036 PRODUCT LAUNCH
“Like my father, I was also good at maths
and so pursuing an education in engineering
was an obvious choice for my parents - we
compromised at product design, which led
me to the University of Antwerp.”
As well as inheriting his father’s aptitude
for mathematics, the pair also share a keen
appreciation for the arts, which filters
through to Demunster’s designs today.
“I have a collection of Belgian contemporary
art from the 50s up to the present day,” he
says. “Having studied the work of Marcel
Broodthaers, Philippe Vandenberg and Mario
De Brabandere gives me the oxygen I need
to breathe!
“The education I received was often
focused on a signature design style and
a lot of designers work that way... If I am
honest, even today, most of the designs
I start out with have a clear ‘Maarten
Demunster Signature’ but this is followed
by an in-depth design process that removes
elements rather than adding to the design.
Styling becomes a delicate balance between
the ordinary and the sublime rather than
shouting out and using forms that have onlyan aesthetic function.”
Having worked predominantly in product
design for the architectural lighting sector,
Demunster has been working with Delta
Light’s Paul Ameloot for the past decade,
whom has, over the years taught the
product designer that good design is about
more than winning awards.
“Paul Ameloot convinced me after a while
that ‘commercial’ isn’t a swear word and
that good design is not just ‘good’ for the
designer involved, or the end user, but for
the entire chain of people that are engaged
in the lifetime of the product, as well as the
environment and also what is good for the
company!
“Most of the products designed at Delta
Light are architectural lighting products- designed to service the architecture
and the people who use it. It is a tool we
give to architects and lighting designers
to pronounce their designs, to give the
space some atmosphere or to create some
functionality.
“As such, I would describe most of our
products as ‘introvert designs’. The
architecture of a building is the most
important element; light is then used either
in a functional capacity or for aesthetics, to
strengthen the architecture. The form of a
light fixture is in the function of the light...”
Referring back to the Reflections range,
Demunster expands on its concept: “For
the Miles family, we were searching for
a kind of ‘forgotten’ archetype. A shape
that is recognisable but not too obvious.
I was inspired by the paintings of Giorgio
Morandi – I started with one shape and
made variations of other forms but with the
same base. The result is pure eye-candy! A
collection of four purely handcrafted glass
shapes, each in four different colours, each
recognisable yet unique in all respects.
“It is a family of suspensions that play on
the visual contrast between the coloured
and white blown glass, combined with
different shapes and colours, also ideal
for multiple compositions. All shapes and
finishes are inspired by the interplay of
opacity, translucency and transparency. Its
translucent or milky forms and dynamic light
offer a countless number of scenarios.Miles