Brooklyn designer Christian Borger is drawn to the idea that a lamp shouldn’t just a light source, but a light system. His MLS-01 Tangent Lamp, made in collaboration with Rarify and lighting manufacturer Gantri, is his first product manufactured at scale. The collection takes its cues from the modular, DIY spirit of 1960s and ’70s design.
Brooklyn designer Christian Borger has always been drawn to the idea that a lamp shouldn’t just a light source, but a light system. Photo by Christian Borger
“I’ve always been interested in the early movement of modular systems and ‘DIY’ design that took place in the 1960s and 1970s,” Christian says. “That era was a great example of designers thinking inventively about how their work could shape spaces and interactions, and be made in novel ways using mass production techniques.”
Bauhaus philosophy runs through it too, along with the idea that process and material should drive form, and that industrial production and craft aren’t opposites but collaborators.
Each lamp is built from laser-cut aluminum components and 3D-printed diffuser panels made from plant-based polymer using Gantri’s manufacturing technology. Photo by Christian Borger
Each lamp is built from laser-cut aluminum components and 3D-printed diffuser panels made from plant-based polymer using Gantri’s manufacturing technology. The parts are entirely machine-made and hand-assembled at Rarify’s warehouse in Pennsylvania.
“Since the collection is a modular system, using digital manufacturing methods that allow for mass production of standard parts with high repeatability and tight tolerances made the most sense,” he says. Designing it as a modular system was both a design and economic decision, keeping production efficient and allowing the line to expand into new configurations over time.
Each lamp is built from laser-cut aluminum components and 3D-printed diffuser panels made from plant-based polymer using Gantri’s manufacturing technology. The parts are entirely machine-made and hand-assembled at Rarify’s warehouse in Pennsylvania. Photo by Matthew Gordon for Rarify
“I’ve always seen Rarify as a steward of US design and manufacturing,” he says. “I think we both want to see a resurgence of local craft and support emerging US-based manufacturing, especially in the design space.”
The collection launched during NYCxDesign at Afternoon Light and ICFF, with an initial run of 85 lamps across various configurations. “This is my first manufactured-at-scale product as an independent designer,” he says. “I’m excited and grateful to have had the opportunity to work on it and see it come to life.”
The collection launched during NYCxDesign at Afternoon Light and ICFF, with an initial run of 85 lamps across various configurations. “This is my first manufactured-at-scale product as an independent designer,” he says. “I’m excited and grateful to have had the opportunity to work on it and see it come to life.” Photo by Matthew Gordon for Rarify
