Otto
A lamp built around the light of the day: three sources that come out of a sphere as it opens, from a warm glow at rest to full output. Prototyped in FDM, with an Arduino driving the LEDs.
On or off
The light in a room is usually either on or off. Daylight is neither: it changes colour and strength from morning to night, and the body reads that change.
Otto splits a sphere into three light sources that work on their own, so the light can follow the hours instead of switching between two states.
- Independent sources
- 3
- Injection molded
- PP
How it opens
Closed
At rest Otto is two intersecting spheres, flattened at the poles: one closed volume.
In this state the polypropylene shell is the diffuser, and the light that comes through it is warm and low.
Opening
The core rises and the upper sphere splits into two hemispheres, uncovering what is inside.
From here the three sources can work one at a time, or together.
Open
At full extension the internal cylinder is out, and it holds the upper hemisphere above the base.
Base, core and crown: three parts, three separate lights.

The lift inside
A lifting mechanism inside the lower sphere raises the central core, and that changes the shape of the lamp. We prototyped the whole lamp in FDM, with an Arduino driving an array of LEDs.
-
01
Telescopic spine
The central cylinder acts as the structural spine. As it rises, it physically disengages the upper hemisphere from the base, creating a floating effect.
-
02
Friction fit
The polypropylene parts slide against each other, and the tolerance between them is what gives the movement its resistance: there are no gears.
-
03
In the base
The flattened base holds the board and the buttons. Each of the three light sources is on its own circuit.
Four states
Four combinations of the three sources, one for each part of the day. The buttons are on the base, and the same four states are in the app.
- Temp
- 2700K
- Intensity
- 400lm
- Base finish
- Deep Blue Matte
Three materials
A matte coloured base under a clear crown, with steel where the parts meet.
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PP
Tactile Base
Blue Polypropylene (Matte)
The lower sphere and the buttons are injection molded in coloured PP. The matte finish is warm to the touch and hides the electronics.
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PMMA
Optical Crown
Transparent Acrylic (Plexiglass)
The upper hemispheres and the central cylinder are in PMMA: clear, and it passes light well.
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SS
Structural Links
AISI 304 Stainless Steel
The visible joints and the guide rails are machined in stainless steel, which also reads as metal against the polymer.
In the room
On a low table, on a shelf, beside a sofa: the same lamp in three rooms, in the three states it can take.
- 100% plastic free
- Molded pulp
The box
The box is specified in moulded pulp, with no plastic in it. It is printed with soy ink, and it can be composted at home.
- Material
- Recycled Paper Pulp
- Printing
- Soy-Based Ink
- Disposal
- Home Compostable
The ink for the printing is organic too, so the whole box can go in the compost.
Daylight changes colour and strength all day. A room's light is on or off. Otto has three.
Technical Specifications
Physical
- Dimensions (Closed)
- H 350mm x Ø 200mm
- Dimensions (Open)
- H 520mm x Ø 200mm
- Weight
- 3.2 kg
- Primary Material
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Optical Elements
- PMMA (Acrylic)
- Structural Details
- Stainless Steel AISI 304
Performance
- Light Source
- Tri-Zone LED Array
- Total Output
- 2400 lm (Max)
- Color Temp
- 2700K - 4000K (Tunable)
- CRI
- 95+
- Input
- USB-C / 24V DC
- Control
- Buttons and app
Design values, from the project. The FDM prototype was built to check the mechanism, the light, and the size and reach of the controls.