Since the start of 2025 students from UWTSD (University of Wales Trinity St David, Swansea Art College) from the BA Design Crafts and BA Surface Pattern courses have been set a live brief and generated work to be used an a celebratory event at Material Matters as part of The London Design Festival in September 2025.

This was a design and make project that explored the values and vision of Anglepoise. A project that sensitively addressed both the designer’s and user’s interaction with materials and processes in the manufacture and use of functional products. It required students to think of Anglepoise lamps as tools that support all manner of activities. Anglepoise lamps for ‘doers’- writers, makers, engineers, coders, cooks… People that require light to accomplish their work. The challenge of this project was to enhance the experience of using a task lamp and broaden the appeal of an Anglepoise product whilst remaining true to the company’s values and visions. It is a project that necessitates an understanding and demands of the task at hand whilst being sensitive to how a user physically (and emotionally) engages with a product. Anglepoise supplied a lampshade template for all students to use which was then screwed into an internal lamp holder forming part of an existing lighting collection called the Type 80. Designed by legendary Industrial Designer Sir Kenneth Grange.

Encouraging radical, unique interpretations that play with the themes of materials, light and surface treatment. Anglepoise has long had sustainability, repair and longevity at the heart of everything they do. So, consideration had to be taken across the entire lifecycle of the product.

Quotes from students:

Claire Tompkinson BA Design Crafts: Glass, Ceramics & Jewellery

“The overall theme of my lamp is impermanence and quiet transformation. It’s about working with nature as a collaborator— allowing living materials like roots to shape the piece slowly over time. It reflects how beauty can emerge through decay and fragility”

Anna Jones, BA Design Crafts: Glass, Ceramics & Jewellery (Lampshade Materials – Acrylic Wool and Porcelain)

“Ceramics can be more than just simple clay forms. While creating these lamps, I realised that clay and other materials that are typically considered incompatible can result in fascinating textures and shapes. This understanding goes beyond the materials themselves; it involves exploring what happens when experimenting with different materials and discovering the outcomes. Throughout this project I have developed an understanding of ceramics and bending the rules with the materials. As a design craft student this has been an exciting experience.”

Claire Tilling, BA Design Crafts: Glass, Ceramics & Jewellery
(Lampshade Materials – beach found plastic objects, recycled copper, hand-painted sea glass, vintage Anglepoise lamp cord)

“Designing for Anglepoise allowed me to go beyond standard lighting materials, using found objects to repurpose I developed discarded items into a luxury product. Using these materials allows for a unique, environmentally low-impact design that tells a unique and personal story. Working with an iconic brand and pushing the boundaries has resulted in an innovative piece that partly transforms into wearable jewellery. So you can have your desk lamp on and wear it at the same time!”

Quotes:

“It is vital for creative institutions to involve industry in anyway they can to enable collaboration and exploration which in term helps build confidence and contacts for these talented young creatives. What has been very special about this project is that it involved two different coastal cities each with strong heritage legacy’s that can compete in any global setting. Attitude is everything here.”
Claire Sambrook, Project Lead and Senior Lecturer at The University of Portsmouth

“From the moment I heard there was a possibility of working on a live brief with Anglepoise I was all in! An absolute fan of the iconic lamp design, I knew our students could step up and take on the challenge to respond to the ‘Beyond’ brief. On Design crafts we specialise in three core areas (glass, ceramics and jewellery) and are passionate about all manner of materials in-between. Students on Design Crafts are naturally curious about materials and as makers we are natural problem solvers. The Design Crafts team (both tutors and technicians) pulled together to support our students’ individual visions in a broad spectrum of materials and process from waterjet cut metal, welding, enamel, patination, kiln formed glass, patte de verre, electroforming, lampworking, ceramic casting and mould making. In addition, you will find eco materials such as grass roots and pine cones and other recycled objects such as beach waste and electrical components from the lamps themselves. What an exciting journey we have all been on! Working with the Anglepoise team was invaluable for our students and the individual feedback and studio visits were both insightful and fun. Thank you to all for your support, it has been a real pleasure to see our second-year blossom and quite literally go ‘beyond’ their comfort zones and also their making ability and professionalism. We cannot wait to see the exhibition and celebrate the lamps at London Design Festival!”
Anna Lewis – Programme Manager BA Design Crafts: Glass, Ceramics & Jewellery, Swansea College of Art – UWTSD

“Students were allowed the freedom and opportunity to experiment and dictate their choices withinthis live brief; to really consider their options and how ‘textiles’ in its broadest sense could behaveas a light shade. To reimagine the iconic Type 80 design in its exacting profile with a totally different fibre; is no mean feat! Students from surface pattern and textiles created various lamps out of repurposed, waste or dead stock cloth as well as paper and more translucent softer fibres too, such as shear cottons and silks. Layering these different weights of substrate created strength but also created depth harnessing the translucency of the design considering the light being switched on or off – this was an integral aspect to the brief that was proposed by Anglepoise”
Staff Quote Claire Savage – Lecturer, BA Hons & MDes Surface Pattern & Textiles, UWTSD

Come and see the project and other exciting presentations at Material Matters.

