Capitalizing on the fact that LEDs offer more opportunity to reinterpret how light is embodied and delivered, a new design imagines LEDs of an entirely new shape

There's no question that LEDs are the energy-efficient lighting solution of the future. In fact some experts predict that by 2015, 5- percent of all residential homes will completely lit by LEDs. There have been some issues with price and versatility, but as cost of LEDs continues to fall, while selection goes up, we think this is a pretty realistic prediction.

For the most part, LED designs cling pretty tightly to our deep rooted notions of what a light bulb is supposed to look like. But a new design from Artemide shows that it's time to let this uber efficient light source out from under that lampshade.

Sisifo, Scott Wilson's new hybrid luminaire for Artemide, challenges conventional light bulb design with a new typology of light that blends task lamp with table lamp and leverages LEDs qualities to create a new icon in lighting. The design's large diffused disk of light seems to float in air and easily rotates 360 degrees to direct a soft, powerful source of illumination.

"With its spherical central articulation, Sisifo guarantees maximum freedom in directing light with minimum encumbrance at the base, allowing use on both larger tables and smaller bedside surfaces," writes Wilson on Behance. "The lamp head and light source utilize micro lenticular surface details to amplify the light output. Sisifo’s generous adjustable diffuser eliminates unwanted harsh shadows and provides a soothing familiar feeling."

No longer will you have to deal with the harsh glare of a light bulb peeking out from your desk lamp, creating a blinding spot on the page or wall. Instead, the Sisifo provides bright, ambient light with a tiny carbon footprint.

Image via Scott Wilson/Behance