Design, Sushi & Sustainability: A Q&A with the Creators of the Light Soy Lamp

How did the Light Soy come about? Is it because you love sushi?

We do love sushi! At the time we were eating it a few times a week and were shocked by the amount of plastic waste from each meal. A single quick lunch could create five–seven pieces of plastic. We kept seeing the little soy fish littered around our studio and thinking about how easily each one could end up in the ocean.

Angus was making artwork using the fish motif, and Jeffrey had been exploring ideas for designing a lamp. Jeffrey had the ‘lightbulb moment’: what if we combined the two and created an upscaled soy fish that actually lit up? Our goal was to literally highlight the big problem with small, seemingly insignificant single-use plastics and show that design can inspire change.

‍You also work with other organisations to clean up the seas. Why? Is it because that’s where you get the materials for Light Soy?‍

That’s right. The material for our lamps is certified Ocean-Bound Plastic (OBP): plastic collected in coastal areas without formal waste management systems, where waste is at high risk of entering the ocean simply because there’s nowhere else for it to go.

In addition to using OBP, for every lamp shipped we fund the removal of an extra 2kg of plastic in Southeast Asia through our partners at Seven Clean Seas.

We do both because we want to have a direct impact where it matters most. Most ocean plastic comes from a small number of countries with limited waste infrastructure. By helping clean up plastic in those regions and turning it into long-lasting, valuable products, we can support local communities and reduce ocean pollution at its source.‍

What happens to Light Soy if we run out of ocean-bound plastic? Would people still be able to buy it?

If we genuinely run out of ocean-bound plastic, and there's no source of plastic that has a similar impact, we’d happily stop making Light Soy and say “job done.”

Light Soy Portable or Light Soy Flex — which would you pick?

Flex is our newest lamp and it has some very cool features. It’s our first smart lamp and our first with colour-temperature control.

Tell us the most surprising or unlikely place you’ve ever seen the Light Soy.

We sometimes spot Light Soy in the background of videos and home tours, which feels a bit like playing Where’s Wally. We’ve been watching Never Too Small on YouTube for years hoping to see one pop up (hint hint!).

Can we reuse Light Soy to put soy sauce in if the light is broken? If not, what else can we use it for?

We wouldn’t recommend putting soy sauce in it! One of the advantages of Light Soy is its modular design. The red ‘cap’ module can be replaced or upgraded, so we hope it will always be able to function as a lamp.

Why do I need a Light Soy?

We’re pretty open about the fact that nobody needs a Light Soy lamp. But if the design and the story resonate with you, buying one means you’re contributing to something positive: preventing ocean plastic, supporting good design, and helping fund sustainable alternatives.

What other exciting things is Heliograf working on at the moment?

We’ve just launched a home-compostable alternative to plastic soy fish and sachets called Holy Carp! The droppers are made from plant pulp, completely plastic-free, and break down in soil within weeks. We’re rolling them out in early 2026.

‍We’re giving away five Light Soy Portable Lamps to celebrate thoughtful, sustainable design. Subscribe to the Never Too Small Magazine by December 14th for your chance to win, with current subscribers automatically included!

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