One of my earliest childhood memories was watching the Pixar short Luxo Jr. that came with our VHS tape of Toy Story 2. The short fascinated me with how it brought the lamps to life. I wanted to pair this emotional personification with the form / materiality of another all-time favorite of mine: the Castiglioni brothers’ Arco floor lamp.

Rewatching Luxo Jr., I paused on a moment where the small lamp looks up at the larger one. It seemed much like how a bright-eyed child looks up to their loving parent. The emotional impact resonated with me, and I knew then that the familial love between parent and child is what I wanted to capture.

The final design features two lamps connected to a single base. The larger lamp stands over and protects the smaller one, keeping a watchful eye on it while the smaller one looks up at its guardian with enthusiasm and excitement.

This still from an old home video expresses the exact moment I was trying to capture. No emotion is stronger and more impactful than a parent’s love for their child.

Spring 2019