Keker Collection

Keker transforms discarded aluminium venetian blind slats, once used to control and block light, into a modular system for shaping and distributing light. By reinterpreting a familiar architectural element, the project turns a nostalgic, recycled material into a dynamic family of lighting objects.

Keker began in 2018, when an old and unused venetian blind in a storage space sparked the idea of reusing its material and structure. The idea was developed further through an invitation to propose a lighting design for the interior of the Afarinesh project at Shiraz University.

In Keker, the original function of the aluminium slats — to control and block light — is transformed. The slats are instead used to direct and diffuse it. This shift in function forms the central idea of the project: reinterpreting a familiar material and using it within a new lighting system while minimising material use.

The first iteration consists of three laser-cut acrylic sheets that form the main structural framework. Longitudinally cut aluminium slats are fitted into the grooves of these sheets. An energy-efficient LED light source sits at the centre, distributing light in 360 degrees, while the curvature of the slats keeps the source from being directly visible. The result is a dynamic interplay of light and shadow that stays comfortable to the eye.

The modular structure allows Keker to evolve into different forms and lighting typologies. Over time the system has developed into several versions — pendant, linear, ceiling, wall-mounted and floor-standing — all following the same underlying construction principle.

The first iteration of Keker was presented in 2019 at Ordibehesht Gallery in Tehran. In 2025, all developed versions were brought together and presented as a collection at Design Gallery One in Tehran.

Its name is a poetic reinterpretation of kerkereh — the Persian word for venetian blinds — preserving the memory of the original material while giving it a renewed identity through light.