Creative Director and Founder of design company DNA+, Alex Vitet introduces Cobalt Lantern, a power LED with “a crispy vintage industrial look.” Like a combination of a construction cage light and a giant capsule, Cobalt works well in lots of spaces—from factory lofts to downtown flats, high-rise apartments to modern office parks. Cobalt can also be used for retail applications, as the light flow is controllable (more on that later).

Cobalt Lantern. Designed by DNA+

Colorful and Cool Vintage Lamp

Cobalt is perhaps misleadingly named. While the word is powerful and fun to say, it may have some people believing that Cobalt is only available in cobalt blue. This is not the case. The lantern, which should be available for purchase in June 2012, will be made in nine matte, powder-coated colors: pastel orange, cream, light blue, telegrey2, telemagenta, ultramarine, coral red, grey olive, and pearl copper. It also comes in a clear brushed aluminum alloy. I like the entire palette, but the orange is a stand-out, given that the color reminds me most of construction cage lights.

Cobalt Lantern is also cool—in an unexpected sense. The lamp is designed with a dual, long-life cooling system. Using both passive and active cooling, Cobalt Lantern comes with a one-of-a kind system: “a huge classic cylinder heat sink and spiral aluminum fins, optimized Structure & Smart Airflow Design. Cobalt lamps are among the first of their kind to use this type of cooling design.”

And the technology doesn’t stop there. Cobalt Lantern includes an easy-to-use socketed solution that emulates “a traditional lighting socket.” This enables the lamp engine to “deliver an easy and familiar installation experience similar to traditional light sources.” After installation, you can change the beam angle, color temperature, and light output of Cobalt without the hassle of removing the luminaire—it simply takes a turn of the wrist.

About the Company: DNA+ has a simple philosophy: “Invent, Simple, Rational, Innovative, Design.” Offering a line of bath and lighting products, DNA+ believes that a “sense of design is by nature inscribed into the human DNA.” The company tries to “design for all” by manufacturing long-life products requiring low maintenance. DNA+ uses manufacturing plants that have been carefully selected for quality standards. Most of their manufacturers are located in the United States, although some are in Europe. From the inception, DNA+ keeps the environment in mind, creating products that are compact, efficient, free of harmful toxins, and made from quality materials.