Interview about Loop Candleholder, winner of the A' Decorative Items and Homeware Design Award 2024
The Loop candleholder, named for its distinctive design, features three interconnected loops that serve as a sturdy base for a tall candle to rest upon. The perpendicular loop that houses the candle adds an elegant touch to the overall aesthetic. To prevent any wax from spilling onto surfaces, an accompanying tray has been designed specifically for this candleholder. This tray not only catches any excess wax but also serves as a standalone home decoration item when not in use. The Loop candleholder and tray create a cohesive and visually appealing set that is both functional and stylish.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsThe infinity symbol, represented by a loop of two interconnected circles, served as the foundation for our design. Our approach was to reinterpret this timeless symbol concept as a three-dimensional object that, when viewed from multiple angles, would always reveal the infinity shape. The symbol represents the concept of endlessness and the loops that we used for this object also have no beginning or an end.So for practical purposes, the three loops serve as the legs that hold the fourth loop which holds the tall candle in position. The placement of the leg loops at 120° intervals ensures that, from most perspectives, two loops create the illusion of the infinity symbol, while the third loop remains subtly hidden behind by the candle and, barely noticable.
The biggest engineering challenge in bringing the Loop Candleholder to life was designing its mold. Unlike previous objects we had created, this piece required a completely different approach. Instead of printing a full prototype, we broke the design into components. For the legs—the three large vertical loops—we printed a single prototype segment that, when rotated, repeats two more times to complete the structure.For the candle's insertion cup—the smaller horizontal loop—we used two separate mold parts. These parts were designed to render the area from the top and bottom, fitting seamlessly with each other and integrating perfectly with the other three parts. This modular approach allowed us to maintain the intricate geometry of the design while ensuring the production process was efficient and precise.
Our CGI background certainly proved helpful with all the pre-viz renders we did for different light scenarios, in order to decide on the right balance between the object’s positive and negative space.
The Loop Candleholder’s minimal design features a floating candle insertion ring, which, while visually striking, raised practical concerns about melted wax dripping. To address this, we introduced a tray that serves as a discreet wax collector, ensuring functionality without compromising the candleholder's elegance.We designed the tray with a minimal footprint and incorporated a twisting square profile along its border, mirroring the aesthetic language of the candleholder for seamless integration. Beyond its primary function, the tray is a versatile standalone piece, perfect for storing small items like jewelry, keys, or coins. In our workshop, we’ve found it particularly useful for organizing nuts, bolts, and small airbrush accessories.
The biggest technical challenge in creating the Loop Candleholder's five-piece mold system was determining the appropriate silicone shore hardness and the ideal curing time for the cast. The candleholder's delicate, thin, and intricate design made it especially fragile before fully cured. To ensure flawless results, we conducted several rounds of testing to fine-tune these variables, ensuring both the mold material and curing process would provide the necessary stability during production.The most valuable takeaway from this experience was understanding that a final object often requires multiple prototypes, each contributing to a different part of the mold. In many cases, this approach is the only way to achieve the desired result. This lesson has reshaped our approach to future designs, emphasizing the importance of iterative testing and the ability to adapt our process based on the unique challenges each project presents.
Although at first we were very doubtful on whether or not we should be involved in the production of our objects, we eventually understood that we were very lucky to be involved in it. The take-away from this is that we gained a very good understanding of the level of reproduction difficulty as well as the amount of work involved into making a final quality copy and this is something very important to know when designing any object. The other advantage of being able to turn your own designs into objects means that you don’t need to rely on other producers to tell you if something is doable or how hard it actually is to make it, since you can figure it out yourself.
Knowledge of hard surface modelling, shading, lighting and rendering were definitely the most useful skills we had gained from our past experience and were able to apply to this product. Additionally, our familiarity with photography, particularly the use of a camera tripod, played a subtle yet crucial role in the design. It influenced our decision to create a stable, three-legged structure, allowing for a balance of form and function that ensures both visual appeal and physical stability.
The Loop Candleholder is crafted from Jesmonite, an eco-resin that reflects our studio’s commitment to sustainability. In recent years, we’ve made a conscious effort to transition to more sustainable and recyclable materials across our product range. Jesmonite is considered more environmentally friendly compared to traditional resins, and it aligns with our values of reducing our environmental impact.What’s particularly great about Jesmonite is that it doesn't drastically alter our production process. We still follow the same steps as we did with polyurethane resin—mixing two components and casting in silicone molds. This means we can maintain the quality and craftsmanship of our designs while using a material that leaves a smaller carbon footprint. Essentially, the shift to Jesmonite has allowed us to uphold our design integrity without compromising on sustainability.
Many 3D Renders were done before locking down the design of the candleholder. Priority was always given to the object’s design but the shadows that were casted by the object were also taken into consideration for finalizing the design.
We are incredibly delighted by the recognition the Loop Candleholder received from the A' Design Awards. This accomplishment has been both affirming and inspiring for us, reinforcing our creative vision and approach. It encourages us to continue pushing boundaries in homeware design while remaining true to our philosophy of creating functional, timeless pieces.Looking ahead, this success motivates us to explore new innovations while refining our existing concepts. It has given us confidence to experiment with even bolder ideas and challenge traditional design norms. Since we feel like this accomplishment encourages our way of thinking and helps us continue doing what we love for all future releases.
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