KONSTANTIN GRCIC, 1999
Object
The MayDay lamp was designed in 1999 by renowned German designer Konstantin Grcic, marking his first project for Flos.
The lamp, inspired by work and emergency lights, is designed as a versatile tool, able to be used in various settings with its long cable and functional hook.
Grcic aimed to create an object free from traditional categories, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The name “MayDay” references the emergency signal, symbolizing the lamp’s purpose as a reliable source of light wherever needed.
The Mayday Lamp: Design
Mayday is an unconventional lamp, a multifunctional lighting device not designed for a specific space. Instead, it’s created to be a portable tool, adaptable to various environments and uses.
Its distinctive features include a handle-hook, which also serves as a cable winder, allowing easy movement and hanging. The large switch is located on the handle for easy access.
The lamp’s conical opaline diffuser is made of injection-molded polypropylene, produced from industrial process waste.
A 5-meter cable enables the lamp to be used as a work or emergency light. Mayday is easy to disassemble for recycling, as no glue is used in its construction.
In this video, Konstantin Grcic talks about the Mayday lamp:
Recognition
The MayDay lamp, along with the famous Chair_ONE for Magis, is one of Grcic’s most well-known and popular designs, an object that has won numerous awards and accolades, propelling the German designer into the spotlight of international contemporary design.
MayDay won the Compasso d’Oro in 2001 and is now part of the most prestigious design collections worldwide. It is featured in the permanent design collection of the MoMA in New York, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Art Institute of Chicago, and many more.
KONSTANTIN GRCIC
Konstantin Grcic is one of the most innovative and visionary designers of his generation. His studio continues to produce intelligent, functional objects with a distinct aesthetic that is essential, functional, and neo-rational. Among Grcic’s great successes are the Mayday lamp for Flos, chair_ONE for Magis, and the Myto chair and Miura stool for Plank.
FLOS
Flos is a lighting and lamp manufacturer founded in Merano in 1962 by Dino Gavina and Cesare Cassina. After relocating to Brianza, Flos quickly began producing culturally significant design objects, such as the iconic Parentesi, Arco, and Taccia by the Castiglioni brothers, as well as Drop 2 by Marc Sadler and the MayDay by Konstantin Grcic. Flos design objects are collected by design museums worldwide and have won numerous international awards and recognitions.
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Details
Produced by Flos
Dieameter: 22 cm
Height: 53 cm
Polypropylene, produced through injection molding. Available in black or orange.
Comes with a 5-meter-long electrical cable.
