Designer Chris Jackson Experiments With Alt-Manufacturing

We recently received photos of new work by designer Chris Jackson who we met at the ICFF last spring. He debuted a collection of functional objects called ‘Digital Readymades’ at last months 100% Design event in London. The goal of the project aims to reinvigorate broken or discarded objects, and re-appropriate existing objects, to extend their lives. Chris wanted to experiment with new ways of making things through manufacturing on demand (as opposed to mass manufacture), democratic design and hacking as contemporary responses to the subject of sustainable design. Instead of selling the actual products, the digital .SVG production files can be downloaded, altered if desired, and sent to an online fabricator such as Ponoko who will make the item.

One example from the collection is the Solar Chandelabra, a flat pack, laser cut outdoor ambient lamp, using cheap solar garden lamps. The shape references traditional chandeliers but takes its inspiration from flora found in the garden. It can be hung as a chandelier, or placed on a surface as a chandelier, uses solar power, and turns on automatically when there is insufficient light.