Weed: A Lamp that Illuminates with Freedom and Wildness

Jinying Cheng's Award-Winning Design Combines Lighting with Nature

Jinying Cheng's inspiration for the Weed lamp stems from her childhood experiences with her grandmother. She recalls learning to recognize different types of grass and creating objects from natural materials. The most ubiquitous weed from her childhood, the dog tail grass, became the inspiration for the Weed lamp. The lamp, much like the weed, represents freedom and wildness, and is a nod to the joy of Chinese culture that comes from being free to go wherever one wants.

The Weed lamp is unique in its design and function. It is not just a formal lighting fixture like a ceiling lamp or desk lamp. Instead, it is a casual, easy-to-carry lighting product that provides users with flexible and convenient lighting. The lamp uses traditional Chinese imagery to evoke emotions towards nature and seamlessly integrates this feeling into people's daily lives.

The Weed lamp is made using 3D printing technology. The outer shell is made from PLA material, while the stem, which is easy to bend, is made from silicon 3D printing with an iron wire inside for stability. The lamp uses wireless charging technology, with a charging coil that converts electricity into magnetic flux. A coil receiver at the bottom of the stem collects the magnetic flux and converts it back into electricity to charge the bulb on top.

The Weed lamp is more than just a lighting product. It is a companion that provides a gentle light when one is sitting quietly indoors. It can also be carried around easily, providing light in darker rooms or outdoors without causing distraction. The lamp is designed to be lightweight and fun, offering users a sense of care and agility.

The design of the Weed lamp faced several challenges. One of the main challenges was designing the base of the lamp to give it the light and free feeling of plants. After comparing different forms, the designer chose a pointy form to give it the natural feeling of plant growth. Fitting the inner structure like coils and chips into the shell was also a technical challenge due to the size of the coil. However, after trying different forms, the designer was able to combine the shell and stem structure successfully.

The Weed lamp is a testament to Jinying Cheng's innovative design approach. It was awarded Silver in the A' Lighting Products and Fixtures Design Award in 2021, a prestigious award given to designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation. The Weed lamp, with its user-centric design and multiple roles, is not just a lighting product, but a symbol of indoor nature that evokes memories of childhood outdoor activities.