Inside the design of IKOAN with designer Chris de Wilde

IKOAN began with a shape almost everyone recognises. We spoke with Dutch industrial designer Chris de Wilde about the familiar image that inspired the collection, his search for the right balance and why beauty and functionality should always go hand in hand.

What is most important to you as a designer?

“Beauty in functionality”

For Chris, every product should have a clear reason to exist. It should work intuitively for the person using it, bring something meaningful to everyday life and tell a story through its design.

This way of thinking can be seen throughout IKOAN. Even the most practical details contribute to the overall experience. A subtle Lightswing Yellow accent is hidden around the socket and only reveals itself during use. It brings an unexpected touch of character to the lamp and shows how a functional element can become part of the design.

What inspired the design of IKOAN?

“When you ask someone to draw a lamp, they often draw the same shape: a shade with a bulb appearing underneath. It is a universal image of a lamp, but for a long time, you rarely saw that exact shape reflected in real lamp design.”

That simple observation became the starting point for IKOAN. Instead of hiding the light source, Chris made it an essential part of the silhouette. The familiar lamp shape was stripped back and reimagined as a contemporary design object, recognisable at first glance but distinctive in its proportions.

How did you create balance within the design?

The oversized globe is nestled inside the shade. The contrast between the rounded light source and the clean shape around it creates visual tension, but also harmony. It feels as though the globe is being held and embraced.

The generous opaline globe gives IKOAN its recognisable character. Its rounded form softens the clean lines of the shade, creating a design that feels expressive yet calm. Every proportion was carefully considered to ensure the lamp makes an impact without overpowering the space around it.

What kind of atmosphere did you want the lamp to create?

I wanted to create a light you can leave on. A soft, warm light that brings atmosphere above the dining table and feels calm when you look into it.

The oversized opaline globe produces a warm glow, while the shade gently directs the light downwards. This creates an inviting atmosphere around a table or within a living space. Rather than only illuminating the room, IKOAN is designed to influence how the space feels.

The globe was developed specifically for Lightswing® to achieve the right size and sense of balance. Its generous proportions give the lamp a contemporary character, while the soft curves offer a sense of tranquillity when viewed from below.

How does the IKOAN Spot fit into the collection?

“The pendant brings warmth and atmosphere, while the spot gives you more focused light. Together, they offer different ways to use light within the same space.”

The IKOAN Spot carries the same refined design language as the pendant but answers a different need. Its directional light can highlight a kitchen, a wall, a painting or another part of the interior. Combined with an IKOAN Pendant on Lightswing®, it brings atmospheric and functional lighting together in one flexible setup.

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Designed to Stand Out: Meet the New Lightswing® Colors

Your lighting should do more than brighten a room. It should complement your style, adapt to your space, and feel like a natural part of your interior. That’s exactly why we’re introducing the new Lightswing® colors. At Lightswing®, we believe smart solutions should be both functional and beautiful. Our adjustable lighting system allows you to reposition your pendant light without damaging your ceiling, giving you the freedom to redesign your space whenever you want. What started as a practical solution has evolved into a design piece that deserves to be seen.

One or Two Pendant Lights Above Your Dining Table?

Choosing the right lighting above your dining table is essential for both style and functionality. The perfect pendant light creates atmosphere, enhances your interior, and makes every dining space feel complete.

But while your interior changes over time, your ceiling connection stays in the same place. Maybe you’ve rotated your dining table, moved into a new home, or chosen a larger table. Suddenly, your pendant light is no longer positioned where you want it. That’s exactly where Lightswing® comes in.

Both the Lightswing® Single and the Lightswing® Twin allow you to reposition your lighting without drilling new holes or relocating the ceiling connection. The difference lies in how much flexibility you need and whether you’re using one or two pendant lights.

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Lightswing® Single: The Flexible Solution for One Pendant Light

Do you have one pendant light above your dining table? Then the Lightswing® Single is the perfect solution.

