“New York, Composed” is a modular table lamp made of interchangeable cubic covers inspired by the diverse architectural facades of New York City. Each cube abstracts elements such as brickwork, glass curtain walls, and industrial grids into a unified lighting system. Stacked together, the modules form a layered composition that reflects the density and diversity of the city. Light diffuses uniquely through each surface, creating varied glow, shadow, and texture, evoking the experience of moving through New York at night. The project combines digital fabrication with architectural referencing, merging additive manufacturing with the craft of facade detailing. Users can rearrange the cubes, becoming co-creators of their own “city,” reinforcing the idea of New York as a constantly evolving composition.
Ever since I moved to New York five years ago, I’m constantly inspired by how the city brings together so many contrasting elements. Historic and modern, refined and raw; yet somehow everything feels cohesive.This lamp is my way of capturing that experience. Each cube represents a fragment of the city I encounter every day, translated into light, texture, and form. Through modularity, I wanted to reflect how these individual pieces can be rearranged and still “work,” much like New York itself. Through material experimentation and customizable assembly, the piece transforms illumination into a spatial and emotional experience, capturing the energy, diversity, and harmony of New York.
A project by
Elmer Handojo
Elmer Handojo is a New York City–based industrial designer and design engineer whose work bridges storytelling, technology, and object-making. With a background in both design and engineering, he creates products and experiences that balance emotional resonance with functional rigor. Drawing from everyday observations, cultural context, and human behavior, his practice explores how design can translate complex ideas into tangible, meaningful forms. His work spans consumer products, interactive experiences, and physical-digital concepts, with a focus on creating thoughtful solutions that invite connection, curiosity, and engagement.