In her MA thesis, Eszter Hankó sought an innovative solution to make it easier to wander around your home at night, and thus NiLu was created!
We’ve probably all had the experience of getting cozy in bed, turning off the lights, or even falling asleep and suddenly having to start wandering around our dark house. Eszter found a solution to this everyday problem when she created NiLu, a magnetically rechargeable, touch-controlled portable night light. It was important for her not to create a completely new product but to reconsider an existing object.
If we start from the beginning of your story, what is your first experience of design? How did you come to choose it as a career?
Even as a child, I was a dreamer, fascinated by the world of objects around me. I think that design is a public matter, as the design of, say, tram seats affects us all. To this day, I still look at the objects around us with admiration and immerse myself in studying the details of each utensil.
Your current thesis project involves a lamp. Would you say this is the group of objects that you are most interested in, or do you prefer experimenting for the time being?
I feel I am still keen to delve deeper into the subject, my thesis was about fear of the dark and its cultural implications, and the research process was surprisingly exciting. I think designing and experimenting with light is a rewarding subject because there is a sense of wonder and an inexplicable fascination we have with things that light up.
Why did you choose lamps this time?
I’ve been experimenting with lighting since the beginning of university, and I was lucky enough to go to this year’s Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair with a collectible lamp. The exhibition was very inspiring, especially The Soft Serve Lamp by Crème Atelier, which won the “Detail of the Year” award. I think it is a beautiful example of the intersection of 3D printed technology and experimentation with light. So I was thinking on a similar scale when implementing my thesis.
What inspired you most when designing the lamp? What did you have in mind?
I definitely wanted to create a lovable, distinctive object that would serve as a true “companion” for navigating our dark home at night. I analyzed classic lamps, and Paul Henningsen’s iconic pieces caught my eye the most. You can tell that the designer has always strived not only to design lamps, but also to shape light and create an atmosphere that makes people feel good. I believe that the shape of light creates space and the lamps live harmoniously in the room they define—indirectly, softly, and invitingly.
What are your future goals?
I am currently studying Design and Visual Arts Teacher MA at MOME and, as an admirer of Scandinavian design, I am applying for an internship at Normann Coppenhagen. Besides, I also aim to find a position that allows me the same amount of time to pass on the knowledge I have acquired, alongside my designs.
Eszer Hankó | Instagram
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