origami crab lamp folds into a softly glowing nightstand companion

Oogani Crab-Like Lamp Blends Lighting and Sculptural Form

Designed by Metal Goat in Tokyo, the Oogani table lamp explores an alternative approach to domestic lighting through form, material, and fabrication. Shaped as a folded crab, the lamp draws from origami principles without replicating traditional paper-folding aesthetics, resulting in an object that sits between functional lighting and sculptural design.

The lamp is part of Metal Goat’s ‘Capsule Animals’ series, a collection of furniture and lighting objects that reinterpret animal forms through folded geometries. Each piece in the series adopts a similar design logic, serving a different functional role while establishing a shared formal language across the collection.

all images courtesy of Metal Goat

Metal Goat folds thick synthetic paper to shape Oogani lamp

Oogani is constructed from thick synthetic folded paper made of polypropylene, a material selected for its paper-like behavior, durability, and ability to hold precise folds with minimal material use. The folded shell forms the main body of the lamp, enclosing a soft, diffused light suitable for use as a table or bedside lamp. Structural components are made from white acrylic sheets, while brass elements are introduced as both connectors and visual accents, most notably in the lamp’s eye-like details.

Through its materiality and folded construction, the Oogani table lamp by Metal Goat Studio reflects a contemporary interpretation of Japanese minimalism and origami-based fabrication. The object functions simultaneously as a lighting element and a sculptural presence within an interior, emphasizing form, tactility, and material efficiency rather than ornament or narrative.

Oogani is a table lamp designed by Metal Goat in Tokyo

the lamp is shaped as a folded crab inspired by origami principles

the design sits between functional lighting and sculptural object

folded geometry defines the lamp’s distinctive crab-like form

Oogani is constructed from thick polypropylene folded paper

the material allows precise folds with minimal material use

the folded shell forms the main body of the lamp

soft, diffused light is emitted from within the folded structure

Oogani is suitable for use as a table or bedside lamp

project info:

name: Oogani table lamp

designer: Metal Goat | @metalgoatstudio

dimensions: 11cm (W), 32cm (L), 17cm (H)

materials: synthetic paper, acrylic, brass

weight: 320g

brightness: 400-600 lm

voltage: 5V, 1A

power drain: 5W

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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