Uplift 2.0

A spiral meditation inspired by the ocean in more ways than one.

We caught up with Tom Lawton creator of Uplift, the solar powered spiralling sculpture that mesmerized readers here eighteen months ago. Tom is launching a new version, Uplift 2.0 that sets to be even more soothing than the first so we were intrigued to ask him how?

What inspired Uplift 2.0 and this beautiful new colour?

After the brilliant response to the first Uplift I asked my audience what they would like to see and the response was unanimous; everyone wanted the spiral to be made from something that was reminiscent of flowing water - a form with translucency that would make it look likes waves. There's a naturally calming feeling you get when you're near water and well, most of us live surrounded by concrete, so I liked the idea of that - to bring the ocean on to the window sill in your home or office - somehow?

I was also seeking a more sustainable material for my next version but importantly it had to be just as beautiful as the first, which were all hand assembled from walnut by my own fair hands. So I looked to waste materials and, inspired by the challenge of transformation, I wondered if I could create beauty from waste marine plastic?

After a lot of research, I found a remarkable new source of material made of 100% waste nylon that comes from commercial fishing nets in Cornwall, England and we partnered with the supplier to pioneer a new process to manufacture with it - this hadn't been done before - and the result is stunning.

The material is mysterious, incredibly pure and is beautiful to watch. It behaves like the ocean, dark in the depths but translucent in sunlight.

So Uplift 2.0 has this unique aesthetic. But that's not all, when you launch something to start with there's always room for improvement, so it's been great to have so much encouraging feedback and we've done our best to completely reengineer the product and take Uplift 1.0 from being an object d'art to becoming the classic design piece that is Uplift 2.0. It's easier to use, more robust and more reliable.

The brilliant thing has been having a base of fans to trial designs with via social media - so it's a joy to be able to give people exactly what they want  and the translucent colour has been already received with great affection.

Why do you think people find the spiralling motion of Uplift so relaxing?

I can only speak for myself but have been drawn towards spirals since I was a child, sometimes I could close my eyes and I'd see fractal patterns. When I look to nature I see spirals everywhere too  - they are like the thumbprint of life at all scales in the universe - so I don't think I am alone in my appreciation of them. There is something particularly special about seeing a spiral in motion though, perhaps that is reminiscent of natural patterns too - the water flowing down the sink, a whirlwind, or smoke rising - I don't know. I think that because a spiral is the opposite to linear movement it encourages the mind to wander, to drift a little, there's a release and a renewal to it.

When I think of those 80's desktop toys with the suspended metal balls, Newton's Cradle, that's the one, the pattern doesn't encourage your mind to wander, it encourages linear thinking. With the spiral in Uplift there is an infinite flow that appears from nowhere and transcends in to somewhere via the optical illusion of the spiral. Young children find it particularly enthralling and no surprise there are now a few dentist practices with Uplift's in their waiting rooms.

With Uplift the spiral can freely turn either way and there's a lovely meaning to that I have adopted from an ancient eastern philosophy. When the spiral turns anti-clockwise, let go of the past, of all the things that no longer serve you. When it turns clockwise, embrace the future, get in to the flow.

Anti-clockwise, let it go. Clockwise, let it flow.

It must be challenging being an inventor, how do you manage stress personally?

I think you can mange highly stressful situations without loosing your head but the key to that is balance and for me to remain balanced I need to let my thoughts and emotions flow - so that I am centred. But that is much easier said than done especially in a world of excess, temptation and infinite distraction. 

Movement is part of that that balance - I run, cycle, walk and practice Qigong, all outdoors.

Mind is part of that balance too which is why the Calm app is the only smart phone distraction that I actually welcome, especially in the deep focus of a working day.

And the other part is soul.

You have to do things that nourish your soul and give you the motivation to extract your own sense of purpose and meaning from them.

So how to nourish the soul? By doing positive things that feel in tune with you and make me feel good. That's where you find passion and that's the fire of the soul.

My work as an inventor is very important to me and it's impossible as a designer not to be aware of the impact my decisions make on the planet due to the material resources they use and how they are made. So, now I know better, I look at my projects like I look at myself, too be as kind as possible to the earth. Where to start, the big mess of waste in the ocean.

While I don't pretend that Uplift 2.0 is going to make a dent in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, it does present an illuminating and pioneering use of a material in a way that is both mind and planet positive and that is something that certainly makes my soul sing.