We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer André Teoman about their original and creative Ceiling Lamp design work. André Teoman is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original ceiling lamp works.
André Teoman ("AT") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Chartres Ceiling Lamp. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
AT : It’s a modern re-interpretation of the stained glass technique used in a ceiling lamp that can easily be adjusted in height and angle. The inspiration came from the cathedrals light effect in sunny days thanks to the colorful stained glass motifs that they have. I wanted to bring a bit of that magic to the home, without all the religious weight.
AT : To break the relation between stained glass and religion, using it in as a day-to-day object of our lives with a storytelling more modern and funnier than the bible.
AT : To sell it has a Young Guns commercial piece and produce it with the talented craftsman that I visited during the concept stage. Create sustainability within small producers is one of my objectives every time I create something.
AT : I started around June. I left the companies I was working for to dedicate myself to my own project. Until June I had a collection to finish and when it was done I started sketching some new concepts and Chartres was one of them. It’s not finished yet, I still need to produce it so, I can’t tell you yet how long it’s going to take.
AT : I decide to pursuit an inspiration. Like I told in the last question I was sketching new concepts for a commercial collection for Young Guns, and Chartres was one of them. Since I always wanted to explore the stained glass technique it was my first choice for further development.
AT : I haven’t produced it yet, but I’m hoping to produce it and sell it as a Young Guns studio using outsource suppliers.
AT : I was always overwhelmed by the light effect created by stained glass motifs in cathedrals, I just didn’t like the connection with the religious themes. Every time I saw one I thought to myself “one day I’m going do something with stained glass without Jesus on it”.
AT : Yeah sure, we are always being influenced since we’re born. Mainly I would say I was influenced by the cathedral glass motifs I’ve seen all my life.
AT : Interior Designers, Architects or final clients. It’s for the High-End market of course, since it’s all hand made and can be arranged to all projects. This gives it a higher value since it’s always one of a kind piece, even if looking alike the “DNA” is always slightly different.
AT : Mainly the colorful visual effects that it will make, the use of this technique in such a modern form and visual representations, and the possibility to adapt it very easily to any interior project.
AT : From all the stained glass motifs I’ve ever seen the ones in the Chartres cathedral were the greatest and the one that most impressed me, so I wanted to give the piece it’s name, hoping that it will have the same effect on it’s users.
AT : To start, a 0,4 pilot pen, a notebook, my Ipad, and some basic colors tombow pens. Then a car to visit the stained glass suppliers and learn more with them. And finally my computer with some 2D and 3D creative software to create the simulated images, my iphone for the video footage and lots of coke (coca-cola...) to keep me awake, since I don’t drink coffee.
AT : All the complex hand work that you can feel at a first glance... and my imprint.
AT : I worked with a local supplier of stained glass. I’m not sure if I can mention his name. They received me with open harms and gave me a detailed explanation about the technique itself, it’s boundaries and it’s abilities.
AT : I normally don’t get very involved with technology in my creations. I prefer to innovate traditional techniques that are endangered to disappear by giving them the opportunity to shine again and live.
AT : Not at all. All my research was technical, and visual around the technique of stained glass, how to tell a modern story with it and how to get that magical colorful light effect.
AT : The structure of the lamp itself. To combine a 6 colored stained glass with an exact form and other materials was the hardest part. Finding the right aesthetic balance to make it appealing was difficult but quite satisfying to see in the end result.
AT : Because it’s the first time that I am doing a piece on my own, without a brand or a person supporting it, I need this to show myself to a bigger crowd.
AT : Everything I learned about the technique and the people I meet are the best things I have taken from this project, besides the opportunity to explore the piece a little deeper. Normally in brands they want the shell but don’t give you time to get to the core of it because you already started a new piece. I really got the chance to go deep in this piece and experience what it really means to get to its peak.
AT : No further remarks, thank you very much.
