MoMA Exclusive: Everyone’s favorite symbol of joy and happiness, The Hoptimist, has been reimagined as a portable lamp. Just tap the metal sensor on the stem that’s on top of The Hoptimist’s head to turn the light on or off and to smoothly dim the light when you hold your finger down. The integrated LED light illuminates the inner spring area of the Hoptimist’s body. Like the original Hoptimist desk object, the lamp bounces gently up and down when the top of its head is pressed. Use it for wherever you need happy, ambient light, from your desk to your bedside table to a side table in your living room or the children’s room. Produced in colorblocked colors (red head, blue spring, yellow feet) exclusive to our customers. The original Hoptimist was designed in Denmark by Gustav Ehrenreich in 1968.

Why We Chose This: Even though Gustav Ehrenreich was an internationally recognized craftsman in the 1950s and mid-'60s, he found his true calling in life when he designed a springy toy in 1968 and launched Denmark's happy movement. The Hoptimist announced itself with the bright, primary colors that were popular during this time, and was cast from the same plastic as another classic Danish toy, Lego bricks. In 2011, the Hoptimist became the main sponsor of the Danish Hospital Clowns, donating money to the organization for each one sold. The Hoptimist illustrates the Museum's commitment to creating a dialogue about design for children, as in MoMA's 2012 exhibition Century of the Child: Growing by Design 1900-2000.