Nicolas MELAN

Brief: Design of a mid-range and high-end piano lamps for pianists and music students. Strategic design choice: Choice of an optic system to avoid sending light directly in pianists’ eyes and at the same time lighting the whole keyboard of a 2-meter piano and its partition holder. My involvement in this project: • design team leader • project / ressources management • concept creation • client & factory interface • product general architecture design • internal component placement & tech integration + design to cost approach • industrial design (sketching, CAD, CMF)

Philips - Piano light - Mid-range version This light design displays straight lines in order to match the ones of a straight piano, but also some soft curves on the side of its lamp head and arm ends, so it can match Philips design language. The whole design is made to be at the same time discrete and elegant, matching easily any colour of piano in one CMF (because it is a niche market, it is wiser to have only one CMF).

Philips - Piano light - midrange version The arms are designed in such a way that the headlight could be set at a lower position than the base itself, so the product can light up partitions. The product features a wireless remote control, so the light can be easily adjusted without having to reach for the product. The remote control integrates a small speaker, so it can be used as a tempo indicator (the user press and rotate the knob to select different tempo). Detection sensors are integrated, so the light could automatically be turned on when the lighting conditions require it, but only when a human gets close to it.

Philips - Piano light - midrange version The design of the base is carved to accommodate for the relief created by the piano hinge. The top of the head light features touch sensitive buttons to turn on/off the detection presence and the automatic light switch, based on lighting conditions. The headlight features a specific lens design, along with a special curved light path, so the product can create an even light quality from the very left of a piano, to its very right (for an angle of 104 degrees).

Philips - Piano light - high-end version The high-end version features a concrete moulded base, which allows for a smaller base size, but an increased stability and more premium look.

Philips - Piano light - high-end version The base of the lamp is equipped with a specially shaped elastomer cushion, covered with a silk surface. That way, the lamp cannot scratch the lacquer finish of the piano, and the lamp can be set perfectly levelled on the piano. Plus, the piano hinge helps to lock the lamp in place. The commands are very simple and are using special magnetic switches and sensors. The front of the product is not made of aluminium, but of stainless steel, which received first a brush effect, before being anodized with a dye that matches the one of the aluminium. When the surface of the metal button is touched, it changes its local magnetic field, which is detected by the sensors (one sensor per button). The commands are (from top to bottom): automatic light adjustment, lidar sensor automatic on/off mode and on/off.