ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--3M
Architectural Markets made its debut in the lighting market in a
dramatic fashion, collaborating with designer Todd Bracher to showcase
an innovative, state-of-the-art new lighting effect at this year’s
WantedDesign event at Tunnel in the Terminal Stores during New York
Design Week. The “Virtual LED,” enabled by 3M technology, was revealed
via an experimental iteration of the company’s modular architectural
lighting system known as Lightfalls, designed by Todd Bracher.
The “Virtual LED” and the Lightfalls system are born from the marriage
of Todd Bracher’s creative vision and 3M’s technical prowess, Lightfalls
capitalizes on the laws of physics to distribute light from a single LED
source over a large space to create a “Virtual LED” driven by 3M
technology. The key to enabling the “Virtual LED” is a more than 98%
reflective proprietary 3M film that efficiently steers the light of a
single LED from one module to another. The final effect creates the
image of multiple LED bulbs when in reality there is only one.
“Lightfalls is the result of physics meeting design,” said Bracher. “I
share a fascination with 3M’s applied sciences and find the opportunity
to exercise concepts that are only achievable in collaboration with 3M
as the cornerstone of our relationship.”
3M’s new lighting line is built on the principle that physics driven
solutions are the counterpart of good design, which align with Bracher’s
core design ideals.
“I believe that design should be driven by reason and function, so when
I saw 3M’s true technical clout, engineering skills and materials
expertise, it was the perfect opportunity. It is also exciting to be
working with such an iconic American technology manufacturer, and I
believe collaborations like this are a must within our industry if we
are to continue to evolve both commercially and ideologically,” Bracher
said.
Wanted Design facilitates the interchange of unique and innovative
ideas, and 3M Architectural Markets saw this type of event as an
opportunity to debut exciting new technologies while exchanging
inspiration with some of the sharpest minds in the design industry. In
yet another collaborative design partnership, 3M will introduce AIR and
FLEX by 3M at this year’s NeoCon show in June with a booth designed by
James Mansour, making 2012 a year of exciting, ready-for-market
additions to the 3M Architectural Markets lighting portfolio.
In addition to its lighting technologies, 3M also showcased several of
its surface solutions at Wanted Design, most notably 3M™ Crystal Glass
Finishes in Dusted Crystal, which was applied to the front window of the
event space. 3M™ Crystal Glass Finishes was also seen on signage
throughout design week, calling attention to products and exhibits that
were deemed unique and design-forward by the editors of Metropolis magazine
through its “Metropolis Likes” campaign.
About 3M Architectural Markets
Based on 3M’s tradition of
innovation, technological know-how and information resources, 3M
Architectural Markets offers flexible, creative and technologically
advanced surface finishing and lighting solutions for architecture and
interior design. With a wide range of architectural finishes and
decorative window glass finishes as well as natural and artificial
lighting solutions, 3M Architectural Markets helps designers create a
complete mood or atmosphere, defining the specific character of any
environment. The division’s technologies are engineered to create design
excellence, enhance human comfort and respect environmental
sustainability, globally. For more information, visit www.3MArchitecturalMarkets.com
or follow @3M_Architecture on Twitter.
About 3M
3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms
them into thousands of ingenious products. Our culture of creative
collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies
that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops
inventing. With $27 billion in sales, 3M employs about 80,000 people
worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. For more
information, visit www.3M.com
or follow @3MNews on Twitter.
3M is a trademark of 3M Company.
About Todd Bracher
Native New Yorker Todd Bracher, founder
of Todd Bracher Studio LLC, is a Designer and Strategist currently based
in New York City after a decade working in Copenhagen, Milan, Paris and
London. Todd has collaborated with some of the world’s most prestigious
brands around the world from Furniture and Object Design to Interiors
and Architecture. Todd has been pinned as ‘America’s next great
Designer’ as well as received nominations for International Designer of
the year in 2008 and 2009. His experiences range from working
independently, heading Tom Dixon’s Design studio, acting Professor of
Design at l’ESAD in Reims France, to having been appointed Creative
Director of the Scandinavian luxury brand Georg Jensen.