With one smooth movement, you can reposition your pendant light so it always hangs exactly where you want it. Whether you’ve changed your table, refreshed your interior, or simply want better alignment above your dining area, your lighting can adapt without any hassle.

The included Quick Release also makes it easy to swap pendant lights whenever you’re ready for a new look.

Easy to Reposition. Easy to Change.

Every Lightswing® is designed to make everyday living easier. Rotating your dining table? Extending it for guests? Moving furniture to create a new layout? Your lighting can move with it.

The Lightswing® offers the flexibility for multi-light arrangements, while both systems allow you to position your lighting exactly where you need it. Thanks to the Quick Release, pendant lights can also be disconnected quickly whenever that is convenient. It is a smart solution that keeps your lighting practical, flexible, and perfectly positioned for years to come.

Lightswing®: Maximum Flexibility for Your Evolving Interior

If you have two pendant lights, a larger dining table, or simply want more freedom to experiment with different lighting arrangements.

Thanks to the Quick Release and the optional Quick Converter accessory, the Lightswing® offers maximum flexibility. Making it easy to switch between one and two pendant lights. This allows your lighting setup to evolve alongside your interior without compromising functionality or style.

Prefer a balanced and symmetrical look? Position two pendant lights at the same height. Looking for something more playful? Hang them at different heights to add depth and character above your dining table.

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How Paul Constandse turned an everyday problem into Lightswing®

Sometimes, a great idea starts with something very simple. A table that needs to move. A pendant light that suddenly hangs in the wrong place. And one simple thought: there has to be a smarter way. That was the moment the idea for Lightswing® began. His approach to product development is rooted in solving real problems through simple, intuitive design. That philosophy became the foundation of Lightswing® and continues to shape the brand and its innovations today.

It started at the kitchen table

In his new home in Leeuwarden, Paul Constandse was sitting at the kitchen table when his wife decided she wanted to rotate it a quarter turn. A simple change, until they realised the pendant light would no longer hang neatly above the table. Moving the light would mean drilling new holes and damaging the ceiling.

For Paul Constandse, that sparked an idea. There had to be an easier way to move a pendant light. From that thought came his first prototype, which he continued to refine in both design and functionality.

A familiar problem at home became the starting point for Lightswing®.

Lighting that moves with your interior

Our interiors rarely stay exactly the same. You turn the dining table, change the layout or make space for something new. So why should your lighting have to stay in one fixed position?

Lightswing® is a smart suspension system that lets you turn, slide and reposition your pendant light exactly where you need it

Lightswings Timeless design

When asking Paul about the idea behind the design of Lightswing®. One thing comes first: functionality. The idea was to create a simple solution that gives you the freedom to use your own pendant light and move it along with your interior. Whether you reposition your table or simply want your light somewhere else, there is no need to rewire or reinstall it. Every detail is designed around simplicity, ease of use and freedom.

Designed from a simple idea

What started as a solution to an everyday problem at home grew into a distinctive design product. That same way of thinking still shapes Lightswing® today: turning real-life challenges into thoughtful solutions.

At its core, Lightswing® is about simplicity, smart design and everyday usability. The brand combines functionality with a clean, design-led approach to create solutions that make it easier to adapt your home to the way you live.

Because good design doesn’t have to start with something complicated. Sometimes, it simply starts by asking: why can’t this be easier?

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IKOAN Spot: Flexible Lighting, Designed for Everyday Living

Looking for a spotlight that combines functionality with timeless design? The IKOAN Spot by Lightswing® is designed to do exactly that. Whether you want to brighten your kitchen, highlight artwork, or create a flexible lighting setup, the IKOAN Spot offers a simple and stylish solution.

A Smart Addition to Your Lighting Setup

One of the unique advantages of the IKOAN Spot is its compatibility with the Lightswing® system. Combine a pendant light above the dining table with a spotlight on the other side of your Lightswing®. This creates the perfect balance between atmospheric and functional lighting in a single setup.

