The project Two Lamps, One Shared Language is a collaborative work by industrial designers Míja and Federica, developed as an exploration of empathy, cultural exchange and interpretation through design. Coming from different European regions – the western Mediterranean and the Balkans – they met while studying in the Netherlands and, despite their different backgrounds, discovered a shared design sensibility.

The project began with a simple question: what happens when designers create not for themselves, but for someone else? Instead of designing objects that reflect their own identities, each designer created a lamp inspired by the personality and presence of the other. The result is a pair of objects that function as portraits translated into form, material and light.
The first lamp interprets confidence, adaptability and energy through bold proportions, illumination and a deliberately exposed mechanism that celebrates construction rather than concealing it. The second translates movement and self-assurance into a fluid silhouette that suggests rhythm even in stillness.

Although different, the two lamps share a common design language rooted in honesty and emotional connection. Sustainability is embedded through the choice of materials, production methods and simple construction principles that support longevity and responsible production. Ultimately, the project shows how design can transform cultural differences into collaboration and relationships into meaningful objects.