Clessi
This lighting concept reimagines traditional Indian clay pot stacks as a contemporary, sustainable lamp for indoor and outdoor spaces. By merging cultural symbolism with functional beauty, the design creates an hourglass silhouette that shifts with the sun casting dynamic shadows by day and glowing as an ambient light source by night. It celebrates heritage while offering a poetic interaction with time, light, and atmosphere.
The Ask
Many outdoor and ambient lighting products prioritize aesthetics or performance but often overlook cultural storytelling, sustainability, and emotional resonance. There is a gap in lighting that not only reduces environmental impact but also reflects cultural identity particularly in contexts like Diwali, where symbolism and atmosphere are essential.
The Design
This design bridges that gap by using a sustainable form inspired by stacked clay pots, a familiar sight in Indian streetscapes. The hourglass structure captures shifting daylight to create natural shadow play, reducing the need for electricity during the day, and transforms into a warm, inviting lamp at night. It offers an eco-conscious, culturally rooted lighting experience suitable for gatherings, celebrations, and everyday use.
the development
I explored various forms inspired by stacked clay pots, experimenting with proportions, materials, and how the light will interact with the form. Multiple sketch iterations were followed by 3D studies to understand shadow behavior throughout the day. Prototypes were refined to balance structural stability with the hourglass silhouette’s sense of lightness. The final model was crafted with sustainability in mind, using rattan while capturing the cultural and atmospheric qualities central to the concept.
the takeaway
This project reinforced the value of embedding cultural narratives into functional design, showing how familiar forms can create emotionally engaging experiences. It also highlighted the power of natural and artificial light as a medium for storytelling. Most importantly, it strengthened my approach to sustainable design by proving that environmental responsibility and visual poetry can coexist beautifully.
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