sculptural table lamps combine 3D printing, graphic geometry, and saturated color
color, geometry, and modularity form Charlie Firth’s table lamps
Based in South West Wales, product and furniture designer Charlie Firth develops an evolving design language through color, modularity, and digital fabrication. His ongoing series of 3D printed table lamps combines functional lighting with sculptural forms influenced by the Memphis movement, translating its geometric shapes, patterns, and saturated colors into objects for contemporary interiors.
Firth’s process begins with two-dimensional drawings in which shapes and patterns are layered and collaged. He collects block forms and graphic motifs from his surroundings in sketchbooks, gradually combining them into compositions. These drawings are then developed into modular 3D models, allowing individual components, arrangements, and colors to be interchanged and tested digitally.
The 3D printing process also informs the appearance of the lamps. Infill patterns, visible layer lines, and variations in surface texture create contrasts between components while affecting how the objects interact with light. The manufacturing process therefore becomes part of the design language, with technical characteristics of additive fabrication retained as visual features. This approach is particularly visible in the ‘Memphis Is Back’ lamp, where the internal infill pattern becomes visible through the printed form when the light is switched on. Initially observed as an accidental effect, the cross-hatched pattern was subsequently incorporated as a deliberate element across later designs. The resulting surfaces alter the reflection and diffusion of light, adding another layer to the relationship between structure, material, and illumination.
‘Memphis Is Back’ Lamp | all images ©Charlie Firth
The lamps sit between functional lighting and sculptural design
Designer Charlie Firth’s digital workflow builds on his background in furniture design, where developing physical prototypes traditionally requires more time between iterations. Working digitally allows him to rapidly generate and modify three-dimensional forms, testing different combinations of components and compositions before production. The process supports an adaptive approach in which the design system can continue to develop through experimentation.
Color has become an increasingly important part of this development. Earlier in his career, Firth primarily worked with monochrome palettes and streamlined forms, an approach that aligned with a design market dominated by minimal, neutral products before 2020. The prevalence of beige and muted interiors eventually became a point of departure for his work. This shift became particularly pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic. During lockdown, Firth spent a year living with his partner in a rented apartment in Bath. The interior was designed to remain neutral, clean, and marketable, functioning as a temporary space with few opportunities for personal expression. The experience prompted a change in his approach to color and domestic objects, leading toward the more expressive forms and palettes that characterize his current work.
The resulting series combines functional lighting with a visual language built from geometric forms, modular components, printed textures, and color. Through 3D printing, Firth uses the technical characteristics of the manufacturing process as part of the object’s appearance, developing table lamps that sit between functional furniture and sculptural design.
‘Hatched’ Lamp is inspired by the infill structure used to create 3D forms
this model is often viewed as a skeletonised lamp
saturated colors introduce a more expressive character to the domestic objects
a lamp with no rules, created through playful collage and contrasting colors
modular components allow forms, arrangements, and colors to be digitally interchanged
the lamps sit between functional lighting and sculptural design
color and geometry combine across the modular lamp compositions
‘Memphis Is Back’ infill texture on the shade becomes visible when the lamp is on
‘Memphis Is Back’ Lamp features a textured shade diffusing a soft, warm glow
3D printing makes the manufacturing process visible in Firth’s finished objects
project info:
name: Colorful Rebellion
designer: Charlie Firth
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edited by: Christina Vergopoulou | designboom
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