The Find Your Serpentine collection by Endless Flat Studio is a sculptural lighting series developed through traditional paper-making techniques. The pieces are constructed using layered and folded paper, shaped into fluid, curving forms that define each fixture’s structure. The designs reference historical paper lantern methods while translating them into elongated, serpentine silhouettes that shift between soft and structured geometries depending on the angle and light source.
Each light is formed through manual processes including wrapping, folding, and tension-based shaping, allowing the material to hold volume without rigid internal frameworks. The paper diffuses illumination across its surface, highlighting texture and depth within the curved forms. The collection includes both suspended and surface-based fixtures, presented as part of a broader exploration of craft-led lighting design shown during Milan Design Week.
Image Credit: Endless Flat
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Craft-driven Parametric Forms
- A fusion of manual folding and parametric design presents scalable, low-energy production pathways for complex organic fixtures.
- Paper-as-structural Material
- Exploration of tensioned, layered paper demonstrates potential to replace lightweight internal frameworks with biodegradable, load-bearing surfaces.
- Tactile Diffused Lighting
- The use of textured paper to modulate and soften illumination reveals opportunities for emotion-focused lighting that integrates materiality with light performance.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Lighting Design
- Handcrafted, fold-based luminaires indicate a shift toward material-led aesthetics that can differentiate premium collections through unique form and light quality.
- Sustainable Packaging and Materials
- Layered paper techniques point to innovations in rigid-yet-compostable packaging that balance structural integrity with reduced plastic dependence.
- Exhibition and Installations
- Large-scale serpentine paper forms suggest immersive, low-carbon installation possibilities that prioritize craft narratives and adaptable modularity.
