Sofía Martín, a student in the final year of the Degree in Product Design at UDIT, University of Design, Innovation and Technology, has won in the "Illuminated Home Décor" category of the Lighting Design Awards, awards that recognise the effort and talent of the designers and executors of lighting products at an international level.
Her project, "Trateggio", is a delicate cylindrical piece made of porcelain using innovative 3D printing technology.
Inspired by the curls of Giovanna Tornabuoni's hair, the student takes as a reference the protagonist of the iconic portrait by Domenico Ghirlandaio to create this piece capable of adapting to different spaces and being used as a light diffuser in a lamp, candle holder or vase; in addition, thanks to the porous material in which it is made, the design is capable of capturing the aroma that is desired.
The surface of the piece, made by superimposing layers of material, is reminiscent of the "tratteggio" painting technique, which consists of superimposing slightly oblique strokes, while the undulating texture resulting from the process alludes to the golden curls of the young woman portrayed in the work.
Sustainability as the main focus of the work
The sustainable approach of this project stems from the preservation of cultural traditions as well as the multifunctional nature of the product. Porcelain is a natural material that has been used for centuries in traditional pottery, and is now used to create a modern product inspired by an iconic work of art from 1488, with the aim of keeping communities connected to their roots while adapting to contemporary circumstances.
Supporting local artisans to produce the piece is also a key factor of the project. In addition, the product promotes sustainability by maximising the use of resources, such as energy and materials, and minimising waste as much as possible. This is achieved by designing a product capable of fulfilling multiple purposes in a single element and reusing waste materials, such as porcelain.
This design is the result of a unique collaboration between the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza and UDIT, University of Design, Innovation and Technology.