Rift Labs have been technology pioneers within LED and lighting since 2010, first and foremost as a sub-contractor to a US company. They then made the decision to take control of the whole client journey and commercialise their own products. Collaboration with external designers was vital to be able to establish the Kelvin brand and launch their first product, the film lamp Kelvin Epos 300.
It is vital to have user-friendly and reliable equipment during a film shoot since every minute of delay is expensive. This formed the basis of the development work at Rift Labs. They wanted to create a robust and user-friendly lamp that would deliver high technical precision.
The lamp is first and foremost aimed at the new generation of creative studios, and particularly at small and medium-sized productions.
The film lamp Kelvin Epos 300 in use on set.
Minoko Design from beginning to end
The product development and work on the branding happened in parallel, and this laid the groundwork for a uniform product profile and customer experience.
Minoko Design had for several years collaborated with Rift Labs when they were invited along to help develop the new Kelvin lamp. The Minoko designers have contributed all the way through from the concept phase to the final product with industrial design, insight, technical design and interaction solutions. Scandinavian Design Group contributed with visual identity and brand strategy.
The finished product consists of a lamp head with a powerful and precise LED-lamp with a yoke mount, a control box and an app used for wireless control.
The developers worked intensely to hit the optimal combination of high luminosity and low sound level.
Two side plates protect the internal electronics and define the shape of the lamp. With its clean, geometric expression it is different from the competitors on the market and at the same time gives a nod to the great hero of industrial designers, the German designer Dieter Rams.
Circular thinking has permeated the development work. Above all, this had to be a robust product able to withstand the rough treatment of film production. The use of aluminium enables much of the product to be recycled. And the parts are assembled in a way that makes maintenance, service and upgrades simple.
Strict requirements for entertainment and news
Since its launch in 2022 the film lamp has been well received in a market with increasingly stringent demands for quality and creativity in the production of entertainment, news and other content.
Rift Labs are proud to be able to help bring Norwegian high tech to the international market. In the past few years the company has established their own factory at Vinterbro outside Oslo, with a development department and production lines for electronics and assembly of their own products.
In this way they have created 20 jobs. In addition the company has contributed towards employment and value creation for their collaboration partners. Good feedback and advance sales promise further growth and yet more jobs.
Brief facts about the project
Kelvin Epos 300: A film lamp specially designed for small and medium-sized film productions.
By: Kelvin, Rift Labs, Minoko Design and Scandinavian Design Group
Design disciplines: Industrial design, Brand and identity design
Recipient of the DOGA Award
This project has received the DOGA Award for Design and Architecture for its outstanding qualities and for showing how strategic use of design and architecture create important social, environmental and economic value.
These are three reasons why this is an exemplary project:
- Carbon footprint reduction
Rift Labs are keen to reduce the climate footprint throughout the life of product. They are working towards sustainable solutions in terms of materials, construction, logistics, use and disposal. - Their own factory in Norway
As one of few remaining manufacturers in Norway, Rift Labs have established their own factory with an R&D department as well as production lines for electronics and assembly of their own products. Since the beginning in 2010 they have created 20 jobs, and contributed to further value creation by Norwegian creative companies and producers. - Norwegian high tech for the international market
Kelvin brings Norwegian high tech to a demanding global market, in which they are an all-Norwegian challenger.
