The Sunset Lamp
Warm Ambient Lamp for Calm, Contemporary Spaces
Where Memory Becomes Light
A lamp concept shaped by memory and motion, inspired by sunset light, flowing waves, and emotion through sustainable, algorithmic design and tactile 3D-printed form.
The Sunset Lamp
As a designer, I draw deeply from my memories of places and travels, using them as raw material to shape the objects I create. The Sunset Lamp is one of the earliest examples of this approach, a travel-inspired piece I designed in January 2026. The lamp was born from a very personal journey: one of the first river expeditions I took with my one-year-old son and my wife, deep in the jungles of Veracruz, Mexico. Travel memories feel fragile and precious to me, and I am constantly searching for ways to preserve them, to freeze a moment in time before it fades. The idea of creating a lamp that could recreate the warm glow of a sunset while the three of us sailed quietly along a river became the driving force behind this design. When I look at much of what exists today in the 3D-printing market, I often feel that many objects are designed to be disposable—vulnerable to trends and destined to feel obsolete within a few years. I wanted to move away from purely parametric, ornamental forms and instead add an artistic and emotional dimension to my work. For me, design is not just about form or function; it is about experience.
The geometry
From a technical standpoint, the Sunset Lamp is the result of advanced algorithmic design processes. I developed a custom script capable of simulating the wake of river waves and wrapping that geometry around the lamp’s surface. The texture is further enhanced through 3D printing techniques: I wrote special code that subtly destabilizes the extruder’s path, preventing it from following a perfectly smooth curve. This intentional imperfection creates an irregular, almost “sugary” surface that gives the lamp its tactile character.
From Memory to Concept Design
It is often said that you experience a trip three times: first, when you research the destination and imagine what it might be like; second, when you actually take the journey and create the memories; and third, when you return home and revisit those moments through photos or souvenirs. As a designer, I believe there is a fourth time, the moment when those memories are transformed into something tangible. Sometimes that takes the shape of a photobook; other times, it becomes an object. The Sunset Lamp belongs to the latter category. Beyond the light itself, I found myself captivated by the motion of the river, the wake of the boat and the soft waves forming as we navigated upstream. I wanted to capture that movement and wrap it around the lamp’s surface, allowing the memory to live within its form. When illuminated, the lamp projects a warm, diffused glow onto the walls. Its soft orange light, reminiscent of a Himalayan salt rock, creates a calming, intimate atmosphere. If you choose to bring this lamp into your space, I hope it offers you the same sense of warmth and quiet joy it brings me.
The materials
The lamp is 3D-printed using translucent orange PLA, a material that allows light to pass through while tinting the surrounding space with a distinctive, warm hue. PLA is fully recyclable, making the object as conscious as it is expressive. Should you ever decide to change the mood of your space, the lamp can be recycled and given a second life, rather than ending up as waste. In the end, the Sunset Lamp is more than a light source. It is a vessel for memory, motion, and atmosphere, a quiet reminder that design can hold stories, not just shapes.
