Buddy

Table Light for Gantri, Inc.

Buddy is a minimal, playful table light designed by Mona Sharma and made by Gantri, who 3D print lights using PLA derived from sugar crops. The adjustable head was a key idea from the designer, resulting in a new, stock component for future designers on the Gantri platform - offering better products and open source design. Each light is locally made in California and hand finished using water based marine paints, giving luxury, made to order products that are attainable, sustainable and safer for the planet.

Download Press Kit № 107288

Download Press Kit № 107288 Table Light for Gantri, Inc. by Mona Sharma to access high-res images, essential texts, translations, and exclusive interviews—all in one.

Available Now for Your Next Story

At design|newsroom, we understand the pressures and deadlines journalists face. That’s why we offer exclusive access to our curated press kits and high-resolution images, tailored for accredited journalists. These resources are designed to enrich your stories with depth and visual appeal, spotlighting the world's most innovative designs.

Please Note:

• Credit the work's creator and/or photographer.
• Mention design|newsroom as your source.
• Share your published pieces with us; we love to celebrate and promote your work on our platform and social media.

Let’s Collaborate: Your stories matter. design|newsroom is here to support you with quality, accessible content. Once you are accredited, reach out for the images and content you need. We will provide the specific images and content directly, along with recommendations on works to feature.

Get Accredited Easily: Quick access to our resources requires media accreditation. Apply for media accreditation to join our network and start exploring a wealth of design stories.

Buddy by Mona Sharma

Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.

Table Light by Mona Sharma

Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.

Mona Sharma Buddy

Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.

Mona Sharma Table Light

Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.

Gantri Inc Brand Logo

Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.

Buddy Table Light Media Articles

Our articles on Buddy, prepared for immediate use, are offered in several languages, including Korean, Japanese, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Spanish, French, Italian, English, Portuguese, Dutch, German, Arabic (Standard), Indonesian and Turkish.

Unique Properties

Buddy is a playful, Scandinavian influenced 3D printed task light for the dynamic worker. Its rounded, subtly tapered silhouette gives it a friendly stance and will help the user just like a 'buddy' would, featuring a moving head with dimmable light to focus down on a specific task, or to beam up to provide ambient light - making it a space saving choice for an office, living room or more.

Tags

3D Printed, Sustainable, Light, Lamp, PLA, Companion, Working from home, Desk Light

Production Technology

Buddy is made by Gantri. They use FDM 3D printing technology to manufacture lights using Gantri Plant Polymers - a unique form of PLA, derived from sugar crops and then hand finish with water based marine paints, all in California. This gives luxury, made to order products that are attainable for the consumer but also sustainable to create and safer for the environment. The pivoting head was a key detail from Mona Sharma, resulting in a new component which is now a stock part for future designers to use on the Gantri platform, opening up their offering.

Design Challenge

To keep the design minimal but characterful, sketching, modelling and prototyping was needed for clarity. The moving head was key, resulting in a new a stock part for future designers to use on the Gantri platform, changing 3D printing from a prototyping tool to a commercial manufacturing method. The design has no overhangs, easing material use and time in production. The design is parametrically designed, so can be easily adapted for the future, lowering costs to production and the environment.

Project Duration

The project began in April 2018 and finished in August 2019, in between Cambridge, UK and San Fransisco, USA. It began production in August 2019 in San Leandro, USA.

Operation Flow

It features a cylindrical body topped with an adjustable, dimmable head that can be angled up to provide ambient light or tilted down to keep the focus on your work. Buddy is designed for the office or study, but also makes a smart, space-saving choice for the bedside table or living room. The fact that it is very accommodating in terms of adjustability and brightness, as well as it being fully functional, sustainable due to mainland shipping and production techniques, whilst also defying 3D printing norms, shows that it is a great product that meets moral, aesthetic, sustainable and practical values all in one prooduct.

Research

Methods included market, trends research, primary and secondary material investigation, scale models and test 3D prints, to, see what is currently available, understand user needs, know the limits of FDM 3D printing and know scale and proportions of the design and usability. Data collection was in the form of notes, photos, sketches and measurements. Continuous 3D printing for testing ensured real life information, resulting a new stock part for future designers, pushing 3D printing boundaries.

Inspiration

To create a functional light that helps the dynamic worker to focus on specific tasks, such that the design has a moving head. This adds to Gantri's current portfolio which upon introduction focused heavily on 'static' designs. It's inspired by bold shapes and forms found in the Memphis design style, and the clean, minimal forms found in Scandinavian culture. I wanted to create a companion for 'thinking' spaces, so quirky, playful cues in abstract photography and in nature gave it character.

Project Overview

Buddy Table Light has been a Silver winner in the Lighting Products and Fixtures Design award category in the year 2020 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.

Image Credits

For design images and photos please credit Mona Sharma.

Silver Recognition

Mona Sharma was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2021, a testament to excellence of their work Buddy Table Light.

Mona Sharma Newsroom

Dive into Mona Sharma Newsroom to explore celebrated designs and projects.