The spotlight can rotate and be adjusted to suit changing needs, giving you greater flexibility throughout your home.

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Designed with Ease in Mind

Many spotlights make replacing a bulb more complicated than it needs to be. The IKOAN Spot features a spacious shade design that allows you to easily remove and replace the GU10 bulb by hand. No tools, no frustration, just smart design.

Available in Black, Burgundy, Cobblestone and White, the IKOAN Spot complements a wide range of interior styles, from Scandinavian and Japandi to modern and minimalist homes.

More Than Just a Spotlight

The IKOAN Spot is part of the IKOAN collection, a lighting range designed by Chris de Wilde. Inspired by the universal shape people instinctively draw when sketching a lamp, the collection combines familiar forms with contemporary design and practical functionality.

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Discover our new statement piece the IKOAN Pendant light

When someone draws a lamp, they almost always draw the same shape: a shade with a bulb visible underneath.

It is one of the most universally recognised objects in design. Surprisingly, however, this familiar silhouette has rarely been translated into contemporary lighting design

That simple observation became the starting point for the IKOAN Pendant light. Designed by our inhouse Dutch industrial designer Chris de Wilde, IKOAN transforms the archetypal lamp drawing into a refined, contemporary lighting object that feels both familiar and completely new.

More than a pendant light, IKOAN is the new icon of Lightswing®. A statement piece designed to bring warmth, atmosphere, and character into modern interiors while seamlessly integrating with the Lightswing® suspension system.

Designed Around Atmosphere

The IKOAN Pendant Large was created to bring a warm and inviting ambience to everyday living. At its centre sits a generous opaline globe that emits a soft, diffused glow. The globe appears gently nestled within the aluminium shade, creating a sense of harmony and protection. This relationship between bulb and shade gives the lamp its distinctive character.

The warm light enhances a room without overpowering it. Whether suspended above a dining table, illuminating a living room, or creating atmosphere in an open-plan space, IKOAN provides a comfortable, welcoming presence throughout the day and evening. The lamp is striking enough to act as a standalone statement piece, yet understated enough to blend naturally into the surrounding interior.

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The Beauty of Hidden Details

Like many carefully considered designs, IKOAN reveals more the longer you live with it. Hidden inside the lamp is a metallic Lightswing® Yellow socket, a subtle detail inspired by the brand’s visual identity. It remains largely concealed until the moment of interaction, adding an unexpected sense of discovery when installing or changing the bulb.

This detail reflects an important Lightswing® belief: functionality can have its own beauty. Rather than demanding attention, the yellow accent quietly rewards curiosity, adding an extra layer of character to the experience of using the lamp.

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Lightswing® Single vs Twin: Which Solution Is Right for Your Dining Table?

A new interior, a different table setup, or simply the desire for a change. Your lighting should be able to adapt with it. With Lightswing®, you can easily position your pendant light exactly where you need it, while keeping the freedom to rearrange your space whenever you like. Whether you choose the Lightswing® Single or the Lightswing® Twin, both solutions help you create the perfect lighting setup without moving the ceiling connection. But which option is right for your home? Let’s take a closer look.

One or Two Pendant Lights Above Your Dining Table?

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Lightswing® Single: The Flexible Solution for One Pendant Light

Do you have one pendant light above your dining table? Then the Lightswing® Single is the perfect solution.

The included Quick Release also makes it easy to swap pendant lights whenever you’re ready for a new look.

Easy to Reposition. Easy to Change.

Whether you choose the Single or the Twin, every Lightswing® is designed to make everyday living easier. Rotating your dining table? Extending it for guests? Moving furniture to create a new layout? Your lighting can move with it.

The Twin offers additional flexibility for multi-light arrangements, while both systems allow you to position your lighting exactly where you need it. Thanks to the Quick Release, pendant lights can also be disconnected quickly whenever that is convenient. It is a smart solution that keeps your lighting practical, flexible, and perfectly positioned for years to come.

