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: NEOZ Lighting
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 52,152
- Verification code 020472FC5D · Verify this award
About Apex Cordless Lamp
The Apex cordless table lamp has been designed to provide a glare-free downlight and soft glow on the internal metallic cone, resulting in a warm ambient task light for hospitality or residential use. Created to be used as the central source of illumination on any table, the battery-powered and compact design facilitate flexibility in table settings and ease of cleaning. Sustainability is a big part of NEOZ's design ethos, as such the CNC metal body is assembled with only mechanical fixings, thus promoting self-maintenance, upgrade, and recycling by the end-user.
Peter Ellis and Gabriel Tam's Apex Cordless Lamp, recipient of distinguished recognition in lighting design, exemplifies the contemporary elevation of functional objects into realms of sculptural contemplation. Emerging from a design philosophy that honors both technical innovation and aesthetic refinement, this cordless illumination device demonstrates how battery-powered lighting technology can achieve the material sophistication previously reserved for hardwired fixtures. The composition presented here situates the lamp within a carefully orchestrated domestic tableau that suggests the design's intended context: refined residential or hospitality environments where portable illumination serves both practical and atmospheric purposes. The designers appear to have drawn upon modernist principles of geometric reduction while incorporating warmth through the considered selection of brushed brass, a material carrying associations with both historical craftsmanship and contemporary luxury. The internal conical element, with its precisely machined concentric grooves, transforms the functional necessity of light diffusion into an opportunity for optical poetry, creating radiating patterns that suggest celestial bodies or meditative mandalas. The transparent cylindrical housing allows this internal mechanism to remain visible, celebrating rather than concealing the means of illumination in a gesture toward material honesty characteristic of thoughtful contemporary design. Positioned against the dramatic natural patterning of veined marble, the lamp enters into dialogue with organic irregularity, its geometric certainty providing counterpoint to stone formed over millennia. The accompanying dried botanical arrangement, wrapped simply in burlap, suggests the designers' sensitivity to contexts where their work might reside alongside natural elements and handcrafted objects. One might contemplate how the warm amber glow emanating from within creates not merely illumination but atmosphere, transforming any surface into a site of intimate gathering and quiet reflection.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Focused on maximizing output efficiency, the Apex provides a glare-free soft downlight on its internal cone, resulting in warm ambient task light for hospitality or residential use. Created to be used as the central light source at a restaurant table, the cordless design and compact size facilitate flexibility in table settings and ease of sanitizing, especially during Covid. Easy to hold and with only mechanical fittings, the lamp is easy to repair, improving its durability and sustainability.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The Apex is available in either solid brass or anodised aluminium in 6 colourways. The lamp has a dimension of 208mm x 80mm with an Ingress Protection rating of IP52.
The lamp is fitted with our proprietary V4.5 cordless lamp control unit, utilizing a bespoke 1W 2600K 94CRI LED disc. It is powered by a Japanese made Panasonic Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery with a capacity of 2900mAh and can achieve over 10 hours of operating time on the highest brightness setting providing 100 lumens of illumination. - Tags
- Lighting, table lamp, cordless lamp, portable lamp, wireless lamp, battery lamp, restaurant lighting
- Production Technology
- The body of the lamp is precision-milled from solid brass or aluminium alloy and mechanically joined via a clear acrylic machined tube to an internal injection-moulded form. The lamp has only mechanical fixings and is therefore simple to repair, upgrade, or recycle. In the event a part replacement is required, the lamp can be easily disassembled without any tools by the user to ensure product longevity, a key consideration for our hospitality clients.
- Design Challenge
- The challenge was to create a compact, functional and beautiful portable lamp that can withstand everyday handling in a busy restaurant environment. Using our original cordless lamp as the inspiration, we retain its pure geometric quality and distinctive enclosed illuminated cone while improving the durability and sustainability of the lamp. The unique diffuser design artfully controls the light distribution. This is especially critical given the close proximity of the user to the table lamp and any unwanted glare can be a real issue.
- Project Duration
- The conceptual stage of the design began in November 2017 in Sydney Australia.
The manufacturing of the product commenced in June 2020.
The product was launched in December 2020. - Operation Flow
- The Apex features a simple 3-step touch switch operation. Our Single Lamp Charger can recharge or power the Apex directly using mains power. Simply rotate the lamp on the dock to control the brightness. We offer a range of recharging and storage platforms for up to 48 lamps for our commercial hospitality users. For ease of operation, the lamp will automatically turn off when it returns to the recharging dock.
- Research
- As part of our development process, we conducted online surveys and consultation sessions with our distribution partners, lighting professionals and existing clients to gain further insight into their functional requirements and aesthetic preferences. From this, we were able to determine the light output and product robustness were their primary interests.
- Inspiration
- NEOZ is one of the pioneers in cordless lighting with the introduction of the Magill cordless table lamp in 1995. To celebrate its 25-year anniversary, our team designed the Apex, a high-quality sustainable lamp that pays tribute to the original Magill. We kept its pure geometric quality but also created a compact and exceptionally robust product that is tactile to handle, is simple to recharge, and provides a useful glare-free downlight for tablescapes.
- Image Credits
- Photography by Jackie Chan
Videography by Moby Siddique - Patents
- Australia - 201916925
EUIPO - 007801824-0001, 007801824-0002, 007801824-0003
China (CNIPA) - 202030187761.9
Colors of Apex Cordless Lamp
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Award-Winning Cordless Lighting Solutions
We design and manufacture premium cordless table lamps that combine elegant aesthetics with exceptional functionality. Our sustainable, repairable lighting solutions feature long battery life, glare-free illumination, and robust construction ideal for hospitality and residential settings.
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