Sumio Ichiba, Product Designer and founder of Ichiba Design Studio, talks about his crystal LED Mizubashow and Lavender designs at Lighting Japan 2014, which took place from Jan. 15 to 17 at Tokyo Big Sight.

Sumio Ichiba, Product Designer and founder of Ichiba Design Studio. (LEDinside)

Lin: Can you speak a bit about your background?

Ichiba: I am a product designer, and have been involved making electric products, chairs, cars and speakers.

My first lamp design was the “Fruit Lamp” made in 2012. Akari Co. liked the design, but it is not easy to make, so it is only prototype luminaire. The lighting effect for “Fruit Lamp” is very beautiful and it’s made with acrylic.

“Fruit Lamp” made by Sumio Ichiba in 2012. (Photo Courtesy of Ichiba Design Studio)

Lin: What’s the design concept for Mizubashow? 

Ichiba: I wanted to express a very pretty flower in Japan. I wanted to express the precise image in the design, the beauty of the flower, and using crystals makes the flower looks like ice. I combined the organic flower with the crystal to make the bright creation. The crystals used are just normal crystals.

Lin: What’s the LED used for the luminaire?

Ichiba: The light uses white LED from Akari Co..

Lin: When did you start making the luminaire and how long did it take for you to make?

Ichiba: I began designing about one month ago, and it took me one to two months to make the prototype.

LED luminaire Mizubashow designed by Sumio Ichiba. (LEDinside)

Lin: What market are you targeting with Mizubashow?

Ichiba: Luxury market for Mizubashow, it is very expensive. It is already in mass production phase. All the lights are handmade by me.

According to Ichiba’s business partner, the Mizubashow sells at 130,000 Japanese Yen (US$ 1,245. 33) in Japan, and is currently being sold on a customized basis.

LED luminaire Lavender designed by Sumio Ichiba. (LEDinside)

Lin: Can you tell us a bit about Lavender design?

Ichiba: I designed Lavender with the concept of small flowers in my mind. The luminaire is also made from crystal glass, and designed about one month ago. These are my latest creations and are still in the prototype phase.

Lin: What is the most difficult aspect for you when designing luminaires? 

Ichiba: It is usually really fast for me to write and draw the design. It takes only a week for the drawing design, but the most difficult part is lighting effect. I cannot know what the lighting effect will be like until I make it. Lighting effect is difficult, but line making is very easy.