Honey Drop: A Luminary Innovation by Akira Nakagomi

Blending Art, Functionality, and Disaster Preparedness in a Unique Lighting Design

Akira Nakagomi's Honey Drop is a testament to creative design thinking. The design was inspired by Japan's vulnerability to natural disasters and the need for practical disaster prevention items. Nakagomi recognized that most disaster prevention items are stored away for emergencies, and sought to create a product that could be used in everyday life. The result is a unique lighting fixture that not only adds color to daily life but also serves as a potential lifesaver in emergencies.

The Honey Drop's unique properties lie in its clever integration of function and design. The light fixture features a glass container filled with honey, designed to resemble a drop of honey. This container is placed on a wooden pedestal with a rechargeable LED light. In an emergency, the honey can be consumed as a nutrient-rich food source, and the pedestal can be used as a flashlight. This innovative design ensures the product is not just stored away for emergencies but becomes a part of everyday life.

The production of Honey Drop involves the use of traditional glass blowing techniques to create the honey-filled glass containers. The wooden pedestal houses a rechargeable LED light, making the design both aesthetically pleasing and functional. The design specifications include honey, glass, wood, and cork, with dimensions of w340mm d200mm h200mm.

The Honey Drop design project began in January 2022 in Japan and was completed in December 2022 in Tokyo. It was exhibited at the New Norma New Standard3 in November 2022. Nakagomi's research focused on existing emergency items and the need for disaster prevention items that could also enhance daily living spaces. The design process involved overcoming creative and technical challenges, including the development of a design that could serve dual purposes and the formation of the glass container into a shape that mimicked dripping honey.

The Honey Drop design was awarded the prestigious Platinum A' Lighting Products and Fixtures Design Award in 2023. This award recognizes world-class, exceptional, and highly innovative designs that showcase unmatched professionalism, contribute to societal wellbeing, and push the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology.