Spool is a large sculptural floor lamp, 2m high by 600mm in diameter, intended as an ambient light for a big studio space. Its long curves and repetitive form gives off a mellow relaxing vibe.

The base of the SPOOL, made from mdf, is finished with a high quality pearlescent automotive two pak acrylic urethane (Permacron^TM). The connecting centre armature is fabricated from 8 mm mild steel rod and houses a 1600mm fluorescent lamp. The outside form is made from 3mm mild steel wire. All inside steel is powder coated white. The outside skin is made from 2 interchangeable Lycra sleeves.

As kids on rainy days, my mother who was a dress maker, would throw us the empty cotton reels to play with. These were instantly transformed into all manner of imaginative things, rockets, trains, aliens, boats and skyscrapers. The form of the SPOOL is three of these cotton reels stacked on top of each other, a kind of mini skyscraper!

My method of design changed on this project. Normally I would do several sketches followed by a 1:5 scale maquette, and then a full size mock up, but with SPOOL, I went from sketches straight to making the piece.