Iron Homeware Design · 2024
Loop Candleholder
by Zeynep and Konstantinos Paradeisopoulos
- A' Design Award 2024 Iron Winner in Homeware Design
- Awarded April 15, 2024
- CLIENT: Kazoo Design
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 18,226
- Verification code 0759B2E49F · Verify this award
About Loop Candleholder
The Loop candleholder, named for its distinctive design, features three interconnected loops that serve as a sturdy base for a tall candle to rest upon. The perpendicular loop that houses the candle adds an elegant touch to the overall aesthetic. To prevent any wax from spilling onto surfaces, an accompanying tray has been designed specifically for this candleholder. This tray not only catches any excess wax but also serves as a standalone home decoration item when not in use. The Loop candleholder and tray create a cohesive and visually appealing set that is both functional and stylish.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The Loop candleholder, inspired by the concept of infinity, boasts a unique design that allows it to sit steadily on a coffee table while emitting captivating infinite loop shadows onto the surface below. The candleholder's elegant tray serves a dual purpose, not only catching any wax that drips but also functioning as a standalone decorative item for jewelry storage.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Candleholder dimensions are 160mm x 160mm x 90mm
- Tags
- candleholder, tall candleholder, home decor, product design, candleholder with tray, home decoration
- Production Technology
- The design's initial prototype had been created on the computer, but the true challenge lay in transitioning a 3D digital product into physical production. Thus, the design of the mold posed as much of a challenge as the object itself.
- Design Challenge
- The mold of the Loop Candleholder has been quiet a challenge since there are three big loops that are the main legs and a perpendicularly placed fourth loop that houses the candle. Therefor the mold consists of five pieces that come together and it takes crafty hands to remove each copy without damaging the pieces.
- Project Duration
- The project took 200 hours until completion. The design was first started on a 3D application on the computer later printed to size and the prototype was well finessed so that the silicon mold could capture all the details. The silicon mold is based of 5 parts that are secured with 3D printed parts and bolts.
- Operation Flow
- Loop candleholder can be easily transferred by holding one of the loops and positioning it on a table. It transforms the space with it's geometrical aesthetics and when lit creates various nice loop shadows on the surface it is placed on.
- Research
- Most of the geometrical design challenges were solved on the computer, digitally first. The angle of how the curves transition into the fourth loop that houses the tall candle were carefully studied and tested well so that the candle would sit stably when pushed in.
- Inspiration
- The Loop Candleholder draws inspiration from the infinity symbol, translating its geometric form into a modern home accessory. The challenge of this project was to connect three loops with each other while creating a fourth loop in the center to house a tall candleholder.
The accompanying tray serves as a surface for the candleholder's melted wax and highlights the design's geometrical twists in the corners, adding an accentuating touch to the overall aesthetic. - Image Credits
- Konstantinos Paradeisopoulos
Zeynep Önder Paradeisopoulos - Patents
- Patent File Number: 2021/004916
Patent Application Date: 15.04.2021
Patent Holder: Zen Crafts İç ve Dış Ticaret A.Ş.
Colors of Loop Candleholder
Design Interview about Loop Candleholder
1. An object that can support itself on three legs and is stable
2. Be made to look like it was made with a single stoke.
3 use an array of only one shape (the circle in this case)
2. Be made to look like it was made with a single stoke.
3 use an array of only one shape (the circle in this case)
We wanted to make an object that looked like it was made with one stroke.
We are experimenting with different pigmenting techniques and color variations
The design of this object didn’t take more than a few days. The most time was spent in designing the 5 part mold for it.
The project was an idea that came to mind and turned into a final product.
We are currently producing this item in our workshop.
The main driving force was to make a candleholder different from the majority of candleholders made for tall candles.
The Alessi Juicy Salif Citrus Squezzer designed by Phillipe Starck was most likely a reason to go with a three-legged object
The target customer is people who love unique handmade, modern home decor items.
Probably the fact that we have a candleholder made for a tall candle, that’s short and broad.
The object can be seen a single stroke object resembling a loop. Usually when we think of a loop a circle comes to mind. The only difference here, is that we are talking about 4 interconnected circles instead of just one.
Softimage for designing the object as well as the molds and Zbrush for creating booleans.
Probably the height/width/length ratio of a candleholder designed to house a tall candle.
We worked on this project from start to finish.
The object and its’ mold were designed digitally and were then 3d printed.
No it wasn’t.
The biggest challenge was to design the object’s mold.
We decided to see what an international board of judges would think about this design.
We definitely improved our mold-making skills and since then we’ve felt more confident in using a multi-part mold.
No. Thank you very much for the interview.
