Astro Design Team's Capsule Collection Volume 01: A Fusion of Art, Technology, and Science

Winner of the Golden A' Lighting Products and Fixtures Design Award in 2021

The collection was created by Astro's cofounder James Bassant and senior designer Riley Sanders. Each design began as a pencil sketch, drawing inspiration from various elements. The Orb wall light, for instance, was inspired by the mechanical perfection of an orrery, presenting an illuminated spherical ball with a fully adjustable and magnifying mirror that orbits around the luminaire at its centre. The io Pendant, on the other hand, takes inspiration from the fluted detailing of the ancient Greek ionic pillars. The Halftone wall light, a fusion of art, technology, and science, focuses on the simple form of a circle with an intricate pattern delicately etched on translucent acrylic.

Each design in the collection is unique, from the materials selected to the individual challenges that had to be overcome. The Capsule collection provided the platform to liberate the Astro Design Team's creative process and reinforce their design-led approach. Each design is bold and visually strong, yet possesses a delicacy that quietly complements a design scheme.

The realization of these designs involved complex engineering solutions masked by simplicity. For instance, the Orb's moving parts are robust yet offer a sense of lightness. The io Pendant, created using gravity-fed extrusion, takes a circular 2D design and extrudes the glass downwards to create a perfectly ribbed cylindrical form. The components are discreetly hidden so the glass plays the lead, subtly reflecting and refracting the light. The Halftone focuses on the simple form of a circle with a subtle pattern gradient beginning from the outer edge, increasing with intensity to create a vivid ring of light.

The project began in 2019 at Astro Headquarters in Harlow, Essex. The collection was completed and launched in the UK and Europe in the Spring of 2020. The Astro Design Team's goal was to create products that withstand the test of time, not to be frequently replaced. They took care to refine and consider each element, so the product blends seamlessly with any space for many years to come.

The Capsule Collection Volume 01 is a testament to the Astro Design Team's commitment to simplicity, functionality, and beauty in design. It is a celebration of the fusion of art, technology, and science, and a worthy winner of the Golden A' Lighting Products and Fixtures Design Award in 2021.