Sorpresa by Samuel Wilkinson Studio is shortlisted in the Lighting Design Category for Dezeen Awards 2025
A challenging idea, pushing the boundaries of design to meet higher standards, Astep wanted to create a centerpiece that would occupy minimal space when in a box, yet open in impressive volume. A piece made of recyclable or natural material and instead of an embedded LED solution using a bulb as light source to support environmental responsibility at all levels of the design.
Taking a traditional wool winder as inspiration, designer Samuel Wilkinson has created a new iconic chandelier, Sorpresa, that automatically opens out and expands in a single effortless gesture. The warm tone of the sanded oak structure elegantly complements the off-white transparent mesh of subtle horizontal patterns, defining the distinctive airiness of the lamp, soft and approachable.
“I wanted to create a piece that would intrigue. As its name suggests, the essence of the lamp is ‘surprise’. We looked at various collapsible objects for inspiration and found a traditional shaker wool winder. It was the low-tech expandable timber construction that I admired most, the simple movement and expression,” says designer Samuel Wilkinson.
The way Sorpresa is packaged and delivered is equally important — the selected size of the standard 6-inch tube defined the dimensions of the final product, spanning 110 cm and embracing the wooden structure.
“With Sorpresa, rather than opting for a disassembled flat-pack lamp, we developed a pre-assembled lamp with an honest timber mechanism that enables it to expand upon release from its packaging,” said Samuel Wilkinson Studio.
