The young designer from ArtCenter College of Design, Jingwen Gu, was crowned the winner of the SIT Furniture Design Award. Initially inspired by the Yusai-Tei gallery in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan, Jingwen Gu’s lamp collection now has the opportunity to return to where it all started, creating a full-circle moment. A sleek, modern set of lamps was projected to bring a comforting, therapeutic glow to the surroundings. Evoking the sensation of touching still water with your fingers, the Yurameki lamps emanate serenity and calmness.
Inspired by the movement of water
The designer got the inspiration from her visit to Yusai-Tei gallery, located on the banks of the Katsura River. Gu was intrigued by the rhythmic movement of water ripples, appearing as a result of the harmonious coexistence of nature and human beings. The desire to bring that natural moment into people’s homes has led Gu to create a relaxing lighting fixture that can serve as a sanctuary from the chaos of modern-day life. The Yurameki design mirrors the fluidity of the ripples, while the material is carefully selected to improve the overlapping dance of light and shadow.
The lamps are created through testing and trial, starting with sketches and progressing to mock-up cardboard versions that allowed experimentation with the movement of light. The opportunity to adjust the light is one of Yurameki’s main characteristics. Users can easily adapt the illumination to their preferences with a simple glide of the handle by pulling the central part up or down, creating a sense of suspension. The brightness levels vary as the distance between the coil and the light changes. Laser-cut radial slices enrich the light effect, while interlocking slices cast captivating shadows on the illuminated ground.
Yurameki comes in a set of two
Two lamps in the collection, one transparent and the other black, are made in distinctive finishes to provide different experiences. The lamps are meant to be placed throughout the home to enhance the ambience. But the main goal of Yurameki is not to light up the space. By emanating therapeutic light, the lamps aim to bring calmness and restorative energy to the human heart. Young Chinese designer Jingwen Gu graduated in Science Product Design at ArtCenter College of Design, Pasadena, California, in 2024. Her designs have been exhibited in several exhibitions dating back to 2022. The designer won in the Desk Lamp category. She will have the opportunity to celebrate her prize at the 2025 SIT Furniture Design Awards Ceremony & Gala Dinner on November 21st, 2025, in Basel, Switzerland.
Photo credit: Jingwen Gu
