Toronto, Canada
Tom Chung has created his first product for Danish brand Muuto – a portable lamp named Piton, which is based on equipment used in mountaineering.
The designer desires to create a light source that could work in a multitude of environments – from the comfort of a bedroom to a craggy mountainside.
“Piton takes its name from a climbing apparatus that is jammed into cracks and crevices on mountainsides to which the climber can attach hooks, tools, and ropes while rigging it in various positions,” Chung says.
“I wanted the design to fulfill the inherent needs of a torch; providing security and warmth while clearly illuminating your field of vision,” he continues.
Fully rechargeable, the lamp combines LEDs with a diffusing cover to create an ambient light.
Its slim profile is made from anodized extruded aluminum, while the lampshade is crafted from injection-molded plastic.
It is able to stay illuminated for six hours on full brightness, and when out of battery, is recharged via a corresponding woven fabric USB-C cable.
For the designer and the manufacturer alike, versatility was key.
The lamp needed to fit into a range of spaces and be resistant to a number of environments.
It can be used lying, standing, tilted, or suspended, and can be brought indoors or used outdoors thanks to its water-resistant casing: “it seeks to encourage its user to explore their surroundings,” adds Chung.
Project: The Piton Portable Lamp
Designer: Tom Chung Studio
Manufacturer: Muuto A/S
