The Folio lamp by Eunsu Lee is a book-shaped lamp concept designed to stand upright on a bookshelf. The design uses two stainless steel panels as covers, with a 3D-printed cap positioned between them to house the LED pin lamp. The LED points toward the cap without a socket, allowing the spine area to glow with warm amber light.
The lamp can face forward to cast direct light for reading or task work, or rotate backward to create softer ambient light against a wall. Folio is sized to sit between books on a shelf and can also be placed on a bedside table, coffee table, or kitchen shelf. Lee used stainless steel bending for the body and 3D printing for the cap, avoiding molds for small-batch production.
Image Credit: Eunsu Lee
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Book-shaped Functional Objects
- Physical products disguised as familiar home items create discreet multifunctional devices that blend into existing living spaces and rethink product aesthetics.
- Hybrid Material Manufacturing
- Combining metal forming with 3D-printed components supports low-volume, customizable production runs that bridge artisanal finishes and scalable digital fabrication.
- Modular Ambient-task Lighting
- Lighting designs that switch between directed task illumination and softer ambient glow enable adaptable lighting ecosystems tailored to both work and relaxation zones.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Home Decor and Lighting
- Shelf-friendly luminaries and disguised fixtures open pathways for premium niche products that prioritize integration with existing décor over conventional lamp forms.
- Small-batch Consumer Electronics
- Manufacturers focused on limited runs and customization benefit from hybrid fabrication techniques that lower tooling costs while allowing rapid design iteration.
- Furniture and Interior Design
- Built-in or insertable lighting elements within shelving and furniture pieces present opportunities to rethink spatial illumination and multifunctional furniture typologies.
