Inside the Design of Benchmade: The Teig Lamp
One of the most rewarding aspects of our work is the chance to design and bring to life our own exclusive lighting. It’s a collaborative process that requires hard work, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to quality, but we’re so proud that we get to produce lighting the old-fashioned way in our Portland factory. Today, we’re taking a moment to celebrate a collection that has truly captured our hearts (and spaces).
Meet Teig, a dimmable table lamp that’s as functional as it is charming. Lovingly named after the German word for “dough,” Teig was inspired when our design team, who, when taken with Ray’s short bulbous shade, decided to turn it upside down. Tana, the designer of Teig and a former Schoolhouse employee, shares, “Iconic mushroom-shaped lamps from past eras offered so many unique silhouettes, and we wanted Teig to reflect that same sense of playfulness and personality through its shape and color.”
As with every new design, we started by considering how Teig would function and where it would live. We took a step back, looked at our current collection, and saw an opportunity to create something a little different. While many of our lamps provide more directional lighting, Teig was designed to offer soft, ambient light. Its small scale makes it an easy addition to a counter, desk, side table, or bookshelf.
Throughout the design process, fixtures often take on working names for their components. But when it came to Teig, the frosted glass shade was affectionately called “dough” by our product engineer, Brandt. As the team worked to refine its form, Tana jokes, “We want it to look like dough… rising.” Fitting, considering 2020 was the year of sourdough starters, right? That playful moment led to the lamp’s final name: “Teig” (pronounced “tiger,” minus the “r”).
Designing and launching a new product always feels like a sprint, but the reality is that it’s a marathon—one that spans many months and involves just about every department in our building. From inspiration to completion, Teig took about 16 months to come to life.
Dreaming up our designs next door to where our products are manufactured means we can prototype using real components and tweak the details—such as color and dimmer function—with the people who will be assembling the final product. Take the knob—it’s a key feature of Teig, and we intentionally made it the centerpiece. Its contrasting color and prominent placement allow it to stand out, while the slight taper makes it easy to grasp. And, of course, the satisfying on/off click gives it a certain charm.
What makes Teig so special and different is the thoughtful balance of shapes and scale. The dough-like form of the ellipsoid glass shade is both familiar and comforting, while the playful color options range from vibrant hues to more subdued tones. Together, these elements make Teig a lamp that feels both original and timeless.
When it came to choosing the color palette, that was a practice of exploring fun new combinations while staying true to the existing collection. Inspired by vintage electronics, the color palette drew from the ’50s and ’80s eras of office supplies. The warm neutral colors pay homage to vintage calculators and typewriters, while the vivid reds and yellows are reminiscent of Dieter Rams's designed appliances.
Now, Teig is available in a fresh range of hues that feel both playful and familiar. Whether you’re drawn to the subtle charm of warm neutrals or the bold energy of vibrant primaries, each color was chosen to celebrate Teig’s unique shape and personality. The end result? A small-but-mighty lamp that’s as delightful to look at as it is to use—ready to bring a little extra charm and character to your space.
