Interview with award-winning designers

We are excited to bring you an exclusive interview with the creators behind Redgrass SA, a leading provider of artists’ supplies. Recently, Redgrass has made a significant leap in their product line by developing their own desk lamp – the Redgrass R9 Desk Lamp, which won the Red Dot Best of the Best 2023 award in the Product Design Category.

In this interview, the creators share how the idea for the R9 Desk Lamp was born from a personal need for a well-designed lamp tailored for creatives. They detail their innovative journey, from the initial idea through the hands-on development and design process, to the final product.

Read on to discover the unique design elements and innovations that set the R9 Desk Lamp apart, including the aircraft-inspired lamp head and the revolutionary independently rotating light bars. This interview offers a fascinating insight into the creative minds at Redgrass SA and their unwavering commitment to improving the way artists work. Enjoy the read!

Interview with award-winning designers

The Redgrass R9 Desk Lamp was designed with the needs of creative professionals in mind. Its innovative design provides a lighting solution that is tailored to the requirements of people who work at tables and are dependent on artificial light. Developed in-house the R9 Desk Lamp features a long-limbed, minimalist design made of powder-coated aluminum and accentuated by a red cable. The luminaire head is formed by two independently rotating light elements equipped with high-performance LEDs, offering maximum flexibility and allowing users to adjust the light to their individual needs.

How did the idea to develop your own desk lamp come about?

“It all started with a need for creatives. As artists ourselves, we struggled to find a well-designed, purpose-made lamp that met our needs. So, we decided to create one ourselves. This was the beginning of our journey. We believed that if we didn’t innovate, then who would? Our objective was to create a versatile lamp that could shape light to the needs of creatives while providing the best color experience possible. We wanted to design a desk lamp that would truly improve how artists work.”

How did you approach the development and design process?

“We began by experimenting with prototypes in-house, rather than relying on drawings or other design methods. Our aim was to find the best way to light an artist’s subject on a table. We tested different shapes for the lamp and experimented with various light sources until we found the perfect combination. Then, we refined the design while ensuring that the functionality remained intact.”

What design element of the R9 is your favorite detail and what is the biggest innovation?

“Our favorite design element on the R9 is the head of the lamp, which is shaped like the wings of an aircraft from the future. This design was inspired by our love for sci-fi movies. The R9’s two independently rotating light bars are at the same time our greatest design innovation. They offer a new way to shape light to the needs of creatives, providing ultimate flexibility and customization.”

“We are honoured to receive this recognition from the Red Dot jury, which praised the R9 Desk Lamp as a “tailor-made and in every detail well-thought-out solution to a very specific problem”. This award is a testament to our commitment to design and innovation, and we look forward to continuing to create products that enhance the creativity and productivity of creatives.”

Red Dot Best of the Best 2023 : Words of the jury

Colour and light are both the subject of art and important tools for creating art. As an aid to the creative process, light primarily serves to illuminate and influences colour rendering, which is why creative people like to work in studios flooded with daylight. However, environments without sufficient daylight can cause problems – especially when it comes to small-scale, filigree works and ones where exact colour rendering is essential. The Redgrass R9 Desk Lamp was developed with the aim of creating a lighting solution that is precisely tailored to the needs of creative people who work at tables and are dependent on artificial light. Against this background, the most important criteria were flexible adjustability of the light beam for optimal illumination and ensuring the best possible colour experience.

The latter also required the development of special optical lenses, electronic components and LEDs. The R9 Desk Lamp is a long-limbed, minimalist desk lamp made of powder-coated aluminium, whose calm appearance is accentuated only by a red cable. The luminaire head is formed by two independently rotating light elements equipped with high-performance LEDs. They allow the light to be focused on a specific area for maximum illumination or to be distributed evenly over a larger area. With a high colour rendering index and spectacular rendition of red colours (the value for R9, saturated red, is at 98), the R9 Desk Lamp makes colours look natural, appearing as if they were in daylight. Moreover, thanks to the low blue light emission and a flicker-free, no-glare light output, the lamp is easy on the eyes, allowing users to work comfortably for long. “The R9 Desk Lamp is convincing as a tailor-made and in every detail well-thought-out solution to a very specific problem,” said the jury.

“Thanks to the clever construction of the luminaire head, it offers maximum flexibility, ensuring that all users can adjust the light to their individual needs. At the same time, with its reduced, linear design and matt black finish, it takes a step back visually in order to direct the focus entirely on the creative work and put it in the right light.”

BORN ON KICKSTARTER

The Redgrass R9 Desk Lamp was launched in 2023, designed with the specific needs of creatives in mind. At the time, it was the most successful Kickstarter campaign for a lamp (and it probably still is). 5400 backers helped us make this project a reality. Thousands of users have since embraced the R9 Desk Lamp, making it one of the most sought-after desk lamps for creatives. Its design and functionality, backed by the recognition from the prestigious Red Dot award, affirm that R9 Desk Lamps are among the best lighting solutions for creative professionals.