Meng-Hsun Wu

Breaking the mould

Department: Social Design

External Conditioning

People’s perspectives on value are influenced by the world they live in, says Meng Hsun Wu. They do not entirely determine their own behaviour; each person is a representative of where they are from. This context is formed by culture and environment, much of which is engineered by designers. It made him wonder: how are individuals forced into a mould by designed objects and an artificial environment? Meng Hsun designed this ceramic lamp to stimulate users to interact with it without being conscious of it. The object simply allows it. It is composed of grated pieces of clay, which makes the structure singularly delicate. A gentle touch is enough to break it. The lamp invites the user to deconstruct it. At the same time its appearance reflects the way it interacts with its user, both the lamp shade and the light intensity transform through usage.