Media Kit
Light Soy
Purpose
Light Soy is a premium glass lamp with a brilliant message about single-use plastic. The design is inspired by the iconic soy sauce packets shaped like fish found in sushi shops around the world.
Like other single-use plastics such as straws and coffee cups, the tiny packets can’t be re-used and are difficult to recycle. They are destined to clog landfills and trash the environment.
Designers Jeffrey Simpson and Angus Ware were inspired to create Light Soy after eating sushi and being shocked by how many of the disposable fish they had used. Both grew up by the coast and found it absurd that the plastic fish would harm marine life.
They set out to highlight the big problem with single-use plastic and the impact that design can have on people and the planet.
Product
Light Soy features borosilicate glass etched to a frosted finish, a long-life, energy-efficient LED, and powder-coated aluminium accessories.
Light Soy has been designed for quality and longevity, and made from durable, recyclable materials. It took over 3 years to design and develop the product, including two years spent perfecting the glass-blowing process.
Light Soy’s modular design allows for easy repair, refurbishment and replacement, to maximise product life and minimise waste, and the decision to not supply a USB power adaptor encourages re-use of e-waste.
Light Soy’s packaging is plastic-free, and made from recycled cardboard and bagasse sugarcane pulp, so it’s completely recyclable or biodegradable, and the integrated cotton handle means Light Soy can be carried home without needing a plastic bag.
Light Soy is available in two models: a portable USB-C rechargeable table lamp with touch-controlled dimming and aluminium base, or universal mains-powered pendant light with bespoke aluminium ceiling canopy.
About the Packets
In Japan, the packets are called Shōyu tai (醤油鯛), meaning ‘soy sauce bream’ or ‘soy sauce snapper’. The tiny fish, made from polyethylene and designed to hold a single serve of soy sauce, were invented in the 1950s. Since then they have become ubiquitous in Japan and in sushi restaurants around the world.
Learn more about why these packets are so problematic and what we can do about it.
Review Units
Review units will be available to borrow from May 2020. Please contact us to reserve your place.
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Hashtags: #heliograf #lightsoy #mylightsoy
Press Coverage
We keep track of coverage on our media coverage page.
About Heliograf
Heliograf is a design studio based in Sydney, Australia with a focus on design for good.
Our mission is to be a leading brand for thoughtful design. By investing in new ideas and emerging designers, we hope to become a world-class incubator for creative solutions to global issues.
Heliograf is a proud member of 1% For the Planet. One percent of our revenue goes to nonprofit organisations protecting the oceans and preventing plastic pollution. We share updates on our giving and partnerships via our news page and mailing list.
Jeffrey Simpson is a designer and entrepreneur based in London. Jeffrey is the creator of award-winning hospitality venture Dovecote on the Australian South Coast, and the Eveleigh Street Creative Precinct in Sydney.
Angus Ware is a designer, creative director and filmmaker based in Sydney. His short film ‘Junk Food’, about plastic take-away packaging, opened the 2017 Environmental Film Festival Australia (EFFA).