For the 10th anniversary of the [d]arc Awards, Michael Grubb Studio’s design takes a playful approach to the 2025 theme and word Ten: TEN-tacles!

A cascade of illuminated, writhing tentacles are suspended from above. Formalighting’s motorised Moto-Jojo pendants allow the tentacles to come alive, bringing the sense of movement, whilst the flexible linear LED lengths form smaller, glowing tentacles.

The tentacles are constructed from reused bubble wrap, sourced from our studio testing room full of lighting sample packaging. Wrapped around lengths of reused garden wire for stability, the bubble wrap is stuSed into fishnet tights and formed into coiling tentacles. The tights evoke the appearance of fishing nets discarded in the ocean, highlighting the environmental impact of sea pollution. Iridescent fabric fills the spaces between to create a seaweed eSect, reflecting the lighting in deep-sea hues.

Image: Gavriil Papadiotis (www.gavriilux.com)