Draft:Studio K lamp
The Planet Lighting Studio K is significant mid-century Australian lamp design
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Studio K lamp[a] is a balanced-arm lamp designed by Bill (William[2]) Iggulden and first manufactured by Planet Lighting in 1962.[1][3] With a simple, elegant and high-tech look[4] it was immediately celebrated by designers and architects and won the Australian Design Award[1] in 1964.[2]
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The Studio K lamp has been displayed in the Louvre and the New York Museum of Modern Art[1], making it "one of a very few Australian-designed objects to be so-honoured".[5]: 3
In 2002 a design panel[b] deemed the Studio K lamp one of 20 great Australian design icons (the only lamp on the list).[4] In November 2025, Monocle (brand) published the Studio K desk lamp as design 36 of an article titled "Around the world in 40 designs: The best furniture, country by country". It was the first item in the Australia section.[6]
A 2003 journal article titled "Studio K lamp - making the case for an 'urban' design icon" stated the lamp was still in use in "countless bedroom and offices and mounted to the drawing boards of all types of designers everywhere".[5]: 1
The lamp introduced thousands of Australians to modern design, and is suited for use study and living spaces.[4]
Exhibitions and awards
The lamp has won the Prince Philip Design Prize.[7][citation needed]
The lamp has featured in advertising campaigns for the Australian Design Awards program.[2]
In 2012 it was was featured at Vivid Sydney to celebrate the 50th anniversary.[8]
The lamp was exhibited in a 2019 exhibition titled "100 Objects - Australian design at home" at the Mid-century modern residence Walsh Street House designed by architect Robin Boyd.[9]
Origin
Planet Lighting was originally an engineering company known as Bentley Manufacturing Company founded in Melbourne by W.A Iggluden in 1911.[5]: 2 [10]
The company designed and manufactured the 'Speedscrew' Floor Clamp in the 1920s, the Bently Fibro Cutter in the 1930s and the 'I' series task light in the 1940s.[1][5]: 2 [10]
A lighting division of the Bentley Manufacturing Company called Planet Products was established by the founder's two sons, W.P. and J.M. Iggulden.[10][1]
According to John Igguldon (his brother), Bill initially perceived himself to be an inventor (rather than an industrial designer).[5][11]
The young brothers joined the family company and after lots of work on the production line were allowed to seek out their own design jobs. Bill's brother believed one such project - a redesigned window for a caravan manufacturer with a spring-balanced mechanism - helped with the first Orbit lighting design of 1939.[5]: 3 [1]
The first lamp designed by Bill Iggulden and produced by the company was a self-balanced table lamp called the "Orbit"[10] (1938[1][10] or 1939[5]: 3 ).
The Orbit was replaced by the I series lamp, which was then manufactured for almost 60 years[1] (or still in production 60 years later[10]), and was visually recognisably similar to the Studio K lamp.[10]
The company Bentley-Planet was involved in wartime manufacturing during World War II.[1] Afterwards the company returned to lighting design and manufacture.[1][5]: 3 According to his brother, Bill was also developing at this time as a poet, photographer and painter.[5]: 3
In 1952 Bill Iggulden designed the "FSC" Desk Lamp.[10] The most significant lamp producted by Planet Lighting is the Studio K.[1]
Early Melbourne support for sales was given by the Myer department store, which also suggested colours for the lamp.[5]: 3
In 1974 the company moved from Melbourne to Bellingen, New South Wales.[c][5]: 3
The lamp was manufactured for 40 years (or over 30 years[10]), selling between 100 and 200 units per day.[4] The design of the lamp was virtually unchanged for 30 years.[5]: 1
Planet Lighting planned to release a limited edition Studio K for Christmas 2002 at a cost of about $100.[4] The lamp was to be re-released in 2003[5]: 1 with a powder-coated paint finish rather than an oven baked finish.[5]: 3
As of 2003, the Director and CEO of Planet Lighting Brett Iggulden, the son of Bill Iggulden.[5]: 3
Design
The lamp is an adaptation of the parallegram spring balance arm in the Anglepoise lamp designed in 1932.[1] According to his brother John, the designer of the lamp Bill Iggulden was "very conscious of helping develop an Australian design sensibility to show the world and be proud of".[5]: 3
The lamp has a flat, square metal base with swivel in the centre. A toggle switch controls the lamp. The base is attached to the arm via two metial springs.[1] The metal bulb cover creates a concentrated pool of light suitable for working.[6]
The lamp was available in at least cream, brown, black, red and orange.[12]
Notes
- The panel was composed of Rina Bernabei (industrial design senior lecturer at the University of New South Wales), Eddie Butler-Bowden (curator at the Museum of Victoria), Philip Graham (the owner of White Elephant in Melbourne, selling 1950s and '60s artifacts), Dr Simon Jackson (Industrial Design lecturer at the Swinburne University of Technology), Christopher Menz (senior curator in decorative arts at the National Gallery of Victoria), Debbie Rudder (exhibition curator at the Powerhouse Museum), Anne Watson (design curator at the Powerhouse Museum), Sarah Wilson (communications and development manager at the Object: Australian Design Centre).[4]