The Beam Lighting Collection takes Minimalism to Luminous New Heights

Designed in a studio overlooking the Indian Ocean, Lisa Twyman’s Beam lighting collection blends global inspiration with local craftsmanship.

WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied

“Generally speaking, the simpler and more straightforward an object, the more beautiful.” With this quietly confident assertion, interior designer Lisa Twyman sets the tone for her Beam lighting collection, defined by two sculptural silhouettes: the Bloom and the Capsule.

The Bloom, available in multiple configurations, reads as architectural and expressive, while the Capsule table lamp feels more intimate – grounded in scale but no less distinctive. “My overall design language is a simple aesthetic, with a strong emphasis on shape and geometry,” Lisa notes. “I am continually influenced by the Bauhaus principles of design. The Bloom and the Capsule have a bold and simple outline, in keeping with this design language.”

Function and emotional resonance play equal roles in the collection’s development. “I love a product that forms a connection with the end-user,” she says. “These lamps form a bond through their personality (they definitely have one!) and then through the interaction.” Attention to tactility was paramount: “The plug and switch, both parts of the light that the user will touch and feel, are perfectly proportioned and beautiful to touch.”

Each piece is crafted from powder-coated aluminium and glass – materials selected for their visual clarity, durability, and environmental credentials. “Aluminium as a material can produce clean shapes, and is easily accessible in terms of skilled labour and workmanship in our area,” Lisa explains. “It is also environmentally conscious, as it can be recycled. I often like to pair two materials in a product, to create a sense of tension, hence the glass.”

A trained interior designer, she brings a refined eye to colour. Understanding that mainstream producers don’t always offer the depth and variety required for bespoke interiors, Lisa developed a palette that moves across the warm and cool spectrum, anchored by strong neutrals. “In terms of the personality of the product, colour is integral,” she reflects. “A glossy saturated colour will give the product a cheerful personality, whereas a matte neutral will create a more subdued and elegant product.”

The range recently expanded through a collaboration with Magicode, introducing official USM colourways. It’s a natural fit, both visually and conceptually. “Just after I launched the collection last year, Magicode became the official and only stockist of my lighting range in Johannesburg, and the products work so well placed on the USM units,” says Lisa. “It’s a very strong match both in terms of aesthetics and design sensibility. We then decided to evolve the connection further by producing the lights in the official USM colours.” | lisatwyman.com

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