What it does
Ricalco can be attached to a transparent surface with a suction cup. This allows you to illuminate the back of the sheet for tracing. Finally, thanks to three joints, it can be oriented to illuminate the desired area with the right intensity.
Your inspiration
The idea was born from several meetings together with our colleagues, focusing on our personal experiences. Indeed, during the storyboard and project sketching phases, especially in wintertime, we needed to trace sketches, but the lighting conditions were inadequate. We did not have the chance to work on light tables; moreover, large format sheets did not allow the use of cheap light pads, therefore the outcome of our meeting was to create a compact and versatile object that could adapt to different conditions to solve this problem.
How it works
This lamp is made up of two main parts: the body, which contains the suction cup, and the main light. Both are joined by two extendable arms. The central body contains a suction cup, activated by a lever, like the suction cups used to carry glass or tiles. Furthermore, the central body, thanks to a hinge, can rotate 360 degrees. The two arms allow you to direct the light wherever you want and have two joints to move the light closer or further away from the surface, adjusting its intensity. The electronics are in the main body, and the wires pass through the two arms to supply power to the LEDs at the other end of the lamp.
Design process
Initially, we considered two design options: the first involved a single anchor point to fix the lamp to a flat surface, while the second involved two of them. The first involved inserting the LED directly into the suction cup, creating an object with an extremely simple aesthetic. However, this limited the illuminated area due to the size of the suction cup. The option of creating a larger suction cup compromised handling and transportation, while complicating the mounting system. Alternatively, using a small suction cup meant to reposition frequently the lamp, which was rather inconvenient. Employing two anchor points increased practicality during use, but on the other hand, made the object awkward to position and transport. The result of this study led us to a sort of evolution of both projects. The latest prototype, indeed, features a single anchor point, with a central pin that allows rotation, and two extendable arms that allow the light to be positioned at the desired distance and location. The use of these arms made it possible to create a compact object even when closed.
How it is different
Our design is very different from other tracing products available on the market, adapting to a variety of situations, where drawing conditions are not always ideal, allowing the user a full exploitation. Furthermore, it is designed both to be portable and to serve as an elegant desk accessory, as when mounted upside down, it doubles like a desk lamp.
Future plans
In the future, the goal is to significantly reduce its size, making it a true travel object. Following the same line of reasoning, another goal is to position the arms inside the body, making the object more compact and with cleaner lines.
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