Australian studio Heliograf took cue from a small, everyday object and literally made it “light” up. Heliograf’s Light Soy lamps are shaped after the iconic fish-shaped soy sauce bottles found in sushi shops. The idea behind the Light Soy was born when Heliograf founders, Jeffrey Simpson and Angus Ware, took note of how many single-use plastic soy sauce bottles people used up, while eating sushi.
Hence, Simpson and Ware set out to produce a high quality, playful lamp that highlights the big issues with single-use plastic and its impact on the environment. It also acts as a positive reminder for individuals and designers to make better choices for the planet. With that in mind, Heliograf collaborated with industrial designers Vert Design to create a high quality design with a small footprint.
Thus, Light Soy is made from premium materials chosen for durability, sustainability and recyclability. As a matter of fact, the Light Soy lamp is made of hand-blown borosilicate glass and powder-coated aluminium, etched for that frosted finish. Even, the packaging is completely plastic-free and biodegradable.
In other words, this is a product to “be treasured and not trashed.” Moreover, the studio as a member of the 1% For the Planet contributes 1% of revenue for ocean cleanups and nonprofits protecting marine life.
Presently, the Soy Light was awarded the prestigious Good Design Award Gold Accolade in the Product Design Furniture and Lighting category in recognition for outstanding design and innovation. The annual Good Design Awards is Australia’s oldest and most prestigious international Awards for design and innovation since 1958. These awards are a celebration of the best new products and services on the Australian market that demonstrate excellence in good design.
Thus, this award is a significant achievement. As a matter of fact, the Good Design Awards Jury praised Light Soy, commenting: “A nice, playful product which will be a commercial success. Sense of humor about the design which is appreciated as well as thoughtful use of materials and adaptability of design. Cool social commentary and art.”
Ultimately, Light Soy lamp is a “think-piece” that embodies how good design can make our lives better and improve our world. So three cheers to that!
P.S. If you are interested to find out more about sustainability then don’t miss this read – Circular Design :: A Window to Opportunity.