Light is a powerful force for design inspiration. From the mundane to the bizarre, the strictly functional to the wildly ostentatious, a panoply of objects has been created in response to the desire for artificial illumination. This first title in the V&A Contemporary Series explores the exciting range of new lighting forms and technologies from the archetypal domestic lamp to innovations in lighted clothing. It features a range of internationally renowned designers, from Ron Arad to Karim Rashid. Covering products from the one-off to the mass-produced, it also charts crossovers in design practice, incorporating textiles, fashion and ceramics as well as product design and new technological developments. New materials which pulse and glow, alternative means of power conduction which negate the need for wires, heat resistant fabrics and 'cool' light sources all offer new and exciting opportunities to designers. This book introduces some of the most innovative names in contemporary lighting and explores the significance of light in the designed environment.