Apartment Therapy Unplugged | Not Useless Packaging: The Sticky Lamp

Not Useless Packaging: The Sticky Lamp

Are we seeing a new trend here of lamps whose packaging becomes part of the lamp itself? The cleverly-named Packaging Lamp was number one, and now we have the “Sticky Lamp” by designer Chris Kabel. With its “1UP," or 100%-Useful-Packaging (we've never heard that before!) in full effect, its shade is also its in-store container.

The sticky lamp is basically a lightbulb in a socket contained in a plastic case with an adhesive ring around it’s edge. The socket is connected to an extended power cord with a power switch.

Chris Kabel describes it this way:

This design brings a new function to packaging. The plastic which would normally be discarded has become the casing. The self-adhesive fixing offers endless possibilities. You can stick it wherever you want, on the ceiling, the door, wall or floor.

We personally like the aesthetic, but we could see how this could look stale and lifeless for many people. What do you think?

Comments (5)

Well, other than being ugly, I would be concerned about the sticky residue and scorch mark that would be left on "the ceiling, the door, wall or floor."

posted by Aimi on December 4th 2008 at 3:15pm
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I'll take two. Just so long as they aren't overpriced because they're 'designed'.

posted by warrenpeace on December 4th 2008 at 5:30pm
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that top photo does NOT make these things look attractive...

posted by bordjon on December 4th 2008 at 5:38pm
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I like it. I think it looks like a plant or some kind of living organism when multiple lights are used near each other. The only annoyance would be the multiple plugs and switches. If they could make a version where you could connect several lights together and use one switch to turn them on, that would make them great.

posted by RKtect on December 5th 2008 at 9:00am
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Depends on how the lights are arranged. Someone could collect them in a bunch and hang the bulb hang downwards. Maybe best purposed for inside a closest. Or paint the cover so that it becomes a scones. Or paint a design over the plastic, which I assume someone will say that isn't the original idea. But, yeah it has that northern european minimal feel to it. I like the minimal, but can't live with nothing. Yet I do like the idea. In a closet it would be effective and interesting. My main concern is uninstalling. Does the adhesive rip off paint and plaster? Then nah. Filling a hole is easy, but most people don't have the skill set to fix a oblong hole.

posted by zzaptx on December 15th 2008 at 5:20pm
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