Balancing Orbs
We’ve rounded up some of our favourite lighting designs that feature balancing orbs. Why does this lighting style appeal to us and what accounts for its recent popularity in the world of lighting design?
The sphere has always held a special place in human culture due to its association with unity, completeness, and harmony. The sphere's visual and symbolic qualities make it an ideal archetype for creating balance and harmony in design. This is why many lighting designers are now incorporating glowing orbs into linear structures.
The linear structure represents direction, progress, and movement, while the glowing orb adds depth, dimension, and warmth. This contrast between the soft, organic shape of the orb and the rigid, geometric lines of the structure creates visual interest while still maintaining balance and unity.
The use of glowing orbs within linear structures also references the natural world, where linear structures like tree branches or vines often have spherical fruits or flowers nestled within them. This connection to nature can add a sense of warmth and comfort to the design while creating a sense of nostalgia or familiarity.
The sphere's perfect symmetry and visually pleasing shape make it a popular choice for representing harmony, balance, and symmetry in many cultures and belief systems. The sphere's association with infinity, eternity, and the cyclical nature of life and the universe is often represented by the circle, a two-dimensional representation of the sphere.
Moreover, the sphere's prevalence in nature, from planets and stars to fruits and seeds, may be rooted in our evolutionary history, where they represented sources of sustenance or protection in our ancestral environments.
In contemporary culture, the sphere is often associated with technology, science, and innovation, as seen in the design of many modern gadgets and devices. This association further contributes to our attraction to spherical objects.
Overall, the sphere's enduring appeal is due to its visual and symbolic qualities, natural associations, and cultural significance. The use of glowing orbs within linear structures in lighting design offers a way to create balance, harmony, and visual interest while referencing natural patterns and connections.