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Design by Decade – 1980s

Design by Decade – 1980s

The 1980s conjure many things for many people: New wave, big hair, bright colors and high glam. In the world of design, much of the ‘80s aesthetic owes itself to the budding Memphis movement from Milan, spawned by prolific designer Ettore Sottsass and carried through in every geometric shape, bold pattern and lively color. A polarizing era with ideas abound, here’s our wrap up of some of the best fixtures to emerge during this like totally tubular decade.




1980
Tokio
by Asahara Shiegeo for Stilnovo

The Tokio Table Lamp is a timeless fixture designed by Asahara Shigeaki for Italian lighting manufacturer, Stilnovo. The lamp is highly adjustable with a maximum height of 64 centimeters. Featuring a mailbox-like shade supported by four adjustable arms, allowing the lamp is capable of moving in all directions. With a dimmer and sliding switch cleverly concealed within the base, Tokio lamps are perfect atop home offices and work desks alike.


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Tokio Pendant

1981
Callimaco
Ettore Sottsass by Artemide

Hailing from the early days of Memphis design, Italian architect and designer Ettore Sottsass set out to capture the essence of a vintage Luminator and column with Callimaco. Pops of color and a whimsical approach to scale highlight key Memphis Group ideas, refined and revised over the next decade.


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Callimaco

1981
Tahiti
by Ettore Sottsass

A colorful icon from the early days of Memphis, the Tahiti lamp from prolific Italian architect and designer Ettore Sottsass set the tone for what was to become postmodernism. Zoomorphic in nature, thanks to its bird-like appearance, Tahiti plays with bright colors, basic geometric shapes and squiggle patterns to create something that embodies the spirit of Memphis design - fun and playful with an edge of sophistication.


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Tahiti by Ettore Sottsass

1981
Treetops
by Ettore Sottsass

Curved, colorful and oh so geometric, the Treetops floor lamp from Ettore Sottsass embodies everything the Memphis movement was about - a rejection of traditional bourgeois design and culture. Influenced by the Radical Design movement from 60s and 70s Italy, Treetops boldly carries that torch forward into the 80s while evolving into something even more modern.


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Treetops by Ettore Sottsass

1981
Ashoka
by Ettore Sottsass

Perhaps the most Memphis lamp on the market, Ashoka drew inspiration from ancient legend and ritual, something designer Ettore Sottsass dabbled in thanks to his world travels. In fact, Ashoka was an ancient Indian emperor. The color, scale and cartoonish-nature create a whimsy that only the eighties could produce. At almost three feet tall, it's much larger than it appears, designed in Sottsass's "cactus" and "totem" substyles found throughout much of his furniture.


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Ashoka by Ettore Sottsass

1982
Aurora Pendant
by Perry King and Santiago Miranda for Arteluce

Designed by Perry King and Santiago Miranda, the Aurora Pendant for Arteluce provides direct, diffused light from a suspended disk comprised of a pair of textured glass plates which sandwich a carbon fiber disk. One of the most popular fixtures of the decade, the Aurora’s transformer is held in the dome ceiling cap and holds the suspension wires, which are height adjustable to ensure flexibility.


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Aurora Pendant

1982
Halo There Pendant
by Olle Andersson for Boren

Designed by Olle Andersson for Swedish manufacturer, Boren, the Halo There Pendant won the “Excellent Swedish Design” award in 1982 and has since remained a favorite among designers and homeowners alike. This fixture represents a unique marriage of the DeStiji and Post Modern aesthetics. A forward thinking design, this fixture is held in collections at both the Swedish National and Rohss museum.


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Halo There Pendant

1983
Pausania Table Lamp
by Ettore Sottsass for Artemide

The Pausania Table Lamp highlights the aesthetic of renowned Memphis-style designer, Ettore Sottsass. Designed in 1983, the Pausania adds a touch of playful aesthetics to contemporary interiors all while remaining highly sophisticated. The re-edition of the fixture features new tunable white technology which enables numerous color temperatures to suit your environment. With a body in black resin with a green diffuser, the Pausania is perfect for your home office.


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Pausania Table Lamp

1983
Saturn Table Lamp
by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs

Designed by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, the Saturn Table Lamp features a polished zinc base with brass rods and a glass Saturn style top. When lit, the light reflects throughout the glass, creating a stunning look – perfect for home offices and bedside tables.


