Di Ponti Touch
In 2025, Hoi P’loy ventured into the world of 3D printed lighting with The Shard of Light - a design that sought to embrace 3D printing as a viable production material with the focus of creating a product that made refined design accessible to a wider audience of design enthusiasts. The goal was a light that could be downloaded and printed anywhere using standardised parts.
Building on the lessons learned, 2026 presented an opportunity for our team to develop a light that seeks not to outsource 3D printing as a “DIY” project for the end user, but rather to incorporate the technology as an integrated part of our existing manufacturing processes - a conscious and deliberate marriage of old and new. Precision production techniques that are over 100 years old, with tech that’s at the cutting edge of tomorrow.
DESIGN LANGUAGE
As a creative, you’ve gotta recognise the pioneers of good design. You know, those pieces that appear effortlessly simple and whose visual identity has become iconic, standing the test of time. While Alfonso Bialetti is well known as the inventor of the Moka Pot, the timeless faceted Italian stovetop coffee maker, few people acknowledge the designer behind the visual design and refinement of the iconic shape - Luigi Di Ponti.
Our Di Ponti Touch Light pays homage to his famous piece by echoing the faceted cylinder we’ve all come to know as a universal symbol of coffee, while drawing on the signature sharp angles found in the Hoi P’loy Logo.
This lamp design aims to reframe 3D printed components, shaking off their “amateur” reputation, and presenting additive manufacturing in the context of a deliberate and considered piece of craftsmanship, which is not a mere substitute, but a purposeful choice as a material.
TOUCH ON / TOUCH OFF
We wanted to create a seamless experience, so we built the Di Ponti Touch light with a minimal brass finial that controls the light with a gentle touch.
UNDER THE HOOD
The touch switch takes advantage of the user’s own static energy to trigger the brains of the touch switch mechanism, which is housed deep inside the 3D printed base.
The solid brass internal skeleton made from precision-engineered Hoi P’loy lighting components doubles as a kind of “nervous system” to relay the static charge down to the controller. The user doesn’t feel a thing, but the light knows it’s time to shine.
A MARRIAGE OF OLD AND NEW
We strive to create the highest quality products with the best user experience. Sometimes that means relying on tried and tested methods, such as turning metals on a lathe, milling and drilling them the old-fashioned way till they resemble polished parts that are durable and built to last. But having a balanced approach ensures we don’t get too set in our ways at the expense of true innovation. As a small company on the tip of Africa, we’ve always prided ourselves on punching above our weight. Going the distance by learning how to master the art and science of 3D printing, along with growing a range of 3D filaments with tasteful colours and matte finishes allows us to draw on various disciplines to construct the ultimate hybrid solution that’s built to last, but also recyclable when the time finally rolls around.
MADE IN CAPE TOWN
Coming from a developing economy doesn’t mean we should settle for anything less than the best. It’s tempting to fall into the trap that our standards could be lower because we’re at a disadvantage when it comes to manufacturing infrastructure and global reach. We feel that good design elevates user experience not only in spite of the limitations, but because of them. We’re so proud of our team, and the way they continue to rally around the notion of our high aspirations.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO RECEIVE UPDATES ABOUT DI PONTI RANGE
