Innovative Luminaire Designs at Milan Design Week

I recently returned from Euroluce, the most important Biennial Exhibition dedicated to the world of lighting design, and the prestigious design week in Milan. This event marked a significant milestone for Holscher Design as we unveiled two groundbreaking luminaire designs for renowned brands Simes and Vibia.

The response was overwhelmingly positive. Industry experts and attendees visiting both Simes’ and Vibia’s exhibitions were impressed by the innovative features and the seamless integration of technology and aesthetics in our designs. It was truly gratifying to see our hard work and dedication being recognized and appreciated on such a prestigious platform.

Inspiration Behind the Designs

The inspiration for our new luminaire designs came from a desire to combine cutting-edge technology with aesthetic appeal. We aimed to create lighting solutions that are not only visually stunning but also highly functional, adding a component of something completely new and innovative.

Together with our clients, our goal was to set new standards in the lighting industry by offering products that cater to the evolving needs of modern lighting solutions.

Insights into the Design Process: Integrated Product Design (IPD)

One of the key factors was our focus on innovation and aesthetics. We believe that a successful design should not only be beautiful but also highly efficient and practical. Our team worked tirelessly to ensure that every aspect of the design met the highest standards of quality and functionality. Additionally, our collaboration model, known as Integrated Product Design (IPD), played a crucial role in shortening the timeline from idea to final launch. This approach allowed us to bring our innovative designs to market faster and more efficiently.

Integrated Product Design (IPD) is a collaborative approach that fosters creativity and ensures that every design is meticulously crafted. By involving all stakeholders in the design process from the very beginning, we can address potential challenges early on and make informed decisions. This model has significantly shortened our development timeline, allowing us to respond quickly to market demands and deliver high-quality products in a timely manner.

IPD emphasizes the importance of collaboration and communication among all parties involved, including designers, engineers, and clients. This holistic approach ensures that every aspect of the design is considered, from initial concept to final implementation. By working closely and directly with the R&D function at the client, our design team can get quicker to an actual prototype. As designers, we are taking a larger responsibility early on and reducing the typical middle phases of the design process.

The success of IPD lies in its ability to streamline the design process and reduce time-to-market. By integrating all phases of product development, we can identify and resolve potential issues early on, resulting in a more efficient and effective workflow. This approach not only enhances the quality of our designs but also allows us to deliver products that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Vibia PRO Spotlight

Vision

We designed the Vibia PRO Spotlights with the ambition of creating more than just a luminaire – rather, a lighting experience that can shape spaces, moods, and atmospheres. Vibia is known for its poetic approach to lighting, where design and technology merge to give architects and designers the flexibility to create unique spatial expressions.

Design Philosophy and Technical Innovations

The foundation of this series has been a fusion of minimalism and functionality. We aimed to design a sculptural spotlight where two geometric forms touch each other, creating an intriguing visual dynamic. The movement of two spheres was inspired by the path of the sun on the hemisphere. The design plays with symmetry and asymmetry, balancing between harmony and the unexpected. At the same time, the technical components are hidden, providing a clean and simple aesthetic while evoking a sense of tangent mystique – making it unclear how the lamp moves.

The spotlight has an anthropomorphic character, resembling an eye that attentively observes the room. This creates a subtle interaction with the surroundings, giving it an almost living presence. The design offers both precise, directional lighting and an aesthetic lightness that integrates seamlessly into various architectural settings. The shape is simple yet dynamic – a cylinder that can be tilted and adjusted, allowing users the freedom to play with the light and its direction. It almost seems to defy gravity in its movement.

The spotlight series has been developed with an advanced mechanism that enables flexible adjustment without compromising the visual expression. The integrated technology ensures a soft and precise light distribution, creating a pleasant atmosphere regardless of the function of the space. The choice of materials – primarily die cast aluminum – contributes to an elegant and durable design. The cylindrical bodies of the two volumes have a matte surface, while the spherical surface is polished and shiny.

SIMES Air-Lighting

Inspiration

The inspiration for the product design of Air Lighting came from the unique street lighting used in Copenhagen. In the city, streetlights hang as pendants connected by wires, creating a kind of ‘wirescape’—an imagined ceiling above the street. 

Design Philosophy and Technical Innovations 

For Air-Lighting we envisioned a system where light fixtures and wires come together to form a three-dimensional graphic sculpture. The system is highly adaptable, capable of being attached to walls, ceilings, or free-standing poles. The Flower Zoom 60 Comfort light, with its adjustable beam angles and various color temperatures, serves as the core component. The light is connected with a durable 15-meter power cable and can be precisely positioned, creating a versatile and sustainable lighting solution.

 Air-Lighting is designed to provide both precise, directional lighting and an aesthetic lightness that integrates seamlessly into various settings. The fixtures can be positioned anywhere in space between three anchor points, offering flexibility and modularity. This design not only enhances the visual appeal but also ensures functionality and sustainability.

Collaborative Design Process 

Working with Simes, particularly with Roberto Botti and his team, has been a rewarding experience. Their commitment to pushing boundaries and bringing complex creative concepts to life is rare in the industry. This collaboration has allowed us to maintain the integrity of our design vision while exploring new possibilities.

Designers like Maldonado and Papanek have shaped our approach to design, emphasizing interdisciplinarity and ethics. Key values include playing (experimentation), watching (observing needs), learning (continuous improvement), and exploring (pushing boundaries). These principles guide our design process, ensuring that each product is both innovative and responsible.