The instantly recognisable Anglepoise lamp started out as an engineering invention back in 1932 yet remains a covetable desk accessory today. When looking to level up our own wfh desks, what better place to start.
We chat with MD, Simon Terry about the design icon and its relevance to that corner of our home we call “the office”.
HOC: Anglepoise is a design classic. Why do you think it’s so iconic?
Simon: It is so instantly recognisable that it very much deserves its iconic status. There’s a multitude of reasons why: its anthropomorphic design (so many people give their Anglepoise a name!), it lasts forever and, perhaps most importantly, it works. It is above all else a truly functional design. It doesn’t matter if you’re working, want to get absorbed in a book, need focused light in a workshop or want to create a better ambience in your living space, Anglepoise can do it all.
HOC: How much has the design evolved over the years?
Simon: A bit like other trailblazers in business such as Brompton Bicycles and Hiut Jeans, we ascribe to the notion that it is best to do one thing well. So at our core, we are still a task lighting business and we are choosy about the direction we take in terms of design. It hasn’t, in essence, changed much at all, although we have constantly reinvented what we do to stay relevant. So we have now had a longstanding relationship with Sir Kenneth Grange as well as collaborations with other icons such as Paul Smith and Margaret Howell.
HOC: There’s a horrible temptation with homewares to be “on trend” leading to unnecessary purchases and waste. We see Anglepoise offers a guarantee for life – can you tell us more about that ethos?
Simon: We know from our customers, who often have lamps that have been passed on through generations, that they last and we have always offered spares and repairs when possible but it’s always been a very informal process. With the Guarantee for Life we are making a real commitment for now and the future because we want people to know that when you buy a new Anglepoise, they are not buying into a trend – what they are investing in is a lamp or light that will see them through for years to come. It’s really just the right thing to do.
“With the Guarantee for Life we are making a real commitment for now and the future because we want people to know that when you buy a new Anglepoise, they are not buying into a trend – what they are investing in is a lamp or light that will see them through for years to come. It’s really just the right thing to do. “
Simon Terry, MD, Anglepoise
HOC: Investing in the right home set up is more important now than ever. How should we go about lighting our desks/home offices?
Simon: A well lit workspace is good for your eyes, makes it easier to focus and is also just great for general wellbeing. Natural light is always best but as we find ourselves jostling with parents, kids and partners for a decent spot to work, making sure we’re near a window can be nigh on impossible. A decent light is definitely a worthy investment – make it a task light that can move and adapt to the job I hand. Tight on desk space? See if a floor lamp is better. Maybe even a wall light is more suited to your needs – there are plenty that are ‘plug and play’ – thus reducing the need for any tricky installation works.
To find out more about the design history of Anglepoise – or perhaps invest in your own piece of that history head to Anglepoise.com.