Luminare Prototypes

“I haven't failed, I've found 10,000 ways that don't work” -Thomas Alva Edison

Instead I found three ways how not to make a luminare.

First model from front.

I first started out focusing on illuminating the object and not focusing on the light effect.  I made a box out of foam core with squares cut out in four sides.  Then I took wire and threaded it through small green squares and put them across the opening which worked well with the foam core because the wire stuck into the foam in the center.  In the end though the green squares looked cool they did not create any effect on the wall at all.

First model from back.

Then I hung more little green squares from the top of the cube so that they would sway in front of the light bulb.

First model interior.

After looking at my luminare sketch model in the dark I decided that I cared more about the light effect than the luminare itself because after all the light effect was my original inspiration.  So then for my next model I focused on creating a luminare that would create my light effect from all sides so I created the same cube from my first model but instead of just cutting squares out of four sides I cut another hole it what would have been the bottom before.  Then so that the box would not sit directly on the table I put it on legs so that it would also create a light effect on the table as well as the wall.  For my second model I made it out of foam core, balsa wood, and two different color green papers.

Second model from right side.

Second model from back/front/right side.

Second model from front.

As I moved along with my luminare I realized that if i used darker foam core it would help to disguise the light socket and cord on the front of the luminare.  So I rebuilt another model just like the previous one but instead with black foam core.

Third model from front

Third model from right side.

Third model from right side/back.

Third model from back.

However, when I made this model I realized how much I do not like working with foam core because it was really hard to cut neatly and the material was not thick enough to keep the light in and the light would show through the foam core.  So then for my next and final model I switched to using mat board and it worked exactly the way that I wanted it to.