by Brianna Crandall — June 27, 2016 — LightCorp, a Michigan-based designer and manufacturer of high-tech lighting products for office environments, introduced a “revolutionary” new light and a new corporate identity at the NeoCon 2016 contract furnishings show in Chicago June 13-15.
Amble LED task light
Amble, a ” breakthrough” LED task light in which minimalist design meets elite performance, was designed by Stephan Copeland, an award-winning industrial designer known around the world for crafting mobility, with a kinetic approach to designing products that “free up people’s physical aspirations and enable intuitive expression.”
Copeland chose the name Amble with intent: “It’s about flow and movement — a light that moves organically with the user,” the designer said.
The single-form design lets the user adjust the light to any one of three vertical positions, creating distinct pools of illumination that range from expansive to concentrated, providing the best light and orientation for a range of tasks.
Introduced in the Best of NeoCon Competition [see FMLink article] in the Lighting: Task/Desktop, Furniture-Integrated category, Amble is designed to celebrate movement. Visually striking in form and function, it provides a unique and progressive, single-piece design — with no moving joints or articulation — while intuitively offering a large sphere of adjustability and mobility by the intelligence of its shape alone.
“It’s a lighting experience unlike any other…When you see how Amble works, it’s an ‘Aha!’ moment,” LightCorp General Manager Kyle Verplank said. “The design is so simple, intuitive and elegant. It’s genius. Stephan Copeland has designed a brilliant light.”
The design lets the user adjust the light to any one of three vertical positions, creating distinct pools of illumination that range from expansive to concentrated. This creates an ergonomic solution providing the best light and orientation for a range of tasks. The only moving part is the gimbal eye, a unique gravity-driven shade within the ABS polymer light housing, which automatically prevents the glare so common with adjustable task lights.
The gravity-driven gimbal eye is designed to automatically prevent the glare so common with adjustable task lights. Amble also offers built-in USB charging and an occupancy sensor.
FMLink Publisher Peter Kimmel, AIA, IFMA Fellow, and a former facilities manager, was enthusiastic about Amble following NeoCon, commenting on the amount of thought that went into the product. He noted the light’s “battery-charging mobility, so it can be moved and used as a flashlight,” and its adjustable brightness, lack of glare, and availability in multiple colors. According to Kimmel, the best part was that “without any kind of compressible coil, it can sit in several distinct positions to not only illuminate different parts of the desktop but also not block the monitor while still illuminating the work surface.”
Amble also offers a battery-powered option, making it even more compact and portable for open-concept, collaborative work environments. In addition, the task light offers built-in USB charging and an occupancy sensor, creating a significant solution for modern work environments.
Amble’s sustainable design not only involves materials but also the life-cycle impact on the environment. The light’s energy-efficient design embodies the principles of conservation and sourcing responsibly, says LightCorp.
New corporate identity
Celebrating 30 years in the lighting business, LightCorp also revealed a new corporate identity, Web site and logo, as well as a redesigned booth space, at NeoCon. “LightCorp’s new identity is bold, vibrant and imaginative — just like our lighting products,” said Verplank.
The rebranding marks a sharpened focus for LightCorp; the company exited the industrial lighting business in January to concentrate solely on task lighting. The company, whose award-winning products are designed to improve productivity, health and energy efficiency in modern-day workspaces, says it is shifting the conversation of lighting from “accessory” to “essential.”
According to Verplank, “Lighting is the subtle, yet essential feature of the workplace. For 30 years, we’ve put all of our energy into understanding how it empowers a person’s work, influences their mood and helps them focus. We love the beauty of it, the science behind it and its impact on everyday life. It is this passion that defines everything we do and drives us to create vibrant, colorful and imaginative solutions that brighten the world where we live and work.”
