After using the lighting system designed and built by Mr. Hudson I have evaluated it and put forward these comments:

I spent several months working in a designer lighting studio where I learned the essentials of lighting and many of the aspects lighting design, especially the recent paradigm shift toward modular lighting, and the wishes of customers for "designer" lighting. The lighting studio in which I worked was situated in the middle of Belgium’s "Silicon Valley" of Zaventem. Continental customers, including customers wishing lighting systems for both their homes, and commercial areas such as hotels and offices, tend to provide more of a market place for the type of lighting designed by Mr Hudson, than that of the Ikea worshippers of Great Britain.

In the workings of the actual lights there is little that is innovative. The radio controlled lights are modern and functional. The controlling system is simple, effective and well designed. While infrared off/on switches have now become common place, Mr Hudson’s radio controlled dimmer switch is easier to use and more portable than any I have seen on the commercial market. I am a little concerned though at the tacky style of the remote control. It seems to resemble an eighties "whistle key ring" and would not appeal to the type of customer Mr Hudson would be trying to attract. The remote control receiver and power pack unit is also rather bulky and would have to be well hidden. I was also worried about the lack of switch on the light itself. If the remote control were broken or ran out of batteries or was lost, the light would be useless. I was pleased however with the level of light provided by the halogen bulbs.

The types of bulbs used in this system are particularly effective for the "mood" or "ambient" style of lighting Mr Hudson is trying to achieve. The design of the bulb housing allows the light to be projected at almost any angle. This allows for the fact that no two rooms are the same, and the system needs to be flexible in different kinds of surroundings. The height adjustment feature of the wall lamp is excellent. With the smaller bulb providing ambient illumination users can bounce the light from the main bulb off the wall, or have it facing into the room. Wall lamps of this nature are always difficult to judge accurately without being able to sample them in the environment for which they were designed, but all the signs are that despite the slight faults mentioned this is a well designed wall lamp.

The desk lamp I was able to test, to some extent, in my own working environment and therefore I feel even more confident in recommending it. The first stroke of genius to strike me about this lamp was the separate power pack/transformer unit. While many designers, and engineers, strive to produce small, whilst still efficient, transformers that can be fitted into the base unit, or the bulb housing, Mr Hudson has chosen to completely ignore the research which he realises will not provide the technology he requires for several years yet, and return to the traditional external transformer. Unlike the wall lamp, this unit is small enough to be hidden, and being a desk lamp it can easily be placed under the desk. I was impressed with the idea of transmitting the power for the bulb along the steel supports of the bulb units themselves. Although this is not the only lamp I have seen with this idea, it is certainly the best implemented. By using the type of halogen bulbs he has, Mr Hudson has been able to cut the voltage needed to 12 volts, which is perfectly safe. As with the wall lamp, this method of power delivery allows a convenient method of changing the height and angle of the bulb. However, one of the drawbacks of halogen bulbs is the amount of heat they produce. I was initially worried that too much heat would be transmitted to the small steel adjustment lever on the rear of the bulb housing, and perhaps, after prolonged use, to the steel supports as well. Again Mr Hudson has thought ahead and constructed the bulb housing from heat resistant acrylic, and has placed the bulb surprisingly far away from the steel adjustment lever. My only worry concerning the heat, therefore, is that the front of the bulb is completely exposed and has no protection from someone brushing against it, or the curious fingers of a small child.

The push-switch on front of the unit is another well thought out component. Surprising and lazy though it may sound, one of the biggest complaints I heard from otherwise satisfied customers was that on/off switches are too stiff, and no matter how loose a switch seems, a customer always wants it looser! This was especially true of rocker switches, which necessarily require some stiffness in order to stay on, however push-switches require virtually no stiffness and Mr Hudson appears to have recognised this fact in his design. The only small hang-up I have with the switch is that it has too much travel. Although easy to push, it does seem that that the switch has to be pushed a rather long way to turn the light on, but short of a touch-sensitive pad, I don’t think Mr Hudson could have made it any shorter.

Aesthetically speaking, I think each lamp is in a class of its own. Individually, they are well designed and stand out well – as a set they would be simply stunning. The choice of black ash for the wood is just right. Pale woods have no place on the desk or walls of anyone who has any concern for image. The use of real wood, as opposed to veneer on chipboard, also adds class to the design. I am also greatly drawn to the triangular theme that runs through the whole system. Angles usually lend themselves well to dark colours, and this is no exception.

The use of steel in the supports is another sound design choice. I always feel that too many designers turn to aluminium for its lightness and supposed strength. The amount of steel used in any lamp unit is not going to collapse under its own weight. A desk lamp is rarely going to need to be moved, so the extra weight there is not a factor, and as for a wall lamp, so unless Mr Hudson is planning to add a torch to this collection, I can see no problem with steel as a material. A lamp should feel well made, and that is precisely how these lamps feel.

This manner lighting system incorporates traditional designs with many new techniques in a startlingly efficient manner. Mr Hudson has gone with his convictions, and created a lighting system that would be perfect in any setting or home.