Inspiration

Ancient Thai temple architecture served as the inspiration for the Bangkok collection. These religious structures, known as Watas, embody the Buddhist beliefs about the ephemeral nature of life and the material world. This is reflected in the tiered design of the temples, with special openings between each tier serving as windows to allow light to fill the center of the temple and illuminate sacred relics. The Bangkok collection was created based on these principles of tiered design.

Unique properties

Drawing from the tiered design of Thai architecture, the lamps in the Bangkok collection consist of two or three glass elements. The silhouettes of the lamps were inspired by Wat Phra Kaew, the temple of the "Emerald Buddha" in Bangkok. However, they were stylized in a more streamlined form to ensure that the entire lamp is illuminated by the light, mimicking the interior of Thai temples. LED boards covered with matte diffusers were used at the top and bottom to create soft, diffused lighting.

TECHNOLOGY of MANUFACTURING AND SALES (AND MATERIALS):

The selection of materials was influenced by the materials used in Thai architecture. Temples are often adorned with glossy gold, creating an interesting interplay of light and reflection. Therefore, glossy tinted glass was chosen for the lamps, resulting in a vibrant play of highlights from all angles. Additionally, a version with transparent glass was created to allow for compositions using both transparent and tinted glass lamps.

The lamps are offered in three designs, meant to fit together and resemble temple complexes. The principle of element customization was also applied to reduce environmental impact in mold manufacturing.

WORK/FLOW/INTERACTION:

To facilitate user convenience, the wire heights can be adjusted to create various compositions. A special ceiling bowl was designed to house the driver, using magnetic mounts to eliminate visual clutter such as wire holders and bolts for ceiling attachment.

Each lamp creates a luminous flux of at least 1000 lumens, making them suitable not only for accent or ambient lighting, but also as the main light source in a room.

RESEARCH RESULT:

The initial focus of the research was to study the interaction of light with glass. This involved studying the techniques employed by ancient master craftsmen from various cultures. During this exploration, the Thai architectural tradition gradually captured attention, as the ancient architects of Buddhist temples displayed great skill in manipulating light. Through the use of special light windows, they were able to infuse the temple interiors with light, creating a mystical atmosphere. It was decided to incorporate these techniques in the design of the lamps.

CREATIVE/RESEARCH CHALLENGE:

A key challenge in the research process was to study the properties of light, computer modeling the distribution of light flux, and understanding the appearance of glare on glass. Additionally, considerable attention was given to the quality of the LEDs to ensure that the lamps would serve users for many years. The principle of customization was also utilized in creating molds to minimize production resources.

Lead designer: Alexey Danilin, Engineer: Nikita Morozov, Product manager: Elena Slivka, Assistant product manager: Anastasia Orlova. Photo by Pavel Dunaev.

Ai Collaboration Collection

This is one of the first, and possibly the world's first lamp created in a collaboration of artificial intelligence and a designer. This is a new approach to design.

Today, artificial intelligence often creates projects that violate the laws of physics or are not suitable for production. However, it also creates non-trivial mistakes that can inspire a designer. There is a well-known concept of the "genius of error," based on which many inventions have appeared due to miscalculations by creators. In this way, artificial intelligence creates many interesting errors that an experienced specialist would not think of.

For example, when designing the "AI Collaboration" collection, artificial intelligence created hundreds of images of lamps and decor, including a vase with useless functionality. In the middle of it was a glass element into which water for flowers could not be poured. However, the designer saw this vase and turned it into a lamp with many functionalities.

The table lamp is designed to be used as a vase for live flowers, dried flowers, or even an ecosystem made of moss and succulents. At the top is the body of the lamp, from which the light is emitted downwards. On top of the lamp is a touch switch that allows users to adjust the light power and color temperature. The lamp is collapsible and the vase can be easily washed. It charges via USB and can work autonomously, making it suitable for decorating restaurant tables or a country house gazebo.

DESIGN/PROJECT NAME:

Ai Collaboration

Table lamp

INSPIRATION:

Today, AI creates projects that violate the laws of physics or are not suitable for humans and production. However, there is the concept of the "genius of error," based on which many inventions have appeared thanks to miscalculations by inventors. Therefore, AI creates interesting mistakes that an experienced specialist could not think of. Designers can be partially inspired by these mistakes and create their own unique products. AI can be used as an assistant in development.

PRODUCTION OR REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY (AND MATERIALS):

When designing the "AI Collaboration" collection, artificial intelligence created hundreds of images of lamps and decor, including a vase with useless functionality. In the middle of it was a glass element into which water for flowers could not be poured. However, the designer saw this vase and turned it into a lamp with many functionalities. The lamp is portable and can function as a table lamp and a vase with adjustable lighting characteristics.

