Shine on You Crazy Diode

With the introduction of the commercially viable incandescent bulb in 1879, our ability to control and apply light was forever altered. One hundred and thirty years later, as governments step up lighting regulations and energy concerns fuel the innovation of illumination, lights are undergoing another revolution, and light-emitting diodes are leading the charge.

Both smaller and more durable than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, LEDs—–which forgo interior filaments and photons for semiconductor diodes—–expend less energy as heat than traditional types of lights, consume up to 75 percent less electricity, and last up to 50 times longer than an incandescent bulb—–and almost five times longer than a compact fluorescent light (CFL), according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). In an effort to help consumers better understand the facts and figures, the DOE has developed an easy-to-read, Energy Star–approved Lighting Facts label for LED products that provides specific performance information, focusing on features like light output (measured in lumens) and color accuracy.

The potential of these products extends far beyond energy efficiency and savings. “LED solutions that work well in general illumination situations, like task or accent lighting in your home, are really just coming onto the market now,” explains Mary Beth Gotti, manager at General Electric’s Lighting & Electrical Institute. “But the really intriguing part of LED solutions moving forward is that we’re going to learn how to apply light more effectively than ever before.” As designers begin to experiment with the technology, fixtures employing it will become more fully integrated into our homes—–in risers and stairs for safety and even furniture and furnishings.

Jaime Salm, cofounder of environmentally focused design studio MIO—–and designer of the Trask lamp featured in our lineup—–agrees, and he foresees a radical transformation. ”How we light space, what constitutes a lighting fixture, and the service of light in all aspects of our lives will soon be redefined.” It looks like there’s a bright future for the nascent technology, and it has only just begun to shine.

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  Massaud w083t

  • Made by: Wästberg
  • Price: $552.50-650.00

  A magnetic platform supports this lamp, which spins 360 degrees. An infared switch detects movement, so turning it on and off is as simple as a wave of the hand.

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  Abyss

  • Designed by: Osko & Deichmann
  • Price: $595

  Designed in 1997, the Abyss lamp is a malleable, modular piece made of molded opal polycarbonate.

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  Air

  • Designed by: Jukka Setälä
  • Price: $300

  Using only 9 watts of energy, this lamp will operate for more than five years in continuous use.

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  Brazo

  • Designed by: Pablo Pardo
  • Price: $420-460

  Of aluminum construction, this lamp features a shade that swivels 360 degrees and an arm that tilts 90 degrees. It has a dimmer control, is scratch resistant and is contructed of mostly recyclable materials. It won Best in Show and Best Lighting Design at Neocon 2007. It is also available as a floor lamp.

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  Magnetita

  • Designed by: Denis Santachiara
  • Made by: Studio Italia Design
  • Price: $1,323

  Multiple magnets control the movement of this brushed-aluminum piece, which offers both direct and indirect illumination.

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  w081t2

  • Designed by: Claesson Koivisto Rune
  • Made by: Wästberg
  • Price: $550

  The design inspiration for this 2008 piece came from the precise lighting capabilities of a surgical lamp.

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  Trask Lamp

  • Designed by: Jaime Salm
  • Price: $225

  Trask Lamp takes the efficiency of LED lighting and blends it with flexibility. Manufactured to ship flat, maximize material yield and eliminate cutting waste, the Trask Lamp is a truly eco-centric design. Inviting the user to participate as co-designer, the Trask Lamp redefines the relationship between a product and its user. This lamp functions as a catalyst in establishing a dialogue about the virtues and opportunities in locally made and sustainable products.

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  Tolomeo Classic LED

  • Designed by: Michele de Lucchi, Giancarlo Fassina
  • Price: $580

  Designed in 1987, this cantilevered, polished aluminium piece is fully rotational and is available in four versions, each with an interchangeable support: table base, clamp or desk-fixed.

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  Irvine 082t

  • Designed by: James Irvine
  • Made by: Wästberg
  • Price: $550

  Free of hinges or knobs, this 2008 piece is designed by James Irvine and features three pivot points, all of which can tilt 360 degrees.

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  Jetzt

  • Designed by: Axel Schmid
  • Made by: Ingo Maurer
  • Price: $510

  Jetzt uses the world’s first high voltage LED, so there’s no need for a transformer. To be able to run these without housing and still achieve the safety standard of the German TUV, the LEDs are cast into transparent plastic. This light block is glued to an anodized aluminum structure, that also guarantees a sufficient cooling effect. The structure is lasered out of a rectangular sheet of metal, so there’s no waste in material. Three bending operations define the shape.

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  Link

  • Designed by: Peter Stathis
  • Price: $380

  Inspired by the classic pantograph task lamp, Link is designed with a dual-purposed shade-handle. It is adjustable to 360 degrees.

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  Stem Ray

  • Designed by: Studio Conran
  • Price: $460

  The rubberized flexible stem allows light to be targeted in any direction. It is fitted with an LED specifically developed by Yamagiwa’s technicians. Because LEDs do not generate heat, the light source can be recessed 20mm into the stem, eliminating glare. The zinc tripod base is inspired by the form of concrete sea defenses.

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  F+P 550

  • Designed by: Foster and Partners
  • Made by: Louis Poulsen
  • Price: $3,200

  Constructed of aluminum and white-opal glass, this hanging light is the result of a collaboration between architect Norman Foster and Louis Poulsen.

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  Element

  • Designed by: Mark McKenna
  • Price: $445

  Featuring a 60,000-hour lifespan, this lamp consumes less than seven watts of power. The head tilts 135 degrees front to back and 90 degrees up and down. It offers 19 mounting options, and the base swivels 360 degrees.

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  Itis

  • Designed by: Naoto Fukasawa
  • Price: $400

  Features include a side diffuser in transparent polycarbonate, a pivoting stem up to 90 degrees, a head rotation of 180 degrees, and a touch dimmer on the base.