Rethinking Cheapie Inline Lamp Switches

The inline switch common on cheap lamps is often an unloved, poorly-integrated plastic lump. Vancouver-based industrial designer Andrew King suggests a fix, with his self-directed Modal Inline Switch project:

Modal rethinks a component that's usually treated as an afterthought. Most are plastic, generic, and visually disconnected from the objects they control. This project treats the switch as something worth designing.

The housing is CNC-machined from aluminum, with a low, rounded form that sits naturally along the cord and stays put on a surface. A latching push-button sits flush within the body, giving a clean, consistent press.

The form is driven by how it's made and how it's used. Internal guides keep the button aligned and prevent any side-to-side play, while the two-part construction keeps the assembly simple and durable. Details such as weight, button travel, and overall proportions were refined through iteration.

Bead-blasted and anodized in clear, black, or blue.