Most table lamps just sit there doing their job, but Thomas Vincent’s Lớp Lamp performs what looks like a genuine optical illusion. The French designer working with Vietnamese brand BằNG has created lighting that feels more like a magic trick than a table lamp. The name comes from the Vietnamese word for “layers,” which makes perfect sense once you see how it works. Multiple sheets of colored acrylic stack around a light source, and somehow the bulb ends up looking like it’s floating in mid-air.
Turn it on, and things get even more interesting. The sphere reflects across all those acrylic layers, creating this shifting pattern that changes depending on where you’re standing. It’s the kind of thing that makes you walk around it just to see what happens from different angles. Vincent spent time figuring out exactly how each layer should relate to the others, because the depth effect is genuinely impressive.
Designer: Thomas Vincent x BằNG
You can get the Lớp in four sizes, which is helpful because the impact varies quite a bit depending on scale. Eight color options cover most decorating situations, from subtle neutrals to bold statement pieces. The build quality feels right too – substantial enough that you’re not worried about bumping into it, but not so heavy that moving it becomes a project. Standard LED bulbs keep things simple for replacements and don’t generate much heat.
What’s clever about the design is how it references optical art without feeling like a knockoff. People have compared it to Victor Vasarely’s work with squares and circles, and that connection makes sense. Both create movement through static elements, though Vincent achieves it through layered transparency rather than printed patterns. The lamp changes character as daylight shifts throughout the day, which keeps it interesting in ways most lighting doesn’t manage.
The design world took notice pretty quickly. MoMA carries it in their store, which is significant validation for any design piece. The German Design Award recognized it too, and when it debuted at Singapore Design Week, they sold out whatever pieces they brought. Social media shows people genuinely excited about unboxing and styling these lamps, which suggests the appeal goes beyond design professionals.
Vincent managed to create something that works on several levels at once. You get excellent light for reading or working, but you also get this sculptural presence that becomes part of the room’s personality. The Vietnamese production brings together European design thinking with skilled Asian manufacturing, resulting in quality that feels both refined and reasonably accessible. BằNG’s approach to lighting shows what happens when you stop thinking about lamps as just functional objects.
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