Photography by Claire Sambrook

Swansea College of Art, UWTSD
BA Design Crafts : Glass, Ceramics & Jewellery

Exhibiting Students

Chelsie Gallagher
Materials – carved porcelain and glaze

Anna Jones
Materials – slip cast porcelain from crochet

Clair Tompkins
Materials – grown wheat grass roots

Claire Tilling
Materials – copper, beach waste, plastic, glass, found materials, wire

Jessica Theobald
Materials – steel, enamel, lamp work glass detail

Louise Rimmer
Materials – glass, electroplate copper

Lydia Greaves
Materials – steel, enamel, glass and glass frit

Martin Lane
Materials – ‘pate de verre’ fused glass powder

Nissma Brown
Materials – patinated copper

Seren Trodden
Materials – steel, enamel, pine cone, faux fur, recycled Anglepoise waste lamp components,

Exhibiting Design Crafts Staff

Lyndon Davies
Materials – Slip cast cotton wool in porcelain

Katie Fawcett
Materials – enamel on steel

Adam Shelton
Materials – 3d printed

Swansea College of Art, UWTSD
BA & MDES Surface Pattern & Textiles

Exhibiting Students

Carys-Lewis Hopkins
Materials – Sugar paper and a linen blend for the embroidery pieces.

Kacie Anderson Goodfellow
Materials – Naturally dyed linens and wools. crinoline bases, heavy linen for the laser cut piece strengthened with Vilene. Laser cut papers.

Thea Wakeford
Materials – Linen voile, waste and scraps of paper, embossed cotton papers, Pergamenata parchment.

Jessica Oliver Cotton
Materials – Organdie, silk viscose satin and dead stock cotton from the company “Toast”. Vilene and laser cut elements. Screen printed pigments and pearl binders; devore processing.

Amy O’Callaghan
Materials – Digitally stitched calico, bonda web, sheer white cotton organdie, card, paper and cyanotype.

Maja Lane
Materials – Paper, cotton, cotton satin, cyanotype and opaque paste fabric print techniques with silk screen.

Jen Wengler
Materials – Patterned repurposed suede, embroidery thread, paper, ink.

Scarlett Davies
Materials – Silk, organic cotton canvas, denim and repurposed acrylic vinyl.

Blossom Evans
Materials – Pergamenata parchment, fabrics such as wool, silk, cotton, various dead-stock and scrap fabrics, natural dyestuff (avocado, nettles, buddleia), cyanotype, ink for printing initial motifs.

Carmen San-Miguel
Materials – Pergamenata parchment, mirror card, pearlized card, Fabriano watercolour paper, tracing paper.

Robyn Thorpe
Materials – Cotton Organdie, UV print, and thread.

Samantha McGrath
Materials – Spot-welded steel wire, brown satin ribbon.

Sophie Drew
Materials – Dead stock leather, fabric, flock, acetate, card and paper.

Sarah Davies
Materials – Paper, light-weight transparent paper, heavy-weight transparent paper.

Orla White
Materials – Repurposed laser engraved satin polyester silks and sugar paper.

Emmi Joy
Materials – Upcycled leather, Eucalyptus oil (used to print initial design on the leather). Spot welding steel as a metal frame for my design. Hand lino cut stamps for design.

Eve Merriman
Materials – Recycled denim, laser engraved and cut. Card and Pergamenata.

Lauren Stokes
Materials – Cotton organdie, cyanotype, translucent blue binder, pearlescent foil.

Kamila Jacewicz
Materials – Laser cut paper and card.

Material Matters London
Discover the Future of Materials at Material Matters London
17-20 September | Space House, 1 Kemble St (Kingsway), London WC2B 4AN

We are excited to be working closely with the Material Matters Fair this year. Which returns to the capital for its fourth edition, showcasing the latest in innovation, sustainable design, and material intelligence. Taking place during the London Design Festival 2025, this year’s event moves to a bold new venue, Space House, one of the city’s most iconic modernist buildings.

The Material Matters Fair returns to the capital for its fourth edition, showcasing the latest in innovation, sustainable design, and material intelligence. Taking place during the London Design Festival 2025, this year’s event moves to a bold new venue, Space House, one of the city’s most iconic modernist buildings.

