DSCENE Magazine Editor Pavle Banovic sits down with Lexavala Designer Jakub Szkaradek to discuss his unique approach to lamp design, merging emotion, memory, and functionality.
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What inspired the unique approach of crafting lamps that encapsulate emotions and memories? – The inspiration came from objects familiar to all of us from the past – such as industrial lamps, evoking childhood memories as something cheap that illuminated basements and production halls, or materials that evoke specific associations – such as marble, the quintessence of luxury and wealth, which seemed out of reach for us living in 1990s Poland.
How does Lexavala merge the practicality of lighting with the concept of creating timeless pieces? – All my designs, already by design, are not just a source of light, but objects that are valuable in their own right, primarily because of the materials from which they are created – brass, marble, or aerospace aluminum. It is the nobility of the materials, as well as the extraordinary attention to finishing details (as in the case of jewelry), that creates the timelessness of Lexavala lamps. The use of the most technologically advanced light modules in them, on the other hand, is an extremely important element that makes our lamps not only look beautiful but perfectly perform their function: giving light.
Can you describe the process of selecting and handcrafting the materials for your lamps? – The process begins with sourcing the best quality materials – from brass to marble, to aerospace aluminum collecting enough aluminum waste. Once the material is selected, the next step is to process it – depending on the
model, this includes cutting, bending the sheet metal, edge treatment, and polishing. In the case of recycled material, the process is a bit more complicated – we create special molds, the shape of which is taken by melted aluminum. Thanks to this process, we obtain objects that are exceptional and unique in their form (no two are the same).
In what ways do you believe Lexavala lamps serve as the key element of decor in a living space? – I believe that in general, lamps – not just Lexavala lamps – are “jewelry for the home”. They complement the decor. They also have the power to transform it – they are a detail that can completely change the character of a space, make it – depending on the intention – more modern, more cozy, more photogenic, or more sophisticated, elegant.
The future of design is timeless objects that are part of history and life, not subject to quickly passing fashions.
How do you balance the industrial efficiency and the elegance of handcrafted design in your creations? – I always try to mix craft with the use of industrial technologies. As an aside – selecting the right technology and fine-tuning it for a project is also a kind of art.
What guides your philosophy to ensure each Lexavala lamp becomes an integral part of someone’s personal story? – I assume that Lexavala lamps reach people for whom design is an important part of life, and thus an essential part of their living space, which they create consciously as part of their story. Hence, my philosophy is to create a design that is accessible – affordable, physically, aesthetically but also functionally and practically.
What is the future of design? – The future of design is timeless objects that are part of history and life, not subject to quickly passing fashions.
