OBJ-03 Table Lamp

The OBJ collection is based on simple gestures applied to materials in their commercial format. Through manipulations such as cuts and folds, raw materials are transformed into objects. Without the use of references and preliminary research stages during the creative process, Manuel's approach to design is intuitive. He enjoys drawing simple lines and sketching ideas in multiple notebooks, and over time, some of these sketches are turned into physical objects. Despite the OBJ series seeking an ambitious aesthetic and prioritizing beauty over function, these objects ultimately find their place at home, aiming to fulfill a specific function.

OBJ-03 emerges from a sheet of paper: a gesture, a cut, and a fold. The cut, once folded, allows the sheet to stand on its own, without falling, and also serves as a screen to receive light. The LED strip, hidden at the back and contained in a solid steel bar, adds essential weight to ensure the lamp's stability. Each part serves an indispensable function for the object. The lamp is a minimalist exercise, designed with the minimum possible elements and a single material: steel. Comprising an 18-gauge metal sheet square and, on its back, a machined steel bar containing the LED lighting, the entire lamp is rusted for a matte finish, softening and diffusing the light reflection.

OBJ-03, developed from flat steel sheets, is produced in Valle de Chalco, Estado de México, by metal artisans. Standard sheets are laser-cut to define the geometry with precision, then folded and assembled by hand using simple tools, avoiding welding.

The material is kept largely as found, retaining both the marks of its industrial origin and the traces of handling, heat, and transformation. In this case, a controlled oxidation is introduced to achieve a matte surface that softens and diffuses the light. Each step—cutting, folding, assembling—remains legible in the final object, embedding the process as an intrinsic part of the piece.