DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
: Nowadays people are rushing everywhere, so they don't have time to maditate. They come back home all stressed, turn on the TV and just lay down... I wanted to change that. Lithuanian "Straw Gardens" were supposed to create a peaceful home environment and clean the house energy. I wanted to recreate this feeling and adapt it for a modern home.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
: I was aiming for the perfect structure, because structure was very essential to "Straw Gardens". It consist of basic geometric forms which combined together to make a complex art piece. I wanted to make this lamp simple enough but elegant at the same time, so it could fit every interior solution.
DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
: My plans are to make this design real. I want to create a whole lamp collection and sell it worldwide.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
: It was on my mind for a couple of years now, but somehow I didn't have the time or enough skills to make this concept. But then when I got a bit older, learnt to use 3D modelling tools and realized that it's a chance in a lifetime and I have to take it before someone else does. My first step was to choose this idea for my MA degree project, so that I could start gathering info about "Straw Gardens". Now it's been almost a year since I started working on this concept.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
: As I mentioned before, I wanted to recreate Lithuanian "Straw Gardens" but I wanted add them a modern look, so that they could suit a today's interiors. I have plenty of sketches which I will use for other Lamp Heaven design variations, but for this one particular time, I wanted to submit a more classical design.
DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
: This design is not being produced, it is still in a concept level, but I hope, that winning A'Design Award & Competinion, will give me the apportunity to start the production. Today I don't have the resources to start my own company, so I intend to find sponsors or to lease the production rights.
DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
: The most influence was from local folk artists, whose work I saw on the internet and at the museum of folk arts.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
: I think the target customer may be a person who is stressed, doesn't have much time to meditate and needs something to help him relax.
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
: The main aspect is that this lamp is not just a structure around a light source, it emits light itself.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
: The name "Heaven" is from the tree structures of "Straw Gardens": underground, earth and heaven. In Baltic pagan mythology, seeking a way to heaven is a way to happiness and peace. Heaven for pagans, is not a place where God lives, it is a place of peace and harmony with nature.
DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
: Mainly I was using 3D modeling tools like 3ds Max and photo editing such as Adobe Photoshop.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
: As I mentioned before, the unique aspect is that it can emit light from it's own, because of neon light strings which are placed inside the organic glass tubes.
DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
: No, I haven't worked with anyone else. This concept is simple enough so I thought I could make it on my own.
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
: The only technology used in this design is electricity, which helps creating light.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
: When I got the idea of the lamp, I really didn't know how to make it realistic. I had some sketches, bus it didn't look real. So I started learning 3D modelling, then later on I got a job at a design agency who is mainly working with architecture renders. So I think this new job gave me the biggest knowledge of 3D modelling, because of that I could make my lamp design real.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
: I've always wanted to participate in such a competition since I started studying graphic design.
DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
: I have improved my 3D modelling skills, also I've got to know more about my country's history and folk art.