Why lighting?
Lighting wasn’t something that I was really aware of until later in my studies. I started designing a number of fixtures during that time and got fascinated with using light as a design medium and it grew from there.
As a creative practice, lighting is a combination of technical and creative thinking, and I enjoy this mix in my day-to-day work.
What’s a lighting myth you’d like to debunk?
Brighter lights are always better.
Brighter levels of light can be useful for task-based work such as reading or cooking. However, over-bright lights can cause issues such as eyestrain or headaches. This can also be seen in our urban lighting environments where overly lit spaces create a negative impact on the users and environment.
What do you do outside of work that helps fuel your creativity and commitment to lighting?
I’ve always had a lot of different creative hobbies outside of work life. I love to make and create things so always want to explore something new. I’ve enjoyed everything from