Fabian Malmhagen, IDSA is a Swedish Industrial Designer raised in China, Austria, and Germany. He joined IDSA last year and, as a result, has gotten to know several talented people in New York City where is currently attending Parsons School of Design. Of the impact IDSA has, Fabian says, “The IDSA community has put me in contact with designers I normally would not have access to.”
Fabian recently entered his work into the LAMP 2022 International Lighting Design Competition and received recognition as People’s Choice in the student category. His design, the Sol Lamp, is designed to prevent Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Through a personally challenging exploration of form, material, and production, Sol was conceived. Sol is a lamp designed to be something users want to showcase rather than a piece of medical equipment hidden after its use. Sol is a wake-up lamp that gives its user more energy during the dark winter season.
Circadian Rhythm Disorder (CRD) is a disorder that refers to the disruptions in a human’s internal body clock. It is a disorder that goes hand in hand with SAD. To prevent CRD and SAD, wake-up lights can be used to aid users with their daily rhythm. Wake up lights use a technique called dawn simulations which is a form of a mechanical sunrise.
The dawn simulation wakes the user up in the same manners as if it were springtime. The user will sleep better and can in long term situations help decrease the proneness to SAD. Sol uses the wake-up light feature in the Philips Hue system to do this.
The lamp design is an ongoing project Fabian uses to develop his skills and showcase his talents. This piece was manufactured in southern Sweden using sand casting, glass molding, and 3D printing processes.
More about Fabian
He is passionate about furniture and the poetics between materials, aesthetics, and function. His design language is honest and straightforward and lies on the border between art and industrial design. As a designer, open-mindedness and sustainability are a big part of Fabian’s personal ethos, which he reflects in his design work. He has a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from Lund University and experience in the footwear industry.
Find Fabian online at www.fabianmalmhagen.com or on Instagram @fabian.h.c.malmhagen