Light is essential to human life, and the variety of lighting products is proof of just how important it is in every aspect of our life. That does mean that there is almost no one design that fits all because we need lighting in different places, such as on desks, on ceilings, and even sometimes in our hands. It might sometimes be more convenient if we can reuse that same lamp design for different purposes, especially if we tend to move around a lot or change setups every so often. Sometimes, that kind of flexibility requires an unconventional and often complicated design, but this modular lamp concept proves that it can actually be as simple as a single letter of the alphabet.

Designer: Youngseok Han (studio Loveit)

It isn’t that common for a desk lamp to become a pendant lamp unless they have some gimmick that makes them transform into different forms. Such designs come with the drawbacks of moving parts and less than trivial functions. In contrast, the C-lamp is a single form, yet it’s that very form that actually allows it to be used in so many different ways and contexts.

As the name suggests, the lamp comes in the shape of the letter “C,” though it might be closer to what some might call the “cent” currency symbol with vertical extrusions at the top and at the bottom. One of those extrusions contains LED bulbs that provide illumination, while the opposite end has a USB-C port for charging the battery inside. The molding might come in two halves, but they come together to form a single piece without any extra part, moving or otherwise.

On its own, the C-lamp can already function as a table lamp that shines its light upward when standing upright, or it can be placed in any direction when lying on its side. It’s also possible to use the same lamp as an ad hoc flashlight, especially since it doesn’t need to be plugged in to be used.

Its uses don’t stop there, though. The large space in the middle lets you hang it on hooks, turning it into a wall-mounted lamp. The gap between the two ends also allows the lamp to be hung on rods, where a row of such lamps could become a rather distinctive pendant lamp hanging from the ceiling. It can also hang on coat racks or stands for a more decorative lighting fixture.

The idea is that the C-lamp can be used in multiple ways and in different places, whether alone or in a group. It can even be produced in different colors to match a motif or your ever-changing aesthetic tastes. The design concept gives you the flexibility to change your setup at any time without losing functionality, freeing you to be creative and expressive with how you light up your space.