High bay lights are fixtures typically used in industrial or commercial spaces such as warehouses and factories. These high-power lights have an aesthetic that comes straight from the technical challenges they must meet, heat dissipation in particular. The idea for the Bravo light grew out of my interest in the look of this kind of fixture.

Heat sinks are useful and necessary to ensure the longevity and performance of electronic components. This floodlight prototype shows a heat sink placed at the back of the design, on the wall that absorbs the LED's heat. The BRAVO project asks: what if, instead of serving purely technical purposes, the heat sink became the product's central graphic element?

The idea of an industrial-looking form that puts the heat sink front and centre slowly took shape, sketch after sketch.

Geometric patterns bring rhythm, contrast and visual depth, celebrating the honesty of the materials and of industrial know-how. The design comes into focus with its signature parallel lines. Work on the proportions follows.

Knowing that the main body of the BRAVO light would be sand-cast, manufacturing constraints were built into the shaping process from the start. Draft angles and wall thickness are key factors in creating a form that is both beautiful and viable for this manufacturing method, as demanding as it is fascinating in its rudimentary nature.

Reviewing a first low-resolution 3D-printed test, made for an initial look at the aesthetics.

Along the way, 3D modelling and renderings make it possible to assess certain aesthetic elements and enrich the discussion around the light's form.

Although the top surfaces of the light are usually hidden once it is installed, there is no guarantee they will never be seen, so they were designed with care.

A sketch showing the position of the light's internal components. Using frosted glass that offers a glimpse of these components was an important decision to reinforce the light's honest personality.

3D-printed prototype including the frosted glass piece, which offers a glimpse of the internal graphic elements.

The sand-cast aluminum piece that forms the main body of the BRAVO light. It has small dimples (drill starters) where the screws that complete the assembly will go. The weight of the piece adds to the feeling of a carefully considered object, driven by a clear vision.