Lamp made out of eggshells cracks prestigious furniture award | Design
Melbourne designer Joanne Odisho has claimed one of the country’s most prestigious design accolades, the Australian Furniture Design Award, for her innovative lighting collection, Mod-u. The project, which utilizes a unique material derived from discarded eggshells, stood out to judges for its versatility and tactile nature.
The creation process begins with collecting thousands of eggshells from local cafes. Odisho then sterilizes and dries the shells before grinding them into a fine powder. This powder is combined with a biopolymer to create a substance with the consistency of wet sand, which is poured into molds and left to cure naturally for approximately one week.
Did You Know?
The Mod-u lighting system is the result of a project that began as a school assignment at RMIT in 2022, where Odisho was challenged to incorporate food waste into a functional product design.
Innovation in Compact Living
The theme for this year’s competition, “living well, living small,” focused on enhancing functionality and comfort within compact spaces. Odisho’s lamps consist of dozens of re-arrangeable blocks that can be moved, rotated, and alternated, allowing users to configure them as table lamps, floor lamps, or feature pieces.
Tony Russell, brand director of Stylecraft and a long-time member of the prize jury, noted that the material’s architectural form and tactile quality were significant factors in the decision. He observed that the lamp is a piece that invites engagement, marking a departure from more traditional materials.
Expert Insight:
The success of the Mod-u project highlights a growing shift in the furniture industry toward sustainable, circular design. By utilizing household-grade, biodegradable ingredients and avoiding energy-intensive firing processes, the work suggests that high-end, durable aesthetics can be achieved through accessible, low-impact manufacturing methods.
What Comes Next
As the winner of the award, Odisho receives a $20,000 cash prize and the opportunity to collaborate with Stylecraft to bring a new design to commercial production. While she has not yet finalized her next project, she has expressed a strong interest in exploring soft furnishings, such as modular sofas, alongside potential variations of her award-winning lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mod-u lamp made of?
The lamp is made from a composite of crushed eggshells and a biopolymer. Odisho describes the material as rock-like in durability once dried and notes that it is cheap, compostable, and self-curing.
How does the award help the winner?
Winners receive $20,000 and the chance to collaborate with Stylecraft on taking a new design to commercial production and market.
What was the theme of this year’s competition?
The theme was “living well, living small,” which challenged participants to create designs that improve comfort, functionality, and wellbeing in compact living environments.
Would you consider integrating furniture made from recycled food waste into your own home?