Our Guest Editor for March is Lekha Washington who designed the Gold Bent Light and Sink Chair!

A self-taught sculptor and innovator armed with a dual degree of lifestyle product design and film direction, Lekha Washington graduated with honors from the prestigious National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

Her maiden collection has an unusual line of furniture that combined art, design and technology to create products that looked like nothing anyone had seen before. She earned her first patent for the Sink collection.

The Gold Bent Light made exclusively for TheLabeLife.com in a sparkly yet muted gold is a gorgeous update on contemporary lighting designs. Play with the shape-shifting form to bend the light any way you please. It comes replete with a rare gorgeous Edison bulb.

The Sink chair is a surefire conversation starter. Akin to a flat disk, the chair looks nothing like a chair, until you sink into it. Available in four colours – Champagne, Pink, and Cobalt, and Black this award-winning patented design allows you to play with your furniture.

“Bend it, curl it, sink in it. I wanted to create pieces that you can interact with and make your own. Play with the Bent light to create any shape you fancy. Sink into the Sink chair and allow it to take your shape and stay super comfortable. Have fun!” says Lekha Washington who recently won the EDIDA Young Talent award.

We caught up with the young design maven to get to know what inspires the oddball pieces she creates that make for surefire conversation starters.

1. We love that you design products meant to surprise. How do your ideas come about?

My ideas mostly evolve in an insomniac state when I’m tossing about in bed. Some are extensions of previous ideas but mostly I have way too many and no clue what to do with them.

2. Three design rules you abide by.

Simplicity, originality and quality.

3. The Bent light is a gorgeous stand-alone piece; how would you style it in a living room?

I would have three of them on a table or dripping off the ceiling as unique pendant pieces.

4. What made you design the Sink chair?

I came up with the Sink chair a decade ago at NID during a course called  ‘Bad Design’ where we had to create something that looked quite contrary to its actual purpose.

5. What are you currently reading?

Murakami and Neil Gaiman.

6. Three people/designers that inspire you?

There are very strong women in my immediate circle of friends who move me; strong artists, actors, entrepreneurs. It would be unfair to only name three.

7. What does design mean to you?

It means creation – fundamentally thinking trough a concept to its best possible execution.

8. Your favourite travel destination?

Anywhere I haven’t been to yet! I am really looking forward to Japan!

9. What is your signature style?

I believe I lean towards a wide variety of experimentation and a signature is something you will have to spot and tell me!

BUY THE SINK CHAIR AND Gold Bent LIGHT BY LEKHA WASHINGTON HERE >

SEE OUR PAST GUEST EDITORS – MALINI RAMANI, ROCKY S, SURILY GOEL, AND NARENDRA KUMAR >