Stacking up: Owners give lamps a finishing touch

ILI-ILI, which means either/or, comprises modular pieces in six shapes and various shades of green, blue, yellow and grey. Held together with carrying clasps, the pieces can be combined into simple cones or irregular flared tubes, and later modified.

The designers used the metallurgy grinding process to make the lamps from aluminium, and powder-coated them in matte shades. ‘Combining the traditional production technique with contemporary design opens up the possibility for users to design their own ideal combination,’ they said.

Consumers are increasingly modifying mass-market products to personalise them and enhance their functionality, as we described in our Hacktivism microtrend. More designers are responding by creating products that appeal to DIY sensibilities.