Transformable Lights Are the Latest Design Trend Taking Over the Internet

We all know and love our IKEA floor lamp (and have likely switched out the shade more times than we’d like to admit). But now there’s a new lighting option here to mix up your luminary style. Molo Design‘s Urchin Softlight is a light that can be manipulated by hand into various shapes to fit your decor (and space) needs. The Vancouver-based company’s transformable design was inspired by the shapes and movement patterns of the sea urchin and will look amazing in any open space — living room, office, nursery, you name it!

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urchin softlight

A post shared by molo (@molo_studio) on Jun 1, 2017 at 6:20pm PDT

So just how does it work? The Urchin Softlight is designed with honeycomb geometry, which makes it moldable by hand. You can create dozens of shapes by gently folding and bending the material, which is a non-woven polyethylene that is both tear- and water-resistant, UV-stable, and anti-static to repel dust. Check out the oddly satisfying video below to see how it works.

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new urchin softlight shown at #ICFF2017 gentle manipulation allows the shade to morph and change through a series of organic forms. This new version integrates the LED system into the shade itself, bringing simple purity to its form and experience. #ICFF #NYCxDESIGN #nydesignweek @ICFF @icff_nyc

A post shared by molo (@molo_studio) on May 24, 2017 at 9:27am PDT

The light is held together by rare earth magnets beneath the layers of textile so that the shade can fasten to itself unencumbered. Because the sides are asymmetrical, you can create more shapes — with the flat sides being best for cylindrical or cone-type shapes, and the curved sides being good for more rounded shapes. It also includes a dimmer switch to create different levels of brightness.

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Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design, Japan will feature molo's urchin lamp Nov 16 - January 8 “Art and Design, Dialogue with Materials”, curated by Toshiki Kiriyama, explores the aesthetics of materials and their innovative development across design disciplines. True to the museum’s mandate of encouraging an experience of art beyond sight, guests are welcome to play with urchin. By manipulating the shade gently with your hands, the lamp transforms through a range of beautiful shapes.

A post shared by molo (@molo_studio) on Nov 8, 2017 at 2:46pm PST

While it doesn’t have that IKEA lamp price tag (the small size is $300 and the large is $900), just think about the endless lighting possibilities these beauties can create! Head over to Molo Design to see them for yourself, and be sure to check out their hanging Cloud Pendant Softlight for your dining room too.

Would you buy the Urchin Softlight? Tweet us what you think @BritandCo!

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(Photos and video via @molo_studio; Featured photo via Molo Studios)