Grand Interview about Loop Candleholder
The infinity symbol, represented by a loop of two interconnected circles, served as the foundation for our design. Our approach was to reinterpret this timeless symbol concept as a three-dimensional object that, when viewed from multiple angles, would always reveal the infinity shape. The symbol represents the concept of endlessness and the loops that we used for this object also have no beginning or an end.So for practical purposes, the three loops serve as the legs that hold the fourth loop which holds the tall candle in position. The placement of the leg loops at 120° intervals ensures that, from most perspectives, two loops create the illusion of the infinity symbol, while the third loop remains subtly hidden behind by the candle and, barely noticable.
The biggest engineering challenge in bringing the Loop Candleholder to life was designing its mold. Unlike previous objects we had created, this piece required a completely different approach. Instead of printing a full prototype, we broke the design into components. For the legs—the three large vertical loops—we printed a single prototype segment that, when rotated, repeats two more times to complete the structure.For the candle's insertion cup—the smaller horizontal loop—we used two separate mold parts. These parts were designed to render the area from the top and bottom, fitting seamlessly with each other and integrating perfectly with the other three parts. This modular approach allowed us to maintain the intricate geometry of the design while ensuring the production process was efficient and precise.
Our CGI background certainly proved helpful with all the pre-viz renders we did for different light scenarios, in order to decide on the right balance between the object’s positive and negative space.
The Loop Candleholder’s minimal design features a floating candle insertion ring, which, while visually striking, raised practical concerns about melted wax dripping. To address this, we introduced a tray that serves as a discreet wax collector, ensuring functionality without compromising the candleholder's elegance.We designed the tray with a minimal footprint and incorporated a twisting square profile along its border, mirroring the aesthetic language of the candleholder for seamless integration. Beyond its primary function, the tray is a versatile standalone piece, perfect for storing small items like jewelry, keys, or coins. In our workshop, we’ve found it particularly useful for organizing nuts, bolts, and small airbrush accessories.
The biggest technical challenge in creating the Loop Candleholder's five-piece mold system was determining the appropriate silicone shore hardness and the ideal curing time for the cast. The candleholder's delicate, thin, and intricate design made it especially fragile before fully cured. To ensure flawless results, we conducted several rounds of testing to fine-tune these variables, ensuring both the mold material and curing process would provide the necessary stability during production.The most valuable takeaway from this experience was understanding that a final object often requires multiple prototypes, each contributing to a different part of the mold. In many cases, this approach is the only way to achieve the desired result. This lesson has reshaped our approach to future designs, emphasizing the importance of iterative testing and the ability to adapt our process based on the unique challenges each project presents.
Although at first we were very doubtful on whether or not we should be involved in the production of our objects, we eventually understood that we were very lucky to be involved in it. The take-away from this is that we gained a very good understanding of the level of reproduction difficulty as well as the amount of work involved into making a final quality copy and this is something very important to know when designing any object. The other advantage of being able to turn your own designs into objects means that you don’t need to rely on other producers to tell you if something is doable or how hard it actually is to make it, since you can figure it out yourself.
Knowledge of hard surface modelling, shading, lighting and rendering were definitely the most useful skills we had gained from our past experience and were able to apply to this product. Additionally, our familiarity with photography, particularly the use of a camera tripod, played a subtle yet crucial role in the design. It influenced our decision to create a stable, three-legged structure, allowing for a balance of form and function that ensures both visual appeal and physical stability.
The Loop Candleholder is crafted from Jesmonite, an eco-resin that reflects our studio’s commitment to sustainability. In recent years, we’ve made a conscious effort to transition to more sustainable and recyclable materials across our product range. Jesmonite is considered more environmentally friendly compared to traditional resins, and it aligns with our values of reducing our environmental impact.What’s particularly great about Jesmonite is that it doesn't drastically alter our production process. We still follow the same steps as we did with polyurethane resin—mixing two components and casting in silicone molds. This means we can maintain the quality and craftsmanship of our designs while using a material that leaves a smaller carbon footprint. Essentially, the shift to Jesmonite has allowed us to uphold our design integrity without compromising on sustainability.
Many 3D Renders were done before locking down the design of the candleholder. Priority was always given to the object’s design but the shadows that were casted by the object were also taken into consideration for finalizing the design.
We are incredibly delighted by the recognition the Loop Candleholder received from the A' Design Awards. This accomplishment has been both affirming and inspiring for us, reinforcing our creative vision and approach. It encourages us to continue pushing boundaries in homeware design while remaining true to our philosophy of creating functional, timeless pieces.Looking ahead, this success motivates us to explore new innovations while refining our existing concepts. It has given us confidence to experiment with even bolder ideas and challenge traditional design norms. Since we feel like this accomplishment encourages our way of thinking and helps us continue doing what we love for all future releases.