Designed for Delight: Exploring surprising applications of 3D printing in lighting design

How can the unique qualities that 3D printing offers generate surprise through visual-tactile incongruities in lighting design?

Designs that surprise us challenge our expectations and impact the experience and perception of our surroundings. Surprise is a useful tool for designers and can elevate a product from mundane to memorable; drawing attention and inviting engagement. Existing strategies have explored surprise in product design through the exploration of sensory incongruities, most notably visual-tactile incongruities (Ludden, 2008; Ludden, Schifferstein, & Hekkert, 2008). 3D printing is an evolving technology that has capabilities traditional manufacturing is unable to achieve, including: building internal and complex structures, building with multiple materials simultaneously, and creating material gradients. Lighting design has been explored with 3D printing, attaining previously unachievable patterns, moving structures and light permeation control. Lighting design has also investigated surprise and sensory incongruities. However, research has not yet been done to investigate how visually-tactually incongruous 3D printing can offer new strategies for eliciting surprise in lighting design.

This research addresses this identified gap by assessing the applicability of Ludden’s (2008) strategies to 3D printing. This was done through the design of a series of experimental objects and lights that sought to surprise through the use of visual-tactile incongruities. Developing and testing these experiments aided the development of new approaches to designing that addressed the unique opportunities of 3D printing. The potential of the proposed approaches are expressed through the final designs of the interactive lamps; objects designed to inspire delight and enjoyment through their unique interactions and surprising qualities.