Paola Navone Gives the Classic Lampshade a Quietly Playful Twist

2 hours ago7 min read2 comments

There’s a certain magic in the way an object can tell a story without saying a word, a quality that Italian designer Paola Navone understands intimately. Her HAT collection for Contardit isn't merely a series of lamps; it's a quiet character study in form and feeling, a piece that feels less like a product and more like a personality you’ve invited into your home.I’ve always been fascinated by the stories embedded in our daily surroundings—the chair that holds the memory of a thousand conversations, the rug that maps the footfalls of a family. Navone’s work speaks directly to this human-centric design philosophy.She takes the classic lampshade, a silhouette so familiar it’s almost invisible, and infuses it with a soul through the simplest of gestures: playful rope details that cascade like loose threads from a well-loved garment, and soft, tactile materials that beg to be touched. This isn't design for the sake of spectacle; it’s design for the sake of connection.It reminds me of a conversation I once had with a potter who described her craft as 'listening to the clay,' and I see that same dialogue in Navone’s process. She isn't imposing a rigid form but collaborating with the materials, allowing the rope to have its own playful voice, letting the fabric drape with a soft, organic ease.The result is an object that feels both timeless and spontaneous, a piece that avoids the cold perfection of mass production and instead carries the warmth of the human hand. In a world increasingly dominated by sterile, algorithm-driven aesthetics, Navone’s work is a gentle rebellion.It champions imperfection, celebrates texture, and prioritizes emotional resonance over stark utility. It asks us to slow down, to notice the gentle play of light through a textured shade, to appreciate the quiet delight in a coiled rope.This is the essence of why we surround ourselves with beautiful things—not for status, but for the silent, comforting dialogue they create with us every day. The HAT collection, in its quietly playful twist, becomes less a source of light and more a beacon for a more considered, more human way of living.

#featured

#Paola Navone

#HAT collection

#Contardit

#lampshade

#design

#interior design

#rope details

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