Between Matter and Light

Explorations in Self-Production and Sustainable Awareness 

Between Matter and Light presents two student design projects from the Industrial Design programme at IPCA – Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave (Portugal), developed collaboratively in pairs. The first explores lighting design through a table lamp built around an LED strip kit, investigating light quality, material innovation, and formal expression. The second draws on the concept of Autoprogettazione to propose a self-produced wooden furniture piece designed for disassembly, transport, and reuse. Both projects demonstrate a hands-on, experimental approach where materials such as wood, acrylic, and polypropylene are chosen with care, reflecting a shared commitment to democratising design, conscious consumption, and environmental responsibility.