Poul Henningsen designed the three screen system in 1925-1926. Together with Louis Poulsen, PH designed the first lamps to use this system for an exhibition in Paris. The collaboration between the two continued until his death in 1967. Throughout his life, PH sought to create direct, glare-free lighting where it was most needed. Additionally, he used incandescent bulbs as a light source to create soft shadows.

The PH 3/2 Desktop is part of the family of three screens, which currently already has 30 lights, including three for outdoor use. Therefore, PH did not just design a light but a whole system; over the years, about a thousand different models have been created. This wide selection included table, floor and wall lamps, as well as a series of chandeliers that were very popular in the 1930s to illuminate private homes with high ceilings. There were endless possible combinations. The lights came in different colors and sizes. The first lampshades were made of metal, with an inner face painted white, gold or silver, depending on whether a diffused, warm or cold light was desired. Later, glass began to be used for the three-screen system. In addition to casting light downward, the glass lamps illuminated the rest of the room.
PH was the first person to apply a scientific approach to light based on the lituus curve. By using a design based on the lituus curve, he achieved an even distribution of light across the entire curve of the screen. This uniform distribution, together with the diffuse reflection through the glass, allowed glare and shadows to be controlled. Each screen reduces the amount of light equally thanks to its distance from the light source.