In the Ixa lighting family for Artemide, Foster + Partners Industrial Design explores the threshold between art and engineering, delivering an exceptionally versatile collection of LED lamps that combine a focus on functionality with an engaging flourish of colour.
Inspired by the colourful mobile sculptures of American artist Alexander Calder, the design studio has taken three component elements – an adjustable spherical head, metal rods and counterweights – and created a scalable dynamic design system that translates to ceiling, table, floor and wall configurations.
The floor and wall lamps feature a spherical head, counterbalanced by a weight at the opposing end of a slender stem. A magnetic socket holds the head in place while allowing it to be manually rotated and angled to any orientation, with further flexibility provided by jack connections at every junction of the stem. This flexibility enables and invites the user to interact with the design, directing the light wherever it is needed – either to support the task at hand or to create the ambience desired.
Available in varying sizes and a range of bold primary colours, as well as anthracite and white/grey, Ixa provides sculptural statement lighting for numerous interior styles, encapsulating the idea of 'elegant balance'.
