Seeking visual accompaniment to a largely auditory experience, I designed the Pulse lamp to illuminate in time with music, creating an effect resembling flashes of lightning. Initially an analog device, the lamp used an amplifying circuit concealed in its base to light a series of LEDs from the audio signal provided by an iPod or laptop computer. A subsequent conversion to digital allowed it to interface with the Gnome lamp and removed its dependence on batteries. The physical form of Pulse combines the handmade paper and wooden accents of Japanese shoji screens with the geometric intricacy of unit origami. Aside from the wooden joints, Pulse contains neither glue nor any other adhesive.

Expanding upon the music-driven Pulse lamp, Gnome introduces user interaction to the mix. Tapping the translucent surface in time with the beat of the music causes it to glow brighter and brighter. Walk away or otherwise get off the beat, though, and the light begins to fade away. The project derives its name from the image of a pesky creature that demands the user’s constant attention, turning him into a human metronome. An Arduino board (and accompanying code) provides the core of the Gnome lamp, processing both the audio signal and input from a piezoelectric pressure sensor. The wooden base is shaped with a CNC mill, while the wrist rest is cast from a two-part silicone mold.

pulse + gnome lighting

pulse + gnome lighting