The Husk Collection

The discovery of Zeoform Micro Pulp (ZMP)—an Australian-developed, paper-based fibre made from industrial waste—prompted the design team to rethink conventional approaches to lighting design.

Early prototyping focused on understanding ZMP’s forming constraints and machining possibilities. Its clay-like behaviour when wet and timber-like machinability when cured informed every detail—from wall thicknesses and joint designs to surface textures and fixing systems.

In parallel, the team developed a modular internal structure where a single shade and slumped glass diffuser could translate across three formats: pendant, wall sconce and floor light, each in two sizes. This reduced material waste and allowed for streamlined servicing and part replacement.

Recognising the demands of circular design, every element was created to be disassembled and maintained—without sacrificing visual or tactile quality. Precision-machined aluminium components and long-life LED modules were selected for both durability and recyclability.

The design process also spurred internal growth. The studio invested in new in-house machinery and production processes for manufacturing key secondary components—enabling tighter control over tolerances, finish, and material efficiency.

Final assembly of every Husk light takes place in-house, ensuring that each piece meets the studio’s standards for quality and resolution.

The result is a collection where every junction, surface and material transition has been considered and refined—not only for how it looks and feels, but for how it performs and endures.

Husk achieves design excellence through its clear material intent, detailed resolution, and commitment to circular thinking.

Every element has been thoughtfully developed for performance, longevity and aesthetic quality. The tactile surface of the Zeoform Micro Pulp (ZMP) shade invites interaction and speaks to the material’s natural fibre origins, while the artisan-formed slumped glass diffuser adds a sense of permanence and architectural clarity.

User experience was integral to the process. The modular system allows for scale and application flexibility—pendant, wall sconce and floor light—each designed for tool-free maintenance and easy component replacement.

The layered assembly creates a soft, ambient lighting quality suitable for both residential and commercial interiors.

Safety and compliance were considered from the outset. Non-toxic materials, durable aluminium components and low-energy LED modules all contribute to a design that meets the expectations of high-use environments.

Sustainability was not treated as an added feature but as part of the design logic. Husk’s cradle-to-cradle approach sets it apart—promoting repair, refurbishment and full disassembly at end-of-life.

Beyond performance, Husk also delivers visual strength. Its sculptural form language, refined detailing and rich material contrasts allow it to sit comfortably in architecturally led spaces.

The pairing of traditional glassmaking with material innovation positions Husk as a benchmark for how sustainable design can also be beautifully resolved and commercially desirable—both in Victoria and internationally.

Husk demonstrates innovation by redefining what circular, material-driven lighting can be.

At the core of this is the use of Zeoform Micro Pulp (ZMP)—a biodegradable, cellulose-based material made from recycled industrial waste paper and hemp, without plastics or glues. Its mechanical bonding process uses only water and energy, eliminating chemical binders common in most composites.

Designing for ZMP’s unique forming and curing behaviour led to new design approaches. The Zeoform team reworked mould geometries to accommodate shrinkage and stress points during drying, while in conjunction South Drawn developed precise CNC-machined connection points to interface with the shade once cured.

Husk’s modular system further drives innovation. Each light in the collection—pendant, wall sconce, and floor light—shares the same core components (shade, glass diffuser and key hardware), reducing material variation and simplifying repair or end-of-life processing.

By pairing an emerging sustainable material like ZMP with hand-crafted slumped glass—a material long valued for its permanence—Husk challenges the market’s perception of what a "sustainable light" looks and feels like.

Internally, the project also led to investment in new manufacturing equipment and processes. This increased production precision, reduced reliance on external suppliers, and improved the team’s capacity to deliver future circular design projects.

Husk doesn’t just meet a material challenge—it reframes it. It shows how material innovation and considered industrial design can deliver a product that is both functionally resilient and visually desirable—setting a new direction for sustainable product design in Australia.

Husk creates impact across environmental, commercial, and social dimensions.

From an environmental perspective, the use of Zeoform Micro Pulp (ZMP) reduces reliance on virgin materials and petrochemical composites. The fully biodegradable shade, combined with a disassemblable aluminium structure and glass diffuser, ensures that every component can be maintained, repaired, or recovered at end of life.

Commercially, Husk responds to increasing demand from both residential clients and commercial specifiers for sustainable, design-led lighting solutions. Early industry response has been positive, with architects and designers drawn to its material story and refined execution.

It follows the success of previous closed-loop lighting projects from the studio, showing a clear market appetite for thoughtful, circular product design.

Socially, Husk challenges assumptions about how sustainable materials should look and perform. By placing industrial waste-derived materials into a high-end, tactile, and sculpturally resolved object, it encourages both consumers and the design industry to reconsider their relationship with recycled content and lifecycle design.

Internally, the project prompted significant studio growth, including the investment in new machinery and manufacturing processes for in-house component production. This shift gives the team greater control over detail resolution, material efficiency and production waste.

For Victoria’s design and manufacturing sector, Husk signals how local collaboration—between designers, material innovators like Zeoform, and artisan fabricators—can deliver commercially viable, environmentally responsible products.

It contributes to the state’s growing reputation as a leader in design-driven sustainability.

Circular design thinking is foundational to the Husk Collection—from material sourcing and production through to assembly, servicing and end-of-life recovery.

At its core is Zeoform Micro Pulp (ZMP)—a paper-based fibre made from industrial waste streams including recycled paper and hemp. Manufactured in Byron Bay by Zeoform, ZMP is biodegradable, machinable and entirely free of plastics and glues.

Its production relies solely on water and energy to bond fibres, resulting in a significantly reduced environmental footprint compared to conventional composites.

The design team worked with ZMP’s unique material characteristics—its clay-like behaviour when wet and timber-like machinability when cured—to achieve high-resolution details across all components.

The tactile surface of the shade connects users back to its natural fibre origins, offering both visual and sensory appeal.

Husk’s hardware components are made from recyclable aluminium, and the glass diffusers were selected for their longevity and minimal environmental impact.

Every fixture in the collection—pendant, wall light, and floor lamp—is fully disassemblable, ensuring parts can be repaired, replaced, or responsibly recovered.

The team also invested in new in-house machining capabilities to refine key components, reducing external transport and material waste while improving control over production tolerances.

Husk challenges the idea that circular products must look or feel compromised.

It demonstrates how circular design principles can lead to outcomes that are both technically resolved and aesthetically compelling—setting a benchmark for future material-conscious design practice in Victoria and beyond.