Header: Courtesy of Ming-Li Chang
Designer Ming-Li Chang has created a unique piece, the Dai Table Lamp, which recently won recognition at the LIT Lighting Design Awards in the Desk and Floor Lamps category. Completed in April 2024, this lamp is more than just a light source; it carries a meaningful story inspired by Chang’s own background.
Inspired by heritage and dance
The lamp draws inspiration from the Dai people, an ethnic group in China’s Yunnan province, where Ming-Li Chang has family roots. Specifically, it references a dance performance choreographed by Liping Yang that highlights the experiences of Dai women. A key element of this dance is a distinctive tilted hat worn by the performers. While the hats in the dance hid the dancers’ faces to focus attention on their movements and message, Chang wanted the lamp to do the opposite: to bring attention to and illuminate the figures often kept in the background. The lamp is designed to celebrate these working women.
Design details: Shape, pattern, and glow
The most noticeable feature is the lamp’s translucent shade. Its special tilted shape directly echoes the hats from the Dai dance. An etched pattern on the shade adds another layer of detail, meant to suggest the movement and feelings of the dancers. This carefully designed shade works with the light in a particular way – it provides useful light downwards, but also bounces light upwards, creating a glow around the lamp’s central form, putting the metaphorical figure in the spotlight.
The base of the lamp is made from ceramic with an interesting two-toned, asymmetrical finish. This design choice also connects back to the idea of conveying the motion and emotion inspired by the dance.
A light with a lasting message
Beyond its appearance, the Dai Table Lamp carries a purpose. Ming-Li Chang hopes it will spark conversations about the lives of women in rural China. The aim was to create an object that connects with people emotionally, encouraging them to value and keep the lamp for a long time. Practical considerations were also taken into account; while the base is sturdy ceramic, the shade, light component, and bottom plug can be disassembled, allowing for more compact packing.
