Lights from Corrugated Cardboard

Cardboard as a lampshade? An unexpected choice, but one full of possibilities. What fascinates me about this material is its hidden beauty: the rhythmic waves inside the cardboard create interesting Moiré patterns and a textile-like look & feel when laser-cut and stacked. And because it’s inexpensive and easy to work with, it invites endless experimentation.

Using algorithms, I wanted to transform this humble material into unique lamp designs. I developed a method to digitally slice a 3D shape into layers, instantly generating a laser-cutting template. By strategically aligning the cardboard’s corrugation, striking patterns emerge as well as a dynamic interplay of light. One of my designs resembles a delicate vale, gracefully draped over a head—an illusion of floating textile, captured in cardboard.

For another series of pendants, I set out to use every bit of the base material. How? With an algorithm that converts a single curve into a series of progressively smaller nested rings. These rings are stacked with a subtle twist, forming a lamp with elegant curves and patterns that beautifully interact with light.

Then there’s the Sea Shell Light. Inspired by nature’s fractal patterns, I developed an algorithm that generates infinite variations of this spiral-shaped phenomenon. One of these forms was given a cardboard makeover, built layer by layer. The results in an organic lamp with a surprisingly harmonious flow.

All of these pendant lights are available in my shop. Have a special request? Let me know!