By: Kelvin Lee
In today’s furniture and lighting industry, Lincoln’s work has consistently maintained a quiet, measured, and emotionally grounded character. As a Pasadena-based designer, he continually seeks the balance between rational restraint and expressive warmth. His design philosophy treats objects as both practical tools and graceful artistic presences.
“A thoughtful design shouldn’t rely on flamboyant expression,” Lincoln says. “It should allow emotion to surface naturally through clear engineering and thoughtful structure.”
This belief has carried through his entire journey at ArtCenter College of Design, from his undergraduate training in Industrial Design to his graduate specialization in Furniture, Lighting, and Fixture Design. Over time, it has shaped the distinctive language that defines his work.
Folding Sheet Metal into Emotion
Lincoln’s signature piece, the Ori Floor Lamp, captures this philosophy with clarity. Inspired by origami, he explored how a simple folding gesture could transform the innate coldness of metal into a form with warmth and softness. The lamp is made from a single sheet of aluminum, bent into shape without welding or unnecessary components. Its structure is direct and legible, yet it maintains the lightness and clarity often associated with paper.
For Lincoln, the piece is more than a form experiment. It is an exercise in balancing restraint and expression. By minimizing intervention, he allows the form itself to speak. The lamp becomes an emotional presence in a room rather than visual noise.
The Ori Floor Lamp has received numerous international awards, including the Red Dot Design Award, iF Design Award, A’ Design Award, MUSE Design Award, IDA, and IDSA. It has also been exhibited at New York’s ICFF / Wanted Design in May 2025, earning significant attention within the industry.
https://www.red-dot.org/project/ori-floor-lamp-83249
Crafting Objects with Emotional Clarity
During his time at WET Design, Lincoln’s focus expanded from objects to experiences.
Compared with traditional furniture and lighting design, water feature systems involve a broader range of considerations, including optics, materials, structure, fluid dynamics, engineering collaboration, and on-site installation. Lincoln has contributed to several large-scale public projects, such as interactive water features for U.S. university campuses, sculptural water installations for private estates, and major water features in urban public spaces. His work spans concept development, material research, structural coordination, and iterative refinement.
These experiences deepened his understanding of how emotion and technology coexist. He became more attuned to how light interacts with water, how form responds to its surroundings, and how different materials shape perception. This perspective now informs his smaller-scale work as well. Beyond form and function, Lincoln is equally attentive to how a piece is perceived, how it behaves in a space, and how it influences atmosphere.
A Refined Approach to Material and Atmosphere
Alongside Ori, several of Lincoln’s recent works have drawn significant attention.
Murmur Lamp
A candle-like lighting piece composed of smoked glass and a frosted light core. Its glow expands with a gentle breathing rhythm, creating a calm and introspective presence. Murmur reflects Lincoln’s ongoing exploration of the emotional qualities of light.
Photo Courtesy: Eric Li
Klein Lounge Chair
A polished stainless-steel frame paired with hidden assembly details creates a balance between structural logic and soft visual gesture. The chair is lightweight yet stable, emphasizing material honesty and visual clarity.
https://www.lincolnchendesign.com/klein
Piclo Stackable Stool
Photo Courtesy: Eric Li
A piece that elevates functional thinking through sculptural detail. Piclo is not only a practical seating object but also an artful design whose beauty reveals itself gradually through its crafted details.
https://www.lincolnchendesign.com/piclo
Although these projects differ in subject and scale, they share a clear thematic thread. Each uses precise structure to express emotion, and each relies on restrained form to convey warmth.
Toward a Future of Quiet, Intelligent Objects
Looking ahead, Lincoln is less interested in creating increasingly complex objects and more focused on designing what feels essential. He believes design should be necessary for the rhythm of daily life, for the atmosphere of a space, and for the emotional experience of the user.
“I hope my work is something people return to again and again. Something they can live with, appreciate, and enjoy. Good design shouldn’t sit on a pedestal. It should bring a small sense of delight in the most ordinary moments.”
At a time when much of contemporary design gravitates toward extreme forms and high-impact visuals, Lincoln’s work offers another perspective. When materials are treated with intention, when structure remains honest and clear, and when light is orchestrated with care, an object can achieve a presence that feels irreplaceable.
