2021
2026

The Blooming of Fragility

Catherine Gao

Catherine Gao

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

2021
2026

The Blooming of Fragility

Catherine Gao

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

2021
2026

The Blooming of Fragility

Catherine Gao

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

What happens when a fragile shell begins to bloom with light? This project reimagines the familiar form of an egg carton as a lighting structure. Egg cartons normally protect fragile eggs, just as an eggshell protects the egg. In this design, that protective idea is transformed into layers that surround a light source. The shell-like forms are reconstructed from tissue and glue, creating delicate surfaces that recall the texture of egg cartons. At the center, the bulb sits like a protected core, similar to the yolk of an egg or the center of a flower. The surrounding forms open outward like petals. When the lamp turns on, light passes through these fragile layers and becomes soft and warm. Through this transformation, a common and easily discarded material gains a new presence as a small, calm night light.

The Blooming of Fragility