'Plumen 001', energy-saving light bulb designed by Hulger and Samuel Wilkinson, London, 2010

Energy-saving 11 watt flourescent light bulb, with screw fixture. The bulb consists of two interlaced, curved glass tubes. The fixture is held in a black plastic casing.

Given by Hulger

The Plumen 001 was designed by London-based studio Hulger (Michael-George Hemus and Nicolas Roope) and Samuel Wilkinson.

The Plumen 001 uses 80% less electricity than an incandescent bulb, and lasts around 8 times longer. In developing their product, Hulger wanted to combine this high level of function with a sculptural, organic bulb design. Working on the principle that glass tubes can be bent into any conceivable shape, the designers sought to offer imaginative alternatives to the very narrow range of bulb designs that were at that time on the market.

The design for Plumen 001 was developed first through low-tech models made with pipe cleaners. These models were then put into design development, with rapid prototyping used to refine the design. Initial prototypes were manufactured in August 2009. The first finished sample was produced in July 2010. The bulbs are manufactured in a factory in Shenzen, China. Hulger released the Plumen 002 in 2014, adding a new shape to the range of bulbs.

In 2011 the Plumen 001 was awarded the Brit Insurance Design of the Year by the Design Museum in London and the Black Pencil at the D&AD awards.

When they began work on the Plumen 001, London designers Hulger (Michael-George Hemus and Nicolas Roope) and Samuel Wilkinson wanted to create an energy-saving light bulb with an interesting and inventive form. Their product, manufactured from 2010, uses interlaced, curved glass tubes to create lighting in which the bulb is the focus of the design. Using 80% less energy than an incendescent bulb, and lasting up to 8 times longer, the Plumen 001 provides a fun and creative solution to our increasingly-urgent need for sustainable energy use.

W.38-2011