Joanne Odisho, a Melbourne-based furniture designer, has won the prestigious Australian Furniture Design award for her innovative lamp modules made from eggshells. The designer collects thousands of discarded eggshells from local cafes, then sterilises, dries, and grinds them into a fine powder using a Nutribullet. This powder is combined with a biopolymer to create a substance with the consistency of wet sand, which is poured into molds and left to dry naturally for about a week. The resulting material is cheap, durable, compostable, and showcases the natural palette of eggshells without any added dyes.
Award-Winning Design
The Mod-u lamps consist of dozens of rearrangeable blocks that can be configured into table lamps, floor lamps, or feature pieces. The judges were impressed by the lamp's versatility and tactile nature. Tony Russell, brand director of Stylecraft and jury member since the award's inception, noted that the lamps' architectural form and tactile quality made them engaging furniture pieces. The award, presented in conjunction with the National Gallery of Victoria as part of Melbourne Design Week, includes a $20,000 cash prize and an opportunity to collaborate with Stylecraft on commercial production.
Future Developments
Odisho plans to work with Stylecraft on developing a new design, possibly a variation of the lamps or exploring soft furnishings like modular sofas. She keeps the specifics of the biopolymer setting agent confidential to prevent copycats but confirms it is a household product that is totally biodegradable. The material can be made in a home kitchen, is self-curing, and requires no firing process.