SPECIFICATIONS / DIMENSIONS / PACKAGE / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES*:

The portable lamp has an integrated glass vase. The ceiling can be removed from the base for easy care and recharging of the battery located in the ceiling. There are two color options for the glass models: transparent and gray. The lamp shades are available in three colors: black, gold, and white. There is a convenient touch switch located at the top of the ceiling. The Micro USB connector for recharging is hidden at the bottom of the ceiling. The lamp uses a 3W LED with an adjustable color temperature ranging from 2200K to 4000K. The scattering angle is 120° and the color rendering index (Ra) is greater than 82.

OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION:

This collection is ideal for cafes and restaurants. The glass vase can be used to display a bouquet of flowers or create a mini ecosystem. Visitors can choose the color temperature and power settings to create their desired atmosphere. The lamp can work autonomously for up to 8 hours, eliminating the need for wires. Users can also use the lamp at home on dinner tables or desks, using the vase as storage for pens and pencils. The vase is easy to remove and wash.

RESEARCH ABSTRACT:

For the study, the designer used various AI image generation applications. As a result of the first attempts to generate lamps, it was revealed that AI sometimes copies existing lamps, sometimes creates lamps that cannot exist according to physical laws, and sometimes it creates projects that are extremely difficult to produce. However, most often they were not visually successful. Therefore, the designer switched to generating decor or individual decorative elements.

THE CREATIVE / RESEARCH CHALLENGE:

The most difficult task was to identify non-trivial errors in the generation of decorative objects in order to try to turn them into functional lamps. For this, about 200 images were generated, and about 100 pencil sketches were created in which ideas were combined into a real project.

Lead designer: Alexey Danilin, Engineer: Nikita Morozov, Product manager: Elena Slivka, Assistant product manager: Anastasia Orlova. Photo by Pavel Dunaev.

DESIGN/PROJECT NAME:

The table lamps are designed with a simple and elegant shape, without any visible connections or bolts that would disrupt the clean lines. All fasteners are concealed using well-designed engineering solutions, and glasses with a special design are placed on a metal base to create a cohesive overall look. The ceramic base is weighted internally to ensure maximum stability.

INSPIRATION:

The design of the Memory collection lights draws inspiration from the hourglass silhouette, which is a symbol of nostalgia for the past. Although rarely used nowadays, the hourglass shape evokes a sense of longing for bygone times. The choice of materials further emphasizes this theme, with the lamps featuring white translucent and transparent glass as well as ceramics with a glossy glaze, a technique that has been used since ancient times.

PRODUCTION OR REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY (AND MATERIALS):

The designer aimed to create modern and minimalist ceramic designs, utilizing one of the oldest materials known to man. Ceramic products have been found in ancient archaeological excavations, and the lamp's hourglass shape serves as a reminder of this rich history. The design also incorporates translucent white glossy glass and a transparent ceiling, seamlessly integrated into the overall aesthetic.

SPECIFICATIONS / DIMENSIONS / PACKAGE / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES*:

The lamps are made from glass, ceramics, and metal, and are available in two colors: black and white. They use replaceable E27 bulbs and have a height of 425 mm and a diameter of 300 mm.

OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION:

Thanks to the ceramic base's weighting, the lamp can be used in various settings. The translucent glossy glass creates a soft and scattered light, making it suitable for bedside tables, desks, hotel receptions, or any other area. The glass ceiling covering the E27 light bulb ensures protection against humidity and splashes, and the lampshade can be easily removed for cleaning.

RESEARCH ABSTRACT:

The designer conducted research on both ancient and contemporary ceramic works. Amidst a wide range of forms, the designer chose the understated hourglass silhouette to pay homage to the craftsmanship of the past.

THE CREATIVE / RESEARCH CHALLENGE:

The main challenge was to create a visually noise-free structure with an elegant silhouette. To achieve this, the proportions of the table lamp elements were meticulously calculated. Additionally, a special recess was incorporated into the transparent ceiling to allow for easy fitting onto a white ceiling without any extra fasteners.

Lead designer: Alexey Danilin

Engineer: Nikita Morozov

Product manager: Elena Slivka

Assistant product manager: Anastasia Orlova

Photo by Pavel Dunaev.

Supersymmetry is a smart, sophisticated lighting fixture that allows the user to toggle between work and rest with a simple move and magnetic click. It is designed to transform from a vertical source of soft diffused light to a horizontal source of concentrated functional light for work, creation, and close communication. The viability of a home-centred life approach, as a supersymmetry in and of itself, needs to be tested experimentally in a post-pandemic world. The mission is to develop lighting solutions that can guide people through it, as well as finely detailed appliances that can help with zoning and adaptability of living spaces to accommodate various scenarios.

