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Executive Summary
BloomLight is a floral-inspired desk lamp designed and built by DTC 2 Team 4. The lamp transforms discarded scrap metal and leftover 3D printing filament into a functional, aesthetically pleasing lighting fixture that embodies sustainable design principles.
Our team set out to address two challenges: reducing material waste in maker spaces and creating an accessible, attractive desk lamp for students and young professionals. By repurposing metal scraps into petal-shaped reflectors and using recycled filament for the lamp's base and stem, BloomLight demonstrates that sustainability and good design are not mutually exclusive.
The final product features a flower-shaped head with metallic petals that diffuse and direct light, a 3D-printed magenta base for stability, and a curved orange stem that gives the lamp its organic, botanical character. BloomLight is both a desk lamp and a statement piece — proof that beauty can bloom from what others throw away.
Introduction
The BloomLight project began with a simple observation: maker spaces and fabrication labs generate a significant amount of material waste, from metal offcuts to spools of partially-used 3D printing filament. Rather than discarding these materials, our team sought to give them new life.
Inspired by the form of a blooming flower, we designed a desk lamp that uses scrap sheet metal for its petal-shaped lampshade and recycled PLA filament for its structural components. The design process involved iterative prototyping, material testing, and collaborative problem-solving across the team.
This ePortfolio documents our journey from concept to completed product, including our design rationale, the technical components involved, and lessons learned along the way.