Lightswing® Twin: Maximum Flexibility for Your Evolving Interior

If you have two pendant lights, a larger dining table, or simply want more freedom to experiment with different lighting arrangements, the Lightswing® Twin offers even greater flexibility.

Thanks to the Quick Release and the optional Quick Converter accessory, the Lightswing® Twin offers maximum flexibility. Making it easy to switch between one and two pendant lights. This allows your lighting setup to evolve alongside your interior without compromising functionality or style.

Which Lightswing® Is Right for You?

Your dining table may change over time. Your lighting should be able to change with it. Choose the Lightswing® Single if you use one pendant light and want a simple, flexible way to keep your lighting perfectly centred above your dining table.

Choose the Lightswing® Twin if you have two pendant lights, a larger table, or want the freedom to switch between different lighting arrangements as your interior evolves. Whichever solution you choose, Lightswing® helps you create the perfect lighting set-up.

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Lightswing® guide: choose the best model for your dining table

Not sure which Lightswing® is right for your dining table? You’re not alone. The best choice mainly depends on the length of your table and whether you want to use one or two pendant lights.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything step by step, so you know exactly what works for your setup.

Which Lightswing® matches your table size?

The length of your dining table plays a key role in choosing the right model. Especially with longer tables, proportions matter for both the overall look and the distribution of light.

Tables up to 200 cm

Do you have a dining table of around 160 to 200 cm?

In most cases, the Lightswing® Twin 90 cm is the best choice.

The lights are positioned 90 cm apart
Creates a compact and balanced look
Ideal for medium-sized tables

Prefer one pendant light instead?
You can also choose a Lightswing® Single.

Lightswing® Twin Matt Black with two Pendant Lights Novo Naturel above dining table in modern dining room

Lightswing® ceiling system with two pendant lights above a rectangular dining table in a bright, modern interior

Tables 200 cm and longer

Do you have a dining table of 200 cm or more?

Then the Lightswing® Twin 110 cm is usually the better option.

The lights are positioned 110 cm apart
Provides a more even distribution of light
Creates a calmer, more spacious look

If you prefer one pendant light, the Lightswing® Single 110 cm is the most suitable choice. However, for longer tables, two lights usally work better.

Should you choose one or two pendant lights?

Besides the size of your table, the number of lights also makes a big difference.

Choose one pendant light if you:

want a clean, minimalist look
have a statement lamp you want to highlight
have a smaller or round table

Choose two pendant lights if you:

have a longer dining table
want a more even light distribution
are looking for more balance in the space

Lightswing® ceiling system with a single pendant light above an oval dining table in a warm, modern interior

What size pendant light should you choose?

Getting the proportions right is key to a well-balanced look.

Choose a lamp that is about 50–75% of your table width

In most cases, this means:

40 to 60 cm (when using one pendant)
30 to 40 cm diameter per lamp (when using two lights)

Example:
For a table of 200 cm, two pendant lights of around 30–40 cm usually work best.

Distance between the lights

When using a Lightswing® Twin, the distance between the lights is fixed:

Twin 90 cm → 90 cm between the lights
Twin 110 cm → 110 cm between the lights

The size of your pendant lights determines how much space remains between them.

Example with 40 cm lamps:

Twin 90 cm → approx. 50 cm space in between
Twin 110 cm → approx. 70 cm space in between

A wider spacing creates a calmer look, while a smaller distance feels more compact.

Practical tips for the right setup

Hang your lights 60–80 cm above the table. Not sure about the ideal height? Read our guide on how high a pendant light should hang above the dining table.
Make sure the lights are not too close together
Match the size of the lamp to the table
Always check the maximum weight capacity of your Lightswing® and, if you’re unsure whether your lamp is compatible, read our guide on which pendant light is suitable for the Lightswing®

With the right combination of Lightswing® and pendant lights, you create a setup that looks balanced and stays flexible as your interior evolves.

