I’ve always thought pop-up headlights were one of the coolest little quirks in car design. They’ve actually been around forever, but they really found their identity in JDM culture. Cars like the Mazda RX-7 FD, Mazda Miata NA, and Toyota AE86 all have that same signature look: low profile, rear-wheel drive, and then those headlights that just flip up out of nowhere. It’s such a simple idea, but it gives the cars so much personality. It’s kind of a bummer they disappeared in the early 2000s because of safety regulations, because they really made those cars feel alive in a way modern designs don’t.
That whole idea is what I wanted to capture with my lamp. At first, I was pretty set on 3D printing a custom enclosure so I could get exactly the shape I wanted, especially using the golden ratio spiral as a guide. But after getting some feedback, I had to rethink things and move away from custom printed parts. That pushed me to get a bit more creative. I ended up redesigning everything around upcycled laser-cut acrylic instead, using flat panels and finger joints. It definitely changed the look, but in a way it made the project feel more hands-on..
I also ended up leaning more into a Vaporwave/Synthwave vibe, which gave me a clearer direction for colors and overall style. The lamp still has that pop-up motion, now driven by a servo and controlled with an Arduino, so it keeps that mechanical “wink” I was going for. Honestly, it wasn’t a smooth process — stuff broke, measurements were off, and I had to redo a bunch of parts — but pulling it all together felt really satisfying. It’s not exactly what I imagined at the start, but it still captures that same spirit, just in a different way.
Upcycle – Unrulr
