Lighting designer and Louisiana native Brandon Morrison favors quality craftsmanship and bringing the manufacturing process back to the fundamentals. The creator of furniture and lighting company whyrHymer, Morrison designs the porcelain lampshades and shapes the wooden bases available in his Los Angeles studio; all the remaining components are sourced from local providers within a 3-mile radius. Someone who will find design inspiration anywhere, from Oreos to power towers, Morrison attempts to deconstruct the typical lamp shape with custom designs in advanced new types.
I recently had an opportunity to stop by the whyrHymer studio and watch Morrison prepare a new version of his Manhattan Series No. 8 lamp for Palm Springs Modernism Week.
Marcia Prentice Photography
It’s easy to fall in love with all the craftsmanship of whyrHymer’s designs, but their appeal also lies in how this is a family business. The title whyrHymer came from Morrison’s friend’s problem in pronouncing his puppy’s breed, Weimaraner. Morrison conducts his studio along with his wife, Sundeep, and daughter Sonia could be found exploring the showroom on the weekends.
Marcia Prentice Photography
The Procedure
The lamp tops are ceramic using a nickel-color glaze. For those tops which are different colors, the nickel glaze is sanded and a quick-drying lacquer paint is applied. The lamps come in a shiny nickel colour and primary colors such as red, blue, orange, white and black, but Morrison might love to explore more colors, including translucent colors, and making the lamp tops from glass.
whyrHymer
Morrison’s inspiration for its Manhattan Series No. 8 lamps came out of a metallic cylinder with perforated holes, seen at right, given to him by a friend. Morrison first made the whole lamp from timber (including the top bit), but proved not to be the right material for the look he wanted.
A friend’s mother then suggested trying a ceramic mold. Morrison found two local professionals in downtown Los Angeles to create molds, and also a brand new lamp series was born.
Marcia Prentice Photography
He spends a substantial amount of time sculpting every lamp made from solid walnut, to give it a more tailored shape. The bases come in different colors and materials, including walnut, cherry, white oak, cherry and cherry.
Marcia Prentice Photography
When Morrison is making the base of the lamp, he goes back and forth, assessing how the base appears in relation to the top and then returning to the sculpting process to perfect its own shape.
Marcia Prentice Photography
After trimming the wood, he finishes each base with acrylic to bring out its natural beauty.
Marcia Prentice Photography
He then each lamp with electrical wiring by hand.
Marcia Prentice Photography
This Morrison wires a completed lamp using a white oak base.
Marcia Prentice Photography
Why whyrHymer?
Morrison is a self-taught designer who originally came to California from Louisiana in pursuit of an acting career. He serendipitously fell in love with layout after making a kitchen hutch for a buddy. “I went to the grocery store and purchased the coolest-looking food labels and created a collage that accented the piece. That opened my eyes to what kind of creativity I had under the surface,” he states.
With every whyrHymer layout, Morrison attempts to be open and not limit himself to some one aesthetic. “I do not try to match every model of dwelling out there, however, I do feel that my job can naturally reside in most homes and not look out of place,” he states. “I’m a servant with what feels right with my spirit”
Marcia Prentice Photography
Marcia Prentice Photography
Design Philosophy
“I believe that I have attained the comprehension of restraint in a manner that helps me to make lighting which creates a statement but is not in your face,” says Morrison. “I do not want my job to be used to capture attention. I want to hold your attention the more you take a look at the bit, the more you see the subtleties which make it living. Fantastic design is obviously giving energy ; you just have to pay attention”