I was recently inspired by these beautiful rocking chairs by industrial designer Scott Wilson. And come to find out, so many of my other favorite products like the Nike Presto watches and Contora Portable Swingline staplers are also his creation.
His company of one was chosen this summer as Design Director for the Motorola Wearable Technology group. Wilson started with IDEO Product Development and recently founded studio MOD, a virtual studio with focus on establishing long-term, collaborative relationships with design-sensitive and marketing-savvy companies.
He aims to strike a balance within his products which speak both rationally and emotionally to the consumer, ultimately ensuring a higher probability of market success and endurance.
Gersil Kay, IESNA, founder of Conservation Lighting International, Ltd. (CLI), is the pioneer American lighting designer conserving energy and materials with glass fibre optics functional architectural lighting. (To hear more about glass fibre optics lighting from Mrs. Kay, click the link under “communicate.”)
This completely different lighting technology delivers both high-level directional light for task, display and architectural features,and lower-level ambient (general) light. Even before 1993, when CLI was incorporated, Mrs. Kay has been its advocate. Used for decades abroad, its adoption has been very slow in the U.S.
CLI made the first major commercial installation of glass fibre optics in New York in the Pool Room of the famed Four Seasons Restaurant in the landmark Seagram Building on Park Avenue.
Other award-winning projects include many exhibits for the prestigious University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania, the Muckerman Fountain and Roman Pavilion in Tower Grove Park, St. Louis, MO, the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, and the new Weldall Factory in Wisconsin, where the lighting protects the display animals from fading, and provides glare proof illumination for the stairs from the second floor.
Not the same as glass fibre optics for communications, this version is not interchangeable. However, the technology is not new, and has long been used as an additional lighting tool in Europe and the Near- and Far-East. The first US patent was taken out in 1882. However, because of lack of practical training in the subject, few North Americans are familiar with its economic and environmental properties, or the range of applications it offers. Benefits and more information are found in Frequently Asked Questions.
Muckerman Fountain and Roman Pavilion, Tower Grove Park, St.Louis, MO.
Why Glass Fibre Optics? Why Now?
Lighting is essential to see or do anything. Not much can be done in the dark. Good lighting enhances all design, and increases productivity, personal comfort, safety, security, attendance, sales and profit.
Applications are limited only by the designer’s imagination for commercial, institutional, industrial, historic, hazardous/confined space/electromagnetic areas, water features, religious, transportation and high-end residential venues, both indoors and out.
Wines and foods deteriorate quickly under the heat and ultraviolet rays emitted by conventional light. The glass fibre optics light sources are placed, insulated and sufficient space is allowed to dissipate the heat normally produced by light. Hardware is concealed so that patrons wonder where the lighting hardware is hidden.
Wine display at Harrod’s UK. Glass fiber optics illuminates display, but doesn’t melt ice.
Innovation at Work
Glass fibre optics can be concealed in floors, ceilings, walls and furniture, just like copper wire. Power and control wiring can be done before, during or after installation of the lighting guides (tails). This is just another lighting job.
The tails are delivered fully assembled in an octopus-like harness, which only has to be plugged into the lighting source (the size of a large shoe box). No cutting splicing or polishing is needed. Everyone who has worked with glass fibre optics says, “It is fun”. The glass is not affected by the heat of the lamp, and does not yellow, melt, harden or cease carrying light rays. It does not have to be trimmed regularly to cut out failed material.
Lighting is safe for children and the elderly.
The Future of Glass Fibre Optics Illumination
The highest quality glass is manufactured in Germany and Japan. A project could be considered “fusion”, with the material made in the Czech Republic by a German company, assembled in England, and powered by Danish projectors.
Although millions of feet of glass fibre optics are made here for communications, American factories are reluctant to build new hospital-clean facilities to make glass fibre optics for lighting. The price could be greatly reduced if the glass fibre were made in this country. Nevertheless, savings in installation, maintenance and operation make for prompt payback on initial investment, and continuing economies thereafter for the long life of the system.
With the urgent need for green, sustainable and energy efficient illumination, perhaps now Americans will start using proven glass fibre optics as an additional lighting tool to expand the designer’s palette. When the most energy efficient method best suited for the particular application is chosen, sophisticated and affordable lighting that complies with LEED1, ASHRAE/IESNA/ANSI Standard 90.12 IECC and state building codes can be designed within the increasing energy conservation restrictions.
