Buddy Table Light

Press Kit

Unique Properties

Buddy is a playful, Scandinavian influenced 3D printed task light for the dynamic worker. Its rounded, subtly tapered silhouette gives it a friendly stance and will help the user just like a 'buddy' would, featuring a moving head with dimmable light to focus down on a specific task, or to beam up to provide ambient light - making it a space saving choice for an office, living room or more.

Dimensions & Packaging

Overall Width 114mm x Depth 203mm x Height 330mm
Footprint Width 101 x Depth 101mm
Weight 1.59kg
8.5W E26 LED Bulb, 850 Lumens, Soft white
Dimmable switch on-cord. 100-120V US 2-prong plug

Tags

3D Printed, Sustainable, Light, Lamp, PLA, Companion, Working from home, Desk Light

Production Technology

Buddy is made by Gantri. They use FDM 3D printing technology to manufacture lights using Gantri Plant Polymers - a unique form of PLA, derived from sugar crops and then hand finish with water based marine paints, all in California. This gives luxury, made to order products that are attainable for the consumer but also sustainable to create and safer for the environment. The pivoting head was a key detail from Mona Sharma, resulting in a new component which is now a stock part for future designers to use on the Gantri platform, opening up their offering.

Design Challenge

To keep the design minimal but characterful, sketching, modelling and prototyping was needed for clarity. The moving head was key, resulting in a new a stock part for future designers to use on the Gantri platform, changing 3D printing from a prototyping tool to a commercial manufacturing method. The design has no overhangs, easing material use and time in production. The design is parametrically designed, so can be easily adapted for the future, lowering costs to production and the environment.

Project Duration

The project began in April 2018 and finished in August 2019, in between Cambridge, UK and San Fransisco, USA. It began production in August 2019 in San Leandro, USA.

Operation Flow

It features a cylindrical body topped with an adjustable, dimmable head that can be angled up to provide ambient light or tilted down to keep the focus on your work.

Buddy is designed for the office or study, but also makes a smart, space-saving choice for the bedside table or living room.

The fact that it is very accommodating in terms of adjustability and brightness, as well as it being fully functional, sustainable due to mainland shipping and production techniques, whilst also defying 3D printing norms, shows that it is a great product that meets moral, aesthetic, sustainable and practical values all in one prooduct.

Research

Methods included market, trends research, primary and secondary material investigation, scale models and test 3D prints, to, see what is currently available, understand user needs, know the limits of FDM 3D printing and know scale and proportions of the design and usability. Data collection was in the form of notes, photos, sketches and measurements. Continuous 3D printing for testing ensured real life information, resulting a new stock part for future designers, pushing 3D printing boundaries.

Inspiration

To create a functional light that helps the dynamic worker to focus on specific tasks, such that the design has a moving head. This adds to Gantri's current portfolio which upon introduction focused heavily on 'static' designs. It's inspired by bold shapes and forms found in the Memphis design style, and the clean, minimal forms found in Scandinavian culture. I wanted to create a companion for 'thinking' spaces, so quirky, playful cues in abstract photography and in nature gave it character.

Colors of Buddy Table Light

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