You can find the original link to the campain here.
Cairn Candle is a set of wax pebbles of three different sizes and colors, which can be stacked, by hand, around a solid wick. Once assembled, it forms a wax structure resembling the cairns we find on mountain ridges and beaches. Our candle stands out from the ordinary because of its unique and playful aspect. With its atypical design and possibility of customization, its arrangement allows for elegant forms and shades of color. While the candle is burning, the flow of wax forms random patterns reminiscent of a waterfall flowing down a rocky creek.
Our engagement to the planet
As a team, we have a deep commitment to reducing our impact on the environment. We try to think about the consequences of the projects we create and how we can minimize our footprint, and this one is not an exception. Cairn Candles are made by hand, one by one, by a French artisan of the region of Vendée. They are made out of 100% soy wax, free of GMOs, for more sustainable agriculture practices and lower impact on the planet. Like the wax, the dyes and scents used are entirely natural. They also don't contain any paraffin, phthalates, carcinogenic (cancer-causing), and toxic substances, contrary to some other candles on the market.
Where does it come from?
While thinking about how we experience our lives, we came to realize how attached to the notion of time we are. Many of us have a predefined agenda for the year, deadlines every month, and strict schedules for our weeks. So how could we detach ourselves from this precise notion of time and enjoy the present at its fullest? Using candles appeared evident to us: such an ancient way to measure time, imprecise and fascinating, fits perfectly with the theme of forgetting the passing of time and living in the moment.
One of our brainstorming sessions.
In the beginning, we had the idea to explore the imprecise measure of time through candles. We created multiple designs with different manufacturing processes. Our first molding prototype aimed to measure the time directly with graduations.
Our first candle design.
Then we came up with the idea of cylindrical stackable wax disks...
Initial stackable candle design.
And when experimenting with the shape, we found those rounded triangles looked like smooth rocks. When piled on top of each other, these candles took the shape of a cairn, laying the first real stone on our project. We let go of the concept of measuring time and fully focused on the relaxing, calm, and focusing aspects.
Who?
We were a team of four engineering students of the De Vinci Innovation Center at Paris-La Défense. We were all passionate about innovation, fabrication, and design. This project fited perfectly with the culture of our group: to expose a product out of our imaginations, challenge our ideas, and innovate. Two team members had already created successful Quickstarter campaigns: Eclipse and Graph-It.
Why are we doing this project?
As students of the DVIC, creating a Kickstarter campaign waspart of our curriculum. But more than a simple assignement we must do, it is more of a way to learn how to create something from the ground up and show it to the world. The Cairn Candle project challenged us to design a product that lives up to our ambitions and is truly useful in everyday life.
Special thanks
We thank the DVIC, for providing us with the environment to develop our project. Thank you to Clément DUHART and Marc TEYSSIER, our Principal Investigators, for sharing their experience and supervising us this year. We also thank Kickstarter, for allowing people like us to create campaigns to share and fund their projects. And last, but definitely not least, a big, big thank you to Charlie ZEHNLÉ, for accompanying us from finding our idea and preparing our campaign to the day of launch.
Risks and challenges
Our candles are made by hand, one by one, by a small French artisan. Some delays can be expected, depending on how busy their shop gets. To keep delays low, we made our product as simple as possible to manufacture, and we also make sure to keep active contact with out manufacturer, to ensure the Cairn Candles remain a priority.
Environmental commitment
Sustainable materials
Our candles are made out of 100% soy wax, free of GMOs, for more sustainable agriculture practices and lower impact on the planet; they also don't contain any paraffin, phtalates, or carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic substances, contrary to some other candles on the market.
