Martin: A Modern Twist on Classic Design

Santiago Bautista's Award-Winning Standing Lamp

Technology has revolutionized the design industry, enabling the creation of complex geometries and forms. However, this advancement has also sparked a surge in designs that lean more towards publicity and marketing, rather than true design. In response to this trend, Santiago Bautista sought to reconnect with the essence of design modernism while utilizing the latest fabrication technology. The result is Martin, a standing lamp that feels fresh and contemporary, yet familiar in any space.

Martin's design is a testament to simplicity and functionality. A single steel tube, bent using the latest CNC technology, forms the main body of the lamp. This tube connects to an oversized aluminum head through a brass swiveled joint, allowing the user to adjust its angle. The height of the lamp has been optimized to reduce glare, and the small E14 bulb creates a deep and directed light source. The lamp is coated with an ultra-matte soft touch lacquer, giving it a ceramic appearance and a warm touch.

The realization of Martin's design is a showcase of innovative technology and craftsmanship. The steel tube is bent to follow the exact angles of the 3D model, and a flat disc of aluminum is spun against a steel mold to create the lamp head. These two parts are then finished with an ultra-matte powder coating and connected through a brass swiveled joint. A textile braided electrical cable is manually inserted through the tube to complete the assembly.

Martin's design is not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional. It was designed primarily as a reading lamp, with the height of its head and the position of the light bulb optimized to create a targeted light source and avoid glare. The adjustable swiveled joint allows the user to regulate the angle of its head to adapt to different reading scenarios. Martin can also function as a bedside lamp or a table lamp when placed next to a desk.

Despite the simplicity of the final product, the tube bending process proved to be more challenging than anticipated. The three-dimensional bends of the tube made it difficult to manufacture with conventional methods. However, after a meeting with the manufacturer and a revision of the design, it was decided that a CNC bending tool would be the best way to develop this product. This tool, loaded with a digital model, was able to precisely replicate the specified angles, and the production was finally set up.

Martin is a standing testament to Santiago Bautista's innovative design approach, combining modern technology with the timeless values of design modernism. It is no surprise that Martin was awarded Silver in A' Lighting Products and Fixtures Design Award in 2018, a prestigious accolade rewarding top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation.