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David Trubridge Gets Inspiration From Under the Sea

Innovative lighting designer David Trubridge looks to the sea as a theme for his latest collection of lighting that will be presented at Light+Building in Frankfurt, Germany in March. Diatoms, microscopic creatures that are at the bottom of the ocean’s food chain, produce enough oxygen for our every fifth breath through photosynthesis, while also removing more carbon out of the atmosphere than all of the world’s tropical rainforests. Besides being critical to the environment, they’re quite beautiful, which makes them perfect inspiration for a new line of LED lighting.

Diatom inspiration

Diatom inspiration

Navicula

Navicula is one of the microscopic diatoms that float around the oceans and the light’s flowing form reflects that. Made of curved pieces of CNC cut bamboo plywood, the light is designed to cast beautiful shadows. The segmented form is shipped as a kit that is assembled on site with push-in nylon clips.

Navicula

Navicula

Navicula

Navicula

Navicula

Navicula

Navicula

Navicula

Asterola

Asterola is another floating diatom made of bamboo plywood, cork, and nylon clips that ship flat-packed for easy assembly.

Formosa

Formosa was designed as a bright task light that work over a table or desk. The fixtures is made from bamboo plywood and polyethylene felt that comes from recycled water bottles. Also shipped flat-packed for on-site assembly.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.