Dezeen Magazine

Aries lighting collect by Brec Brittain
Photograph by Sam Deitch

Bec Brittain launches Aries lighting collection among galactic projections

New York lighting designer Bec Brittain has debuted her latest range of fixtures, featuring slender frames and refracting prisms, as part of an installation of cosmic imagery at her Chelsea showroom.

The Aries collection comprises a system of thin brass frames holding LEDs, which shine through pressed glass lenses and prisms.

Aries lighting collect by Brec Brittain

The prisms can be rotated so they disperse and refract the light in different ways. Brittain's aim was to highlight the illuminated dots and keep the frames as unnoticeable as possible.

"My hope was that in an otherwise dark room, one would initially perceive a composition of floating points of light rather than the underlying structure," she told Dezeen.

Aries lighting collect by Brec Brittain

For the launch of the collection earlier this month, the pieces were installed in Brittain's recently opened showroom.

During the previews, colourful moving interstellar imagery was projected onto the walls, while Pink Floyd's 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon played in the background.

Aries lighting collect by Brec Brittain

"The concept of floating points of light immediately recalls constellations and stars to me, so that was the first reference," said Brittain.

"As prisms became part of the project, I enjoyed making the 'Dark Side of the Moon' reference which brought the connection full circle."

Aries lighting collect by Brec Brittain

As with her earlier SHY system, Brittain's new light fixture is made from modular elements that allow for configurations that can be as compact or sprawling as desired.

"I really enjoy that I can make small intimate pieces and large site specific installations from the same set of parts," said the designer.

Aries lighting collect by Brec Brittain

Potential future developments for the series include steel frames to aid rigidity – particularly for larger-scale assemblies.

Aries debuted during New York's citywide NYCxDesign festival, taking place from 3 to 24 May 2017.

Brittain has also contributed lighting pieces to the Designing Women exhibition, organised by Egg Collective and featuring only local female designers, which is also running during the festival.

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Aries lighting collect by Brec Brittain
Aries lighting collect by Brec Brittain
Aries lighting collect by Brec Brittain
Aries lighting collect by Brec Brittain