The brief for Hangman sought to meld designer Adam Goodrum’s affinity for narrative-driven design with Rakumba’s design ethos of “effortless complexity” - to design an iconic collection that resonates with people through a combination of nostalgia and playfulness. Inspired by the universally recognised analogue game of ‘Hangman’, this collection of floor, table and pendant luminaires embodies playful design and simple, yet magically executed geometry. 

The resulting collection combines Goodrum’s enduring fascination with mechanisms and geometry with the graphic simplicity of a childhood game. Capturing the gestural form of the “Hangman” game with a stick-figure-like personality, each luminaire has a typographic quality, which draws on the game’s word-based mechanic and analogue interaction. Goodrum’s intent was to infuse the product with the feeling of putting a pencil to a page, where creative possibilities are endless. The range is about versatility, asking the user to harness their imagination to configure each luminaire like a 3D drawing. 

The graphic simplicity of Hangman hides complex engineering – an ambitious, paradoxical design problem resolved through technical nous and desire to innovate. Rakumba is renowned for our appetite to take on technical challenges, pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved in manufacturing and material manipulation. A shared passion for clever geometry saw the Rakumba team devise an articulated joint, or ‘elbow’, which allows Hangman’s form to be manipulated in multiple directions, each position secured with an audible haptic ‘click’. Positioned at the end of each arm is a meticulously designed light source which appears as a polished, glowing tip. 

Careful thought was given to designing lighting effects enabling a wide range of practical uses of the product - from reading/task illumination through area and spotlight functions. Sustainable design strategies were incorporated at a fundamental level and considered throughout the entire design process: -Hangman’s anthropomorphic personality is central to the intention that this piece instantly attracts emotional engagement. Quality and design come together to deliver a timeless aesthetic spanning traditional through highly contemporary styles. The transformation of form through easy manipulation of Hangman’s articulated joints allows the product to adapt to new spaces and uses over time.

Hangman will not become land fill. -Hangman’s ability to manipulate in to a straight line form allows for minimal packaging, with each product shipping in a single tube, minimising embodied shipping energy. -Quality, cutting edge LED is used to provide for 20+ year life span and superior energy-efficiency. -Hangman is made from quality materials that don’t degrade over time, are designed for maintenance and disassembly, and can be recycled. RoHS2 compliance ensures the exclusive use of environmentally sound materials, and keeps harmful materials from entering landfill.