Davids Totem

Davids Totem is a commissioned work – and a prime example of how an idea becomes a finished, travel-ready object. David approached me after the closing of Skalar Festival 2025: he wanted a totem that was entirely his own. Over two rounds I presented him three concrete designs; together we settled on one sketch – and then I built it for him.

The totem has to travel with David, all around the world. So the brief was clear: light, dismountable, and robust – yet with strong, colorful effects that stand out instantly on the dancefloor. The centerpiece is a disco hand, crowned by a dichroic crystal with two high-power LEDs inside. Below it wind several meters of addressable LED strings.

The real trick is in the movement: David likes to spin his totem – and the light effects are tuned exactly to that. The rotation of the strings creates patterns that run into one another and at times feel downright hypnotic.

Everything is controlled via a self-developed panel with color selection, a brightness dial, an effect switcher, and controls for intensity and speed – so David has his light show in his own hands at all times. An integrated battery holder makes the totem fully self-sufficient.

From the first 3D design to the last component, everything was made in my own workshop: 3D printing, laser cutting, a custom-designed control board, and the matching software. An object that belongs to exactly one person – and travels the world with them.