Lucid Ideas is a group prototype exhibition and competition showcasing the work of designers from Canada and abroad. In partnership between Umbra and DesignTO, this year’s theme explores translucency through concept, material and form.

As a concept, translucency offers ambiguity, a sense of illusion and complexity. As a material, it allows light to pass through, while scattering or reflecting it, to blur or obscure. Through material and form we can use translucent properties to create unique visual outcomes that conceal, diffuse, or reveal. In doing so, twe can engage with dimension and space. From glass and resin to paper and plastic, every material can be manipulated in some way to design what is seen and how it’s perceived. To what extent can the process of obscuring light be transformative? This exhibition highlights various examples of how translucency can be considered in homeware design.

Construction I is a table lamp handcrafted in Montreal with the collaboration of glass blowers and metal founders. The project emerges from an interest in the daily actions and movements of the crafters, and results in the assembly of a glass blown lampshade, a metallic structure and a casted base.

With a multidisciplinary and multi-scale approach specific to environmental design, Fomenta explores matter through objects, spaces, and installations.

The studio is interested in patina and material memory: what explains the fact that we preserve certain things and how the affect we give to these things can create/form environments of exchange, a history.

The objects that intrigue Fomenta are those that explore different ways of interacting with the body, which lie between the functional and the ironic, between the useful and the sculptural. The studio gives an important place to the methodology of each project, ranging from research and documentation to creation as well as the collaboration with the local craftsmanship. Fomenta investigates the life cycle of the material world and is interested in the origin of materials, as well as the transparency and traceability of its projects.

IRO is an experimental table lamp with a dimmable LED module and a glass spherical reflector. A dichroic film is embedded between the two half spheres, casting different color tones depending on the angle between the film and the lightsource. There are two main spots of light: one projecting a smooth ambient light to the ceiling and a second one that can be oriented freely creating variable chromatic effects and mystical reflections.

Leading KUTARQ studio, architect and designer Jordi López Aguiló designs lighting, objects and furniture with a unique and pragmatic perspective. Each project involves a methodical process that emphasizes both material and research. With the constant challenge of revealing the "soul" behind his objects, he offers their users not just an aesthetic piece but rather a design with personality and a life of its own. After spending time abroad collaborating with prestigious architecture firms in Paris and Copenhagen, he settled down in his home town Valencia where he's been leading his own studio since 2012. His work has been exhibited internationally, including at Milan Design Week, Frankfurt Light & Building, Neocon Chicago, Tokyo Design Week, Stockholm Furniture Fair, Paris Maison & Objet and Seoul Living Design Fair.

The Paynes Vase/Organizer takes inspiration from the practical and unassuming material of corrugated plastic, enlarging and translating the basic repetitive form into a refined household object. Made of fogged acrylic, the repeating compartments can be used in an unexpected way to display flowers or as organizational dividers for office goods, tools or makeup brushes. Inspired by Ikebana, the small compartments encourage creative flower arrangements, the perfect shape for a long table centerpiece or perching on a credenza or display shelf. Discreet mounting hardware also provides the option of wall mounting for more adventurous decorators.

Annaka is a recent graduate from Emily Carr University of Art + Design with a BDes in Industrial Design. Her practice includes lighting, furniture, and products and is rooted in simplicity of form, quality of detailing, and a refined approach to color and light. Much of her work is driven by the belief that good design connects us more deeply to our environment, whether built or natural, and strives to enhance this relationship to space.

The Sip Stack is a set of three stackable drinking glasses designed with versatility and playfulness in mind. At first glance, the glasses appear to be classic drinkware, but they hold a secret. When filled with your favorite beverage, their translucent exteriors come to life, revealing secondary interior forms. This transformation not only adds an element of surprise to your drinking experience but also showcases how translucency can be harnessed to unveil hidden surprises within everyday objects. The Sip Stack aims to blur the lines between functionality and artistry, creating a unique and engaging conversation piece for any setting.

NONUMENT is an architecture and design studio founded by Dom Cheng. Our studio is conceived of as a place to work, play, learn and grow without any a priori notions of a destination or particular style. Design, for us, is a collaborative enterprise to create buildings, spaces, objects and everything in between that merge art with use—but never art for art’s sake. Our collective experiences can create new and inventive possibilities.

As a wall-mounted candle holder, Dowi is thoughtfully designed to address common candle placement concerns. Its ingenious design allows for the detachment of the candle holder from its wall mount, providing a practical solution for optimizing table or desk space. With Dowi, you can elegantly showcase your candles on the wall, eliminating worries about space constraints or accidental spills. This innovative candle holder not only enhances your decor, but also creates additional room for your essential items, all while maintaining a formal and refined aesthetic. Dowi also comes in a table version.

Designer Hsiao-Chien is a product designer from Taiwan, currently based in New York City. With a background in industrial design and a focus on sustainability, she is pursuing a Master's degree at Pratt Institute. Her passion lies in creating products that balance user needs with sustainability. Hsiao-Chien believes that a good design not only serves the functions of its users but also has positive impacts on other stakeholders and the entire environment.

The Hairy Lamp (2023) is the latest edition piece in a series of metal objects that adorn Malecki’s “hairy” design language created by welding thousands of individual pieces to a skeleton sub frame. The result is an organic texture that is also translucent in dispersing an internal light source.

Mark Malecki is a New York City based contemporary artist and designer whose work primarily focuses on exploring the potential of metal, glass, and other industrial materials as his creative mediums.

His work is characterized by a unique blend of industrial design and artistic expression using various trade techniques to create sculptural, functional objects, and installations.

Malecki's creative process involves a deep understanding of the material he works with, as well as an intuitive approach to form and composition. He explores many ways in which parent materials can be manipulated to produce organic, contemporary forms and textures.

Through his designs, Malecki seeks to challenge conventional notions of beauty and functionality, and to create pieces that are both visually stunning and thought-provoking.