CRIOSFERA is a light designed by UNA/UNLESS for Artemide to catalyze global attention on the cryosphere, calling to action on the urgency of embracing decarbonization in defense of intergenerational justice. Encompassing all the Earth’s frozen components, the cryosphere represents at once the largest repository of data on our planet’s climate history and the greatest threat to global coastal settlements. The ice core, quintessential symbol of climate change, informs the design by UNA/UNLESS of CRIOSFERA, a stratified light core of recycled blown-glass, riveted refractive optics with embedded LED’s, and CO2 level markers. Designed for Artemide, CRIOSFERA is not “just” a light, it’s a call to action. Raising awareness on the urgency of embracing decarbonization to mitigate the climate crisis, CRIOSFERA embodies a resolution, a manifesto in defense of intergenerational justice.

It was designed in response to the open-brief set by the client of designing a light. The only uncompromising request was that it shall guarantee the highest quality of light and efficiency. At UNA/UNLESS we expanded the scope to ensure that if/when we launch a new product in our saturated/consumerist world, we owe-up to our responsibility as citizens to contribute to the construction of a more sustainable future.

CRIOSFERA catalyzes global attention to our neglected 7th continent, Antarctica, and the cryosphere: the single planetary Common that can lead to the oblivion of coastal communities and island-states, while withholding key data on our climate history, necessary to inform undeferrable environmental policies. Antarctica is the only continent with no indigenous people, no consistency that can speak-up for its just governance and preservation. Yet what happens in Antarctica does not stay there. It affects our cites, human and non-human species.

CRIOSFERA is a synthesis of scientific, optical, and material knowledge. The external recycled-glass cylinder, blown by Venetian artisans, mobilise air (the same evanescent medium that withholds climate-data) as a design force that leaves an anthropic trace, imprinting on the glass deformations evoking ice; within it, a riveted optical extrusion translates the lessons of Antarctica (the ultimate refractor) into an optical device that maximises light-diffusion, minimizes energy consumption and hides the internal LED lights. Recycled aluminium devices, reminiscent of scientific tools, act as support for the luminescent core, keeping a score of the alarming recent ascent of the CO2 levels.

CRIOSFERA is an essential component of an ongoing interdisciplinary project launched by UNLESS, that sees the latter relentlessly engaged in research-based calls to action on Antarctica that include: the publication of Antarctic Resolution (Lars-Müller-Publishers, 2021) and subsequent Open Access dissemination; the curation of exhibitions and urban campaigns, and the proposal of policy resolutions for an equitable governance of the Commons.