Robert Dabi's Poise: A Table Lamp Redefining Interaction with Light

Winner of A' Lighting Products and Fixtures Design Award in 2020

Dabi's design language often incorporates terms like minimal, contemporary, and flexible. His lamp concepts are designed to encourage interaction, modifying the way light is perceived. The Poise is a glowing circle that freely levitates around a line, creating a dynamic or static appeal based on its position. The lamp features three swivel joints for full flexibility, and a heavy T-base that serves as a counterweight to the slim and light arm and ring, ensuring balance.

The Poise is manufactured by Dabi himself. The T-shaped base is made of brass and contains a custom-made rotary joint with a spring. This ensures that it is strong enough to balance the ring even when it's leaned far out, and prevents the joint from getting loose over time. The lamp is future-proof, with options for smart and dim controls.

The lamp's technical specifications include LED light specs of 3000K, 1500 lumen, 15 W. The arm and ring are made of aluminum, with a diameter of 10 mm and 6 x 6 mm respectively. The cover is made of milky polycarbonate and the cable comes with a PET sleeve. The surface is powder-coated in matte black, but other colors are also available. The switch is customizable and can be plugged between the lamp and socket.

The interaction with the Poise is simple yet engaging. After placing the lamp on an even surface, the ring can be grabbed and moved by hand. It can be turned around the joint axis by about 320 degrees. The arm holding the ring can be tilted to the left and right, as well as turned around its axis by 320 degrees. This allows for a variety of positions, creating a static or dynamic appeal. When placed on a higher shelf, the lamp can even be moved further down to overhang the shelf.

The Poise is part of a series of lighting objects by Dabi. The project took about 2-3 months to complete. Unfortunately, due to cost-cutting measures related to the Coronavirus, the Young Talent area at the Light & Building event, where the lamp was supposed to be exhibited, was cancelled. Despite this setback, the Poise was awarded Platinum in A' Lighting Products and Fixtures Design Award in 2020, recognizing its world-class, exceptional, and highly innovative design.