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Saturn Table Lamp

1983
Bay Table Lamp
by Ettore Sottsass

Repeating geometric shapes in bold, neon colors make the Bay table lamp from Ettore Sottsass one to remember. A cleaned up fixture - for the Memphis era - Bay blends glass, aluminum and plexiglass with stunning results, channeling the shapes and symmetry of Art Deco but with the colors and materials pulled straight from the eighties.


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Bable Table Lamp

1987
Tolomeo Classic Desk Lamp
by Artemide

Perhaps the most flexible desk lamp on the market, even today, Tolomeo quickly became a bestseller for Artemide. Relying on the technology of the time, Lucchi and Fassina were able to create something modern, sophisticated, lightweight and flexible, becoming the litmus test many of today’s desk lamps measure up to.


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Tolomeo

  • How did the Memphis Design movement influence 1980s lighting styles?

      • The Memphis Design movement revolutionized 1980s lighting with bold colors, geometric shapes, and playful designs. Led by designers like Ettore Sottsass, it rejected traditional norms for a more avant-garde approach. Bright colors, high-glam aesthetics, and whimsical scale were common in lamps, reflecting the movement's influence. Geometric shapes, bold patterns, and a mix of traditional and modern elements like Art Deco and Bauhaus were prevalent. New materials like chrome and plexiglass added a futuristic look. Adjustable functionality and playful designs were key, with innovations like tunable white technology making 1980s lighting styles truly iconic.

  • What materials and colors were commonly used in 80s lamp designs?

      • In the 1980s, lamp design embraced futuristic and high-tech aesthetics using materials like chrome, aluminum, and plexiglass. These sleek and modern materials defined the decade's lighting fixtures, along with bold and vibrant colors that added a touch of glamour. The Memphis movement, led by designers like Ettore Sottsass, introduced playful and whimsical color schemes, incorporating pops of vibrant shades for eye-catching pieces. Geometric shapes, curves, and bold patterns were also common in 80s lamp designs, blending traditional and modern elements for visually striking fixtures. Overall, the era was characterized by innovative materials, bold colors, and unique shapes that captured the spirit of the time.

  • What are some tips for incorporating vintage 80s lamps into contemporary decor?

      • When incorporating vintage 80s lamps into contemporary decor, embrace bold and playful design elements like those from the Memphis movement. Look for lamps with bright colors, geometric shapes, and whimsical patterns. Mix vintage pieces with modern furniture for a unique look. Choose lamps made from chrome, aluminum, or plexiglass for a futuristic feel. Opt for adjustable designs with features like adjustable arms or dimmers. Consider lamps with tunable white technology or height-adjustable suspension wires for added flexibility. Blend vintage 80s lamps with modern decor for a visually dynamic and stylish space that honors the past while embracing the present.

  • What are some popular 1980s lamp styles that have made a comeback in recent years?

      • The 1980s lamp design era, influenced by the Memphis movement, has made a comeback in modern interior design trends. Vibrant colors, bold geometric shapes, and playful designs define these iconic lamps. Materials like chrome, aluminum, and plexiglass were commonly used, giving them a futuristic look. Functionality and playfulness were key principles, with adjustable arms, dimmers, and cartoonish elements. Innovations like tunable white technology showcase the forward-thinking nature of 1980s lamp designs. Award-winning designs like the Halo There Pendant continue to captivate modern audiences seeking a blend of nostalgia and contemporary flair in their lighting choices.

  • How did 1980s lighting reflect the era's fascination with modern technology and futurism?

      • The 1980s lighting design era was influenced by modern technology and futurism, with designers like Ettore Sottsass embracing bold colors and playful designs. Lamp designs featured bright colors, geometric shapes, and materials like chrome and plexiglass for a futuristic look. Functionality was important, with adjustable arms and dimmers in lamps like the Tokio Table Lamp. Playful designs like the Tahiti and Ashoka lamps embodied a colorful spirit. Innovations like tunable white technology in the Pausania Table Lamp and adjustable lighting in fixtures like the Aurora Pendant showcased adaptability. Designs like the Halo There Pendant received awards, solidifying the era's impact on lighting innovation.