Meet Teig, a Tiny Schoolhouse Lamp with Huge Character

Probably the most rewarding elements of working at Schoolhouse, our sister model in Portland, is the possibility to design and convey to life our personal unique lighting. It’s a collaborative course of that requires arduous work, dedication, and an unwavering dedication to high quality, however we’re so proud that we get to supply lighting the old school approach in our Portland manufacturing unit. In the present day, we’re taking a second to have fun a group that has actually captured our hearts (and areas).

Meet Teig, a dimmable desk lamp that’s as purposeful as it’s charming. Lovingly named after the German phrase for “dough,” Teig was impressed when our design group, who, when taken with Ray’s brief bulbous shade, determined to show it the wrong way up. Tana, the designer of Teig and a former Schoolhouse worker, shares, “Iconic mushroom-shaped lamps from previous eras supplied so many distinctive silhouettes, and we needed Teig to mirror that very same sense of playfulness and character via its form and coloration.”

As with each new design, we began by contemplating how Teig would operate and the place it might reside. We took a step again, checked out our present assortment, and noticed a chance to create one thing a little bit completely different. Whereas lots of our lamps present extra directional lighting, Teig was designed to supply comfortable, ambient gentle. Its small scale makes it a straightforward addition to a counter, desk, aspect desk, or bookshelf.

All through the design course of, fixtures typically tackle working names for his or her elements. However when it got here to Teig, the frosted glass shade was affectionately referred to as “dough” by our product engineer, Brandt. Because the group labored to refine its kind, Tana jokes, “We wish it to appear to be dough… rising.” Becoming, contemplating 2020 was the 12 months of sourdough starters, proper? That playful second led to the lamp’s last title: “Teig” (pronounced “tiger,” minus the “r”).

Designing and launching a brand new product all the time appears like a dash, however the actuality is that it’s a marathon—one which spans many months and entails nearly each division in our constructing. From inspiration to completion, Teig took about 16 months to come back to life.

Dreaming up our designs subsequent door to the place our merchandise are manufactured means we are able to prototype utilizing actual elements and tweak the main points—similar to coloration and dimmer operate—with the individuals who shall be assembling the ultimate product. Take the knob—it’s a key function of Teig, and we deliberately made it the centerpiece. Its contrasting coloration and outstanding placement enable it to face out, whereas the slight taper makes it straightforward to understand. And, in fact, the satisfying on/off click on offers it a sure appeal.

What makes Teig so particular and completely different is the considerate stability of shapes and scale. The dough-like type of the ellipsoid glass shade is each acquainted and comforting, whereas the playful coloration choices vary from vibrant hues to extra subdued tones. Collectively, these parts make Teig a lamp that feels each authentic and timeless.

When it got here to selecting the colour palette, that was a apply of exploring enjoyable new combos whereas staying true to the present assortment. Impressed by classic electronics, the colour palette drew from the ’50s and ’80s eras of workplace provides. The nice and cozy impartial colours pay homage to classic calculators and typewriters, whereas the vivid reds and yellows are paying homage to Dieter Rams’s designed home equipment.

Now, Teig is out there in a recent vary of hues that really feel each playful and acquainted. Whether or not you’re drawn to the refined appeal of heat neutrals or the daring vitality of vibrant primaries, every coloration was chosen to have fun Teig’s distinctive form and character. The top outcome? A small-but-mighty lamp that’s as pleasant to take a look at as it’s to make use of—able to deliver a little bit additional appeal and character to your area.