Overview

The Flower Hanging Lamp is a suspended light fixture inspired by organic floral forms and engineered through digital modeling and additive fabrication techniques. The project explores how layered petals, curvature, and light transmission can be translated into a functional, sculptural lamp that casts soft, petal-shaped shadows when illuminated.

The final lamp consists of multiple interlocking petal components arranged into a blooming form, with an internal LED light source that creates an atmospheric downward glow. The result is a lightweight yet structured hanging lamp that blends nature-inspired biomorphism with engineered modular design.

1. Inspiration & Sketching

I studied real flowers — lilies, tulips, magnolias — noting:

• How petals overlap

• How light passes through thin petal layers

• How the center opens into a downward funnel

I sketched several blooming structures, exploring:

• 3-layer, 5-layer, and spiral petal arrangements

• Petal curvature variation

• How the petals should flare outward to catch light

• How the lamp should balance when hanging

These sketches guided the CAD modeling process.

3. Prototyping — “Finding the right thickness is everything.”

I printed multiple small petal prototypes to test:

• Light diffusion

• Curvature fidelity

• Structural rigidity

• Printability without supports

Key discoveries:

• Thin petals (1mm) → translucent, beautiful glow, but too fragile

• Thick petals (3mm) → strong but too opaque

• Final petal thickness settled around 1.6–2mm

  • Strong enough to handle

  • Thin enough to diffuse warm light

  • Printed cleanly with minimal supports

I also tested the petal base connection to ensure:

• Easy press-fit assembly

• No cracking during installation

• Good alignment around the lamp’s circumference

4. Fabrication — Final Printing + Assembly

Printing

• Petals printed individually in PLA

• Slightly slower print speed to preserve curvature detail

• Inner and middle rings printed at higher infill for stability

• All pieces sanded along layer lines for smoother light diffusion

Assembly

The process included:

1. Attaching petals to the middle ring using the built-in tabs

2. Staggering petals to create layered bloom effect

3. Installing LED pendant light hardware through the inner ring

4. Threading the cord cleanly through the center

5. Hanging the fully assembled lamp and testing light spread

When illuminated, the petals softened the LED output into a gentle, floral glow.

The completed Flower Hanging Lamp is:

• Lightweight

• Delicately glowing

• Structurally balanced

• Easy to assemble

• Visually organic

• A functional sculptural object

Light gently filters through the petal layers, creating dynamic shadows and a warm ambience.
It reads as a blooming flower from below — a perfect identity match for a hanging pendant fixture.

How to build modular organic forms in CAD

• How thickness affects translucency in 3D prints

• Designing for suspension + safety

• Balancing aesthetics and function in light fixtures

• How layering influences shadow and light spread

• Importance of tolerances for repeated interlocking parts

This project strengthened my ability to bridge art and engineering.
Creating a functional hanging lamp required both precision and creativity — from modeling petals that feel alive to ensuring wiring is safe, centered, and hidden.

It pushed me to think not only about form, but about how light interacts with form.

I found myself drawn to objects that bring a bit of nature into indoor spaces.
The Flower Hanging Lamp felt like designing a piece of digital nature — one that glows.

It reaffirmed my love for organic, biomorphic design and made me excited to create more light-based sculptural work in the future.