A Munich-based industrial design studio has developed an innovative experimental lighting system that challenges traditional lamp design through magnetic interaction technology. Relvãokellermann, founded and operated by industrial designers Ana Relvão and Gerhardt Kellermann, has unveiled the Tangent Lamp as part of their ongoing research into new forms of object interaction and user experience.
The design studio, previously known for creating stackable cork storage boxes, operates an internal research division called RK Lab that serves as their experimental platform. According to the designers, RK Lab functions as "a space within our practice where we explore new ways of experiencing objects" and "serves as an independent playground, enabling us to question established typologies and open pathways to new forms of perception and use."
The Tangent Lamp represents a breakthrough in interactive lighting design, consisting of three essential components: a magnetic sphere, a block of oxidized steel, and a light filament. The lamp's revolutionary feature lies in its activation method - the light illuminates only when the magnetic sphere makes contact with the oxidized steel block, creating what the designers describe as "a single point of contact" that completes the electrical circuit.
The user experience is entirely dependent on hand positioning and movement, allowing for infinite variations in both lighting mood and the lamp's physical configuration. As the designers explain, "every time the hand decides differently, and both the light mood and the lamp transform accordingly to the hand's intentions." This creates a dynamic relationship between the user, the object, and the resulting illumination.
Relvãokellermann positions the Tangent Lamp as more than just a lighting solution, describing it as "a product exploration" that investigates "the relationship between experience, technology and the purpose of light itself." The project was conceived as an exercise in questioning conventional design approaches, focusing on essential elements to demonstrate how simple connections can create both functionality and entirely new ways of experiencing everyday objects.
The innovative lamp design highlights the studio's broader philosophy of challenging established design conventions while exploring the intersection of technology and human interaction. By stripping away unnecessary complexity and focusing on the fundamental relationship between magnetic connection and electrical activation, the Tangent Lamp offers users a more intuitive and engaging lighting experience that transforms based on individual preferences and movements.
The project showcases the growing trend among design studios to invest in internal research and development initiatives that push beyond client-driven work. Through RK Lab, Relvãokellermann continues to explore experimental approaches to product design that could influence future commercial applications and reshape how consumers interact with everyday objects.
