The stem of this task lamp designed by Bao-Nghi Droste forms an exaggerated loop behind the conical shade (+ slideshow).

The Round lamp by Bao-Nghi Droste of Heidelberg, Germany, has a wide shallow shade mounted at a 45 degree angle on the end of the curving steel tube.

"The gently shaped steel tube could be described as the centrepiece of the lamp because on the one hand it pictures the flow of the current all the way up from the base to the light source within the shade, and on the other hand it acts as a function-providing element," said Droste.

He explained that the loop "provides a handle-like geometry for easily moving the lamp", which rotates on its base.

Where the stem connects to the back of the shade, small concentric circles radiate outwards over its surface and a small amount of light is allowed to escape at the join.

"Sharp edges concentrically surround the hole as rings imaging a sort of epicenter at which the light emits," said the designer.

An acrylic defuser covers the light source and emits a wide beam of light suitable for bedside reading or working at a desk.

Images are by Thilo Ross/The Image Agency.