Pulsar 172 was designed by Alfred Homann in 1993. His challenge was to design a ceiling fixture to be used with compact fluorescent tubes. The design is based on a logical connection between energy-saving bulbs and minimal screening to achieve maximum light utilization. There was only limited knowledge of compact fluorescent bulbs at the time, so the design required experimentation with various models. The conclusion was that a 24° angle shade was optimal in order to allow the light to satisfactorily illuminate primary surfaces, such as floors and tables.