The LG Makeup Deluxe Set was a design developed for the International Design Competition OLED LIGHTING organized by LG Chem together with LG Electronics in collaboration with designboom.

The objective of the contest was to spread the qualities, advantages and unique properties of the OLED panels as well as to find new and innovative ways to use them in the daily life.

 

Certainly, this was a very interesting poject due to the wide options and possibilities that this component brings to us. The flat and even flexible OLED panels represent a fresh and abundant source of ideas for designers; the technology of this component is still in development and right now still have some limitants like the luminosity per panel, etc. but the current generation of celphones, tablets and even TVs are using the OLED technology for its screens so I'm sure that the OLED technology for illumination will have a boom in the near -very near- future giving to us, the designers, a lot of matter to mold into bright products.

From my own perception the contest was focused in the application of the OLED panels in the architecture and interiorism. It was very clear that the most of the entries would be any type of lamp; my first ideas were also about concepts of flat lamps and other lighting devices. Then I read something in the site of the contest that made me change completely my first concepts: "...other crucial factor is commercial potential. since OLED is a new technology, we will need to start with the premium market."

COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL... That words made me think in a different way about my ideas. I though in how many lamps could the people buy. And, is that lamp, for modern and innovative it is, nessesary for the people to buy it? Does it fit with the likes of the people? What else may have a better demand than a lamp? What kind of product is used more frecuently than a lamp? It should be a product of daily use, maybe something that people brings with them, like the makeup sets that are into every bag of every women in the world... Well, that was my answer. 

People may not need a new lamp no matter how so innovative it is, but women will always need a makeup set. Personally, I have witnessed how my friends -girls of course- use their makeup kits almost everywhere; in some cases like in the clubs, bars or some restaurants, the lights are not enough to see themselves in the small mirrors of the kits. So, the inclusion of light into these makeup sets would enhance the capability of the ladies to look georgeos everywhere no matter the lighting conditions.

The OLED panels are slim enough to be placed into the lid of a makeup set and there are still space enough to place a descent set of shades with two applicator brushes included. The device would include a button to turn on and off the lights as the user needs. The device is powered by a slim battery like the one used in the cellphones or tablets and it is recharged in the same way through a universal USB cable.

Of course, the style and likes of every women are different each other so the device can be customized by the use of interchangeable covers.

The price would be higher than the standar makeup sets, but for sure lower than any cellphone so it is still accessible even for the mid-end market. Also, the interchangeable covers, the possibility to recharge or change the used shades try for a new one brings the opportunity to explore another business cases.