TIZIO OB, Out of the Box

Developed between 2018 and 2023, TIZIO OB (Out of the Box) is a provocative exercise in "pro-cycling" and a critical reflection on the hidden costs of global logistics. Part of the studio’s "elements" series, the project consists of a twin replica of Richard Sapper’s iconic Tizio lamp (Artemide, 1972), constructed using exclusively the materials from its own original packaging: cardboard, polystyrene, label tags, and wire cable twists.

The design team conceptualized this piece as a "dark mirror" of industrial manufacturing. By replicating a high-end design classic using only its discarded "shell," the studio highlights the staggering volume of materiality and energy required to transport goods around the world. Polystyrene (PE), which accounts for 30% of global landfill volume, is here transformed from a short-lived transport material into a structural component, giving a permanent identity to what is usually ephemeral and ignored.

This project is the culmination of a decade of research into the "Shell of the Ghost" series, which began with the Napalm Boat (2015). To achieve the transformation of polystyrene without using toxic fuels, the team explored organic alternatives. This meticulous process allowed the studio to create a functional object that not only mimics the form of the original Tizio but also carries the narrative of its own environmental footprint.

Exhibited at the Radicarsi/Rooting show during Milan Design Week 2024, TIZIO OB challenges the design community to rethink the over-engineering of everyday objects. At Lucas Muñoz Muñoz, we see every technological purchase as an opportunity to create a replica from its waste, proving that the most powerful design statements can emerge from the very materials the market considers refuse.