luca nichetto's digitally customizable alphabeta lamp for hem at london design festival

luca nichetto’s digitally customizable alphabeta lamp for HEM at london design festival

‘alphabeta’ lamp by luca nichetto for online design brand HEM, is digitally customizable and easily configured online by the customer, with endless possible combinations. they are available in eight different shapes of interchangeable top and bottom components, all in their own colors; in addition to black and white. this creates a total of 24 available shades, which can then be combined in different ways and composed in various quantities — hung as single lighting elements, or in larger groupings. each of the lamp covers are crafted by steel, spun by hand in a factory near venice, italy giving them a pristine finish; and because of the pendants shape, they adapt to a bi-directional lighting source that brightens spaces above and below the lamp.

possible arrangement featuring all white ‘alphabeta’ lampshades

‘with alphabeta, we wanted to create a lamp that is made from high quality materials, and allows people to customize and personalize their own lighting. at hem, we want to make products that inspire people and allow them to dream-up new ways of creating interiors for their home. luca nichetto has a great eye for spotting new behaviours and new needs, and he brought us this idea of a lamp that could be combined in different ways to create your own and unique lamp.’ – petrus palmér, hem co-founder and head of design

eight different shades in 24 different colors can be interchanged

‘my inspiration was really an ambition to create an alphabet; a system where you can combine different kinds of shades to create your own lamps. I researched different kinds of shades and effects of light, and tried to simplify that by creating a single piece that can be combined with the other shades, to create a kind of alphabet.’ – luca nichetto, designer
the pendant lamps are digitally customizable

during london design festival (LDF) 2015, hem presents an interactive space that features 44 of nichetto’s ‘alphabeta’ lamps tethered to a grand piano, each one illuminating at the touch of the keys. the theatrical installation is on show at the somerset house’s west wing galleries as part of the ‘ten designers in the west wing’ exhibition. from september 21st-27th, 2015 a pianist will bring the work to life by playing daily at 1PM and 6PM.

black ‘alphabeta’ lamps