Snap

Lighting fixtures featuring a snap mechanism based on the natural flexibility of wood. This project explores snap-fit connectors—connectors that rely on the natural flexibility of a material. These connectors are characterized by a male component that flexes and “snaps” into a designated locking position in the female component. Once it passes the geometric threshold, it locks into place. Snap mechanisms and connectors are extremely common and familiar in everyday life. We encounter them in shampoo caps, battery covers, coat buttons, strap buckles, and many other objects. The term “snap” refers to the distinctive sound the mechanism makes, providing an audible indication that the locking action has been completed. In this project, I developed numerous snap mechanisms based on the natural flexibility of wood. Presented here are two lighting fixtures: Giro and Django. Giro is a floor lamp in which the light-emitting component is held under pressure between the legs. The legs snap into different positions, allowing the direction of the light to be adjusted while producing the satisfying sound of the snap. Django is a table lamp with two lighting positions: a frontal position and a position that directs the light toward the table. Django features a “snap button” that functions both as a pivot for movement and as a stopper that limits the movement of the mechanism along the body. Both lighting fixtures use the flexibility of wood twice: once to change the lighting position, and once to stabilize the fixture itself.