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Which pendant light is suitable for the Lightswing®?

Are you unsure which pendant light is suitable for the Lightswing®? Or are you looking for a light that you can easily reposition without having to reinstall it?

Not every pendant light is compatible with the Lightswing®. The good news is that it’s easy to check whether your current light is suitable.

In this blog, we guide you through exactly what to look for when choosing a pendant light for the Lightswing®, including weight, connection, and type of light.

When is a pendant light suitable for the Lightswing®?

A pendant light is suitable for the Lightswing® if it meets three key requirements: the correct weight, one power cable, and no built-in electronics.

1. The correct weight

Each Lightswing® has a maximum load capacity, which varies by model:

90 cm (Single & Twin): maximum 3.5 kg per lamp
110 cm (Single & Twin): maximum 2.5 kg per lamp

For linear or heavier lighting, there is a separate solution:

Lightswing® Zero: maximum 10 kg

This model is specifically designed for bar lights or linear pendant lights and is often used above long dining tables or kitchen islands.

Why this matters:
Each Lightswing® is designed to support a specific maximum weight. Exceeding this limit can affect both the stability and safety of the system.

With the 110 cm version, the lamp is positioned further away from the pivot point. This creates more leverage, which is why the maximum load capacity is lower.

For additional stability, especially when using the full length, it is recommended to use the levelling foot. This helps distribute the weight and keeps the Lightswing® stable during use.

Tip: Always check the weight of your light in the product specifications.

Pendant light on Lightswing® above a dining table in a modern interior

2. One power cable

The Lightswing® uses one central connection via the Quick Release.

This means that a suitable pendant light must have one power cable. Lights with multiple cables or separate connection points are not compatible.

Does your light include a decorative chain or an additional support cable?
That’s not a problem, as long as there is only one electrical cable.

3. No built-in dimmer or transformer

Pendant lights with a built-in dimmer or transformer inside the ceiling canopy are not compatible with the Lightswing®.

Since the Lightswing® replaces the original ceiling canopy, there is no space for these components.

If you would like dimmable lighting, it is best to use a wall dimmer instead.

Examples of suitable pendant lights for the Lightswing®

Looking for inspiration? Many types of pendant lights work well with the Lightswing®, as long as they meet the requirements for weight and connection.

Glass pendant lights
Create an open, airy look with even light distribution. Clear glass creates a spacious feel, while smoked or frosted glass softens the light.

Fabric pendant lights
Provide soft, diffused lighting and create a warm, cozy atmosphere. Ideal for living rooms and bedrooms.

Paper pendant lights
Lightweight and perfect for minimalist or Scandinavian interiors. They offer soft, even lighting.

Rattan or bamboo pendant lights
Add a natural look and create a playful light pattern thanks to their open structure.

Metal pendant lights
Work well in modern or industrial interiors. Always check the weight, especially for larger or solid designs.

pendant light for Lightswing® with different styles and materials above dining tables

Close-up of installing a Lightswing® system for adjustable lighting

Easily switch with the Quick Release

Would you like to switch between pendant lights without any hassle? The Quick Release makes it easy.

With the Quick Release, you can attach a pendant light to the Lightswing® in just a few seconds, and remove it just as easily, without tools or complicated installation.

You can also purchase multiple Quick Releases separately and attach them to different lights. This allows you to switch effortlessly between styles, depending on the season or your interior.

For example, choose a light, airy design in summer and a warmer, more atmospheric light in winter. With just one click, you can completely change the look of your space without having to reinstall anything.

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Ready to find the perfect pendant light?

Choosing a suitable pendant light for the Lightswing® is straightforward when you keep a few key factors in mind. By checking the weight, connection, and presence of built-in electronics, you can be sure your light is both safe and fully compatible.

With the Quick Release, switching between lamps becomes even easier, giving you maximum flexibility to adapt your lighting to your space in seconds.

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