The year of 2020 brought us through incredible transformations which affected our social and personal spheres of lives. People had to reinvent their lifestyles, habits, approaches to work and recreational space. Two most significant fields of professional and private appeared at the edge of brutal collision within the most casual homes and apartments. Pursuit of humane and profound solution for this problem lead us to find an inspiration in one of the most elegant concepts of modern partial physics – supersymmetry. It explains conjectured relationship between two basic classes of elementary particles by showing how they can bound together into superpartners, evolve into each other and split backwards to their cores. As substance can transform into matter, our most tender and intimate living spaces can be transformed into perfect working areas by a glimpse of light. This idea leaded us to designing a smart classy lightning fixture which can help people to switch between their life essences by simple move and magnetic click. As a supersymmetry itself, sustainability of home-centered life approach needs to be proved experimentally in post-pandemic world. We see our mission in developing lighting solutions that can guide people through it.

The fixture is designed in a very specific unique way, which allows to transform it from general vertical source of soft diffused light to the specific horizontal source of concentrated functional light for work, creation and close communication. Thoroughly engineered construction with magnetic elements and bottom-centered wire bracing system enables to provide stable height level of the fixture for both horizontal and vertical configurations. It helps to keep the lamp close to the table and maintain equal illumination level on the table surface along with comfortable face and body backlight.

Lighting fixture transformation is operated by a simple user’s move of splitting or joining together symmetrical parts of the lamp in order to reach the required illumination effect. Kinetic effect provided by construction and enchased by magnetic elements provides deep tactile emotional rebound and experience the sense of interaction with high-end technology. It helps to expand the perception of the lamp as an interior complement to the image of a solid hi-tech object.

The key designing challenge was developing the solution for stable height level of the lamp through several configurations, (comparing to classic solution which would lead to height fluctuation of at least 450 mm), which provided the most efficient ergonomics and created no obstacles and limitations for light flow on working surface.

The main goal of the research is creating fine-drawn appliance design for living space zoning and transformation solutions for different pastime scenarios in the pandemic and post-pandemic world.

Brand – Maytoni GmbH

Lead Designer - Alexey Danilin

Engineer - Nikita Morozov

Product Manager - Natalia Danilova

Assistant Product Manager - Karim Tabishche

Visualizer - Dmitry Cherednikov

Introducing the revolutionary Exility series, the latest product of 2023. Exility is a sleek magnetic track system with a slim line width of 26mm. This innovative interior lighting solution is perfect for Hi-tech, Loft, and Minimalism designs, but can also be seamlessly integrated into any creative interior by a skilled designer.

The Exility magnetic track systems not only exude style but also offer exceptional functionality. The lamps feature a minimalist design with a hidden light source, resulting in minimal glare. Each lamp is equipped with a powerful magnet and mechanical retainers that securely attach the lamp to the track, ensuring excellent contact.

What sets Exility apart is its flexibility. The lamps can be easily moved within the track, allowing users to effortlessly change the configuration or replace lamps without any electrical work. Installing the track system is a breeze as it can be surface-mounted, built-in, or suspended, making it suitable for almost any type of ceiling.

The lamps effortlessly slide along the track, maintaining a solid connection while providing customizable lighting options. This versatility extends beyond ceilings and can be applied to walls, setting Exility apart from other track systems. Exility offers various scattering angles for accent and flood lighting requirements. With options for color temperatures of 3000 and 4000 Kelvin, a wide range of lamps is available to suit individual preferences.

Maytoni's Exility magnetic track system is the epitome of functionality and minimalist style. The low-voltage DC48V system ensures utmost safety during usage, allowing installation on ceilings or walls, even in areas prone to accidental physical contact. The magnetic fasteners provide a secure grip, further reinforced by additional mechanical fixtures to prevent any accidental dislodging. The absence of visible conductors enhances the overall aesthetic appeal. With a superior Color Rendering Index (CRI) of over 90, these intelligent luminaries offer exceptional color accuracy. The slim light line design elevates the visual appeal, delivering an aesthetic and minimalistic appearance while providing intelligent lighting solutions.

Despite its compactness, the Exility track system can be installed in rooms of any size. Its versatile design allows for effortless customization, enabling the creation of unique shapes and contours on ceilings.

With a wide range of lamps available and their easy interchangeability within the tracks, Exility offers endless lighting possibilities. It's important to note that the Exility series features two distinct lines, further expanding the choices available to users.

The first line consists of standard lamps with warm or neutral light. These lamps have all the benefits of magnetic track lamps, including easy installation with powerful magnets and mechanical retainers. The track system itself is supplied complete with the track, plugs, and a decorative strip. The track can be 1 or 2 meters long and can be installed on the surface, suspended, or built-in.

The second line of lamps is the SMART version. These lamps not only have warm or neutral light, but they can also change their color temperature and be controlled according to different scenarios. They offer added convenience and functionality with their smart capabilities. This means you can control the lighting settings through a mobile app or voice command.