Kalina Mladenova Portfolio
I am a designer and an experimentalist.
I love understanding how things work and finding ways to improve existing devices and create new ones. I want to innovate and create things that are beautiful and can help our everyday lives.
My favourite animal is the hippo.
I am currently working at TM Light. I hold a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a BA in Art from Yale University.
Email
Linkedin The Wedge2025
TM Light
New York, NY
Los Angeles, LAIn a corner, on a desk, anywhere near a wall: The Wedge becomes an integral part of every space, illuminating its surroundings.
The wedge is an object, a decorative piece, a source of light: a connection between material and purpose.
Alone, a wedge can light up a space, creating an intimate environment. Many wedges become an installation, a work of art that plays with shape and light. The connections between the wedges illustrate their simplicity and rawness, further emphasizing the organic design and functionality.
The wedge challenges the way we view everyday objects, such as a lamp; defining a new way of lighting a space – one that is indirect, experimental, and ultimately an object of art and craft.
The Wedge was originally designed by TM Light. Once I joined the studio, I decided to revive the project, increase the scale, make the product accessible, and find new ways to showcase it.
Since I started this project, The Wedge has been a part of the set a photoshoot in New York, a pop-up social club at Marvel Architects, and at LA Design Weekend.
The Wedge was awarded the Best of 2025 award by Interior Design Magazine for best product in the floor lighting category.