This year, Anglepoise celebrates the 90th Anniversary of its Original 1227 Desk Lamp. Largely unchanged since its debut in the 1930s, the Original 1227 desk lamp remains a signature product, instantly recognisable as an Anglepoise. Since its creation, the lamp has achieved classic status and its practical problem-solving design, balletic engineering and ability to place light exactly where you want it has made it an unparalleled companion to creative endeavours.

To mark the anniversary, Anglepoise has partnered with students from two creative universities: University of Wales Trinity St David, Swansea College of Art and The University of Portsmouth. Their work will be unveiled at this year’s Material Matters exhibition during the London Design Festival.

The students of University of Wales Trinity St David, Swansea College of Art have conducted a design-and-make project exploring the values and vision of Anglepoise. Studies reimagined the Type 80 lamp, designed by Sir Kenneth Grange, using a lampshade template. The focus was on revising the materiality and surface pattern of the shade, taking into consideration sustainability, repairability and broadening product appeal.

Meanwhile, at The University of Portsmouth, students have created short animations and mixed-media films for both social channels and screenings. Led by creative studio Golden Wolf, the film series is titled ‘Legacy of an Icon’ and explores the creative expression of the 90th anniversary logo. Each animation is part of a looping, multi-artist showcase, forming a collective portrait of the Anglepoise brand.

Finally, Anglepoise has teamed up with Penguin Books, also celebrating its 90th Anniversary, to create four limited edition Original 1227 Giant Lamps in collaboration with artists Supermundane, Anthony Burrill, Lakwena and Nadia Shireen. The lamps will be on display at this year’s Material Matters, before being auctioned off later in the year, with all proceeds going to The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre.

90th Birthday Party

• Showcasing the new 90th Limited Edition Original 1227 product, in a special raw finish.
• //Beyond project – Partnering with University of Wales Trinity St David, Swansea College of Art to reimagining with materiality and surface pattern the Type 80 lamp, designed by Sir Kenneth Grange
• ‘Legacy of an Icon’ – Working with the University of Portsmouth. Led by creative studio Golden Wolf, the film series explores the creative expression of the 90th anniversary logo. Each animation is part of a looping, multi-artist showcase, forming a collective portrait of the Anglepoise brand.
• Finally, Anglepoise has teamed up with Penguin Books, also celebrating its 90th Anniversary, to create four limited edition Original 1227 Giant Lamps in collaboration with artists Supermundane, Anthony Burrill, Lakwena and Nadia Shireen. The lamps will be on display at this year’s Material Matters, before being auctioned off later in the year, with all proceeds going to The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre.

“From office staple to style icon”

Anglepoise marks 90 years since the launch of the Original 1227 desk lamp, at Milano Design Week with an installation which pays tribute to the brand’s core values and signature playfulness. Anglepoise unveils a stripped back 1227 in polished aluminum with brass components, to mark the anniversary, as well as a collection of iconic 90 Mini Mini lamps in three new vibrant and nostalgic colourways.

We shall be exhibiting between the 7-12 April 2025 at Brera Props
Via Statuto, 8 – Milano. And shall be open from 9:30am until 7:00pm.

Join us for an informal talk at 2pm daily with the 5th Generation Custodian of Anglepoise Simon Terry. Sharing anecdotes and stories from the last 90 years. 

We will also be celebrating with aperitivo from 5pm each day.

We look forward to seeing you there and if you need to reach out in advance of event to our reginal Sales Managers then please do so:

Ed Lanwarne, el@anglepoise.com (UK)
Jeanne Duquenne, jd@anglepoise.com (EMEA)
Rob Sargent, rcs@anglepoise.com (USA)

Looking forward to seeing you there. And you can find the location here

Anglepoise with 5th Generation Owner Simon Terry, invited a selection of the Press and Dealers to an immersive workshop experience, hosted by our friends at the beautiful Carl Hansen & Son showroom in Bowling Green Lane in London.

The purpose of the event was to begin the soft launch of celebrations around 90 years of the iconic Anglepoise 1227 lamp, and the recent B Corp certification that our team have achieved.

The event started with a brief introduction from Simon then the fun began! The assembly of parts and bringing Original 1227 products to life. As a special twist those involved were able to swap painted components in black, grey and white to create truly unique lighting companion.

“I wanted to thank you once again for inviting me to the event last week. It was truly inspiring to hear Simon share the rich heritage of Anglepoise and the passion behind such an iconic brand. My lamp is now proudly perched on my desk at home, providing a much-needed burst of light on these dark autumn days.”

Photography credit @elenabazu