Champ Lamp: Unsung Heroes is a tribute to the New Yorkers who keep the city going but rarely see the spotlight. Our design salutes the quiet pillars of New York City: an MTA worker managing rush hour, the librarian guiding a new immigrant, and the delivery driver braving a blizzard. Through this collection, we celebrate these unsung heroes who shine from within.
Inspired by the unsung heroes of New York that make every day possible, this piece takes the familiar trophy motif representative of a champion, to reflect back the dignity, resilience, and quiet strength that these individuals bring to the city each and every day.
Alicia Tam Wei and Joey Zeledón come together in a collaboration that is equal parts playful and purposeful. Alicia is a Professor of Product + Industrial Design at Parsons School of Design and the founder of the Open Play Lab, a research initiative exploring the powerful intersections between play, creativity, and innovation. Joey leads an industrial design studio whose work helps objects reach their higher purpose, spanning everyday essentials to thoughtfully reimagined furniture, always guided by emotional depth, comfort, and connection.