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Airswitch Az

Lamp
2005 (designed), 2006 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is one of a group of lights made by Mathmos and given to the V&A Museum in 2006. Mathmos frequently commissions designs from progressive young designers, and develops innovative technologies for its products.

The form of the Airswitch Az lamp was designed by Shin Azumi in 2005. Similar to the smaller Airswitch Tc lamp (Museum No W.7&8-2006), the mechanics of the lamp use technology that was developed by the Mathmos Design Studio in 2004. The user can control the light level by the position of their hand. Passing a hand vertically over the lamp bowl turns the light on or off. Raising or lowering a hand above the bowl makes the light brighter or dimmer. Infra red sensors inside the lamp pick up the movement.

The lamp won a Design Classic Award from House and Gardens magazine following its exhibition in the Design Classic showcase, held at the V&A in 2005.


Object details

Category
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Lamp Base
  • Lamp Shade
TitleAirswitch Az (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Sandblasted mouth-blown glass
Brief description
'Airswitch Az' lamp base and shade, designed by Shin Azumi in 2005, manufactured by Mathmos in 2006.
Physical description
Sandblasted mouth blown glass shade with internal lighting mechanism controlled by proximity detector.
Credit line
Given by Mathmos
Historical context
The Airswitch Az has been exhibited at Crafts Council Jerwood Prize (2004), Skin II at the Vitra Design Museum (2006), was a finalist in the Design Week Awards (Furniture) in 2005, winner of House and Garden's Magazine Design Classic award in 2005 and was shown at the V&A in 2005 in Design Classic showcase.
Summary
This is one of a group of lights made by Mathmos and given to the V&A Museum in 2006. Mathmos frequently commissions designs from progressive young designers, and develops innovative technologies for its products.

The form of the Airswitch Az lamp was designed by Shin Azumi in 2005. Similar to the smaller Airswitch Tc lamp (Museum No W.7&8-2006), the mechanics of the lamp use technology that was developed by the Mathmos Design Studio in 2004. The user can control the light level by the position of their hand. Passing a hand vertically over the lamp bowl turns the light on or off. Raising or lowering a hand above the bowl makes the light brighter or dimmer. Infra red sensors inside the lamp pick up the movement.

The lamp won a Design Classic Award from House and Gardens magazine following its exhibition in the Design Classic showcase, held at the V&A in 2005.
Collection
Accession number
W.9:1, 2-2006

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Record createdNovember 21, 2006
Record URL
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