According to the designer behind some of Muuto's best-selling lamps, the keywords for good lighting are functionality and light quality, which need the same attention as the design itself. The best lamps are not only those that have a beautiful appearance, but also the ones that are functional.
Photo: Benjamin Lund Nielsen
Thomas Bentzen's designs have received international recognition at trade fairs and exhibitions around the world, including his series Linear, made for the brand Muuto. For the well-known designer, functionality and design go hand in hand - and you can see this in his design.
Therefore, we had a talk with him about why functionality, light quality and color temperature are just as important as the design of the lamp.
What does light and design mean to you ?
"Light is an incredibly large factor in our lives, but one that we rarely think about - unless we don't have it or the light is bad. Light allows me to see, work, read, etc. An essential part of daily life at our latitudes.
The design takes up almost as much mental space for me - it's my job and probably also my hobby. And I'm always looking and investigating, trying to understand why things look and work (or don't work) the way they do."
Photo: Muuto Linear Pendant Black
What do you find particularly interesting about working with lighting, specifically?
"What is particularly interesting about working with the design of lamps and lights is that you can work a lot with the atmosphere that the light gives - this is incredibly important. With good light, you can influence moods and the experiences we have with each other."
"We must be just as interested in light quality as the design of the lamp - also when we buy new lamps."
What considerations do you have about incorporating both aesthetics and engineering into designer lamps?
"In my view, design is always an interplay of functionality, materials and manufacturing - whether you work with furniture, electronics or lighting.
Modern light sources and technology are an important and completely natural part of the design and also help to control and influence the aesthetic expression in the lamp.
It's cool that, today we have so many different types of light sources rather than just the incandescent bulb. LED has opened up completely new design possibilities!"
Bad light deceives our senses
Photo: Muuto Linear Table Lamp Gray
When do you experience that light is most important to you, in your everyday life?
"In my daily work, it is incredibly important that I have good light, so that I can draw and sketch. And so that I can see shapes on models correctly, and experience the shadows that fall on the subject and help to draw the shape. Light helps me understand the objects and the spaces I'm in."
Why does light quality matter to you?
"Light quality is incredibly important to us and the way we perceive things. Light that is too bright, can make us tired and wrong renders of colors can make you perceive things, textiles, food, etc. differently from what they actually look like in daylight.
Bad lighting deceives our senses and can ruin otherwise good experiences and affect our mood negatively."
The light quality is just as important as the design
Photo: Muuto Linear Pendant Gray
What are the typical mistakes that private consumers make, when decorating with lighting?
"I think one of the typical mistakes I see in the homes of private consumers, is the improper use of light sources - especially when lightbulbs have been changed. It would be good with more help or focus on color temperature and output.
We must be just as interested in light quality as the design of the lamp - also when we buy new lamps."
"Light is an incredibly large factor in our lives, but one that we rarely think about - unless we don't have it or the lighting is poor."
How do you get the full experience of designer lighting in your own home?
"In my own home, I like to use a lot of spot lighting to create moods - "modern candles", I like to call it, and I mix a lot of different ones.
I also use some with a precise downlight like the Linear Table Lamp . It creates a clearly defined and illuminated zone in the dark - it seems very attractive, creates a space in the room - a bit like a classic reading room with table lamps that you know from old libraries.
It's a good idea to use lamps with a more diffused light, to get away from glare or direct access to the lightsource. And then, I always like it if you can dim the light.
We really have a lot of lamps with us, but it is a part of my job. Our home is also a place, where I test various prototypes and projects, so lamps are replaced often.
I also prefer to leave a little light on in different rooms in the evening, so I can move around freely. Environmentally, that is okay, since modern lamps use so incredibly little energy. It works to create a nice and safe atmosphere."
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