First developed during the 1940s, the 315 was conceived as a specialist adaptation of George Carwardine’s pioneering Anglepoise lamp mechanism. While the Original 1227 had already become established as an icon of British design, the 315 was created for a far more specific task: illuminating navigators’ chart tables aboard long-range maritime patrol aircraft.
At a time when navigation depended on paper charts, instruments and precise calculations, crews required a lamp that could deliver concentrated light exactly where it was needed, without distracting reflections or unnecessary glare. The result was Project 315 – a purpose-built working lamp designed to help navigators perform critical tasks in challenging conditions.
Unlike the broad, ambient illumination of the Original 1227, the 315 featured a smaller polished aluminium shade designed to focus light into a tighter beam. Its form was shaped entirely by function, creating a tool that prioritised precision and visibility over ornamentation. The lamp’s distinctive appearance was simply the natural outcome of solving a problem.
Though developed for aviation use, the design never entered the wider Anglepoise collection and remained largely forgotten within the company archives for decades.
That changed when archival research uncovered original engineering drawings and project documentation relating to the lamp. What emerged was a fascinating glimpse into an alternative branch of the Anglepoise story: a design that shared the same engineering DNA as the Original 1227, yet had evolved in a completely different direction.
Faithfully re-engineered for contemporary use, the new lamp remains remarkably close to the spirit of the original project. Its polished aluminium shade and matte black components retain the purposeful aesthetic of the archival design, while modern engineering ensures it performs to today’s standards.
In another departure from the traditional Anglepoise range, the Original 315 uses a GU10 spotlight light source to create a brighter, more concentrated beam. Just as the original lamp was designed to illuminate charts and instruments, the new version is intended to support focused work, directing light precisely where it is needed.
The idea of navigation also extends beyond the lamp’s historical origins. Thoughtful details integrated into the base transform it into a practical companion for creative work. A clip at the rear provides a place to capture notes, sketches and reminders, while a pen holder keeps essential tools close to hand. Each lamp is supplied with a notebook and pencil, encouraging owners to chart their own ideas and directions.
As Simon Terry, fifth-generation custodian of Anglepoise, explains:
“The 315 reminds us that some of the most interesting designs emerge from a very clear purpose. Originally created as a navigation tool, it continues to guide focused work today. Whether you’re writing, drawing, designing or planning, it helps create a space for concentration and creativity.”
More than eighty years after it was first conceived, the Original 315 Desk Lamp remains true to its original mission. It is a tool for navigation, not only across oceans and skies, but through ideas, projects and creative journeys. To discover more about the thinking behind its return, from its origins on 1940s navigation tables to the needs of today’s creative workspaces, read Why We Created the Original 315 Navigation Edition
Sometimes the most compelling designs are not reinvented. They are simply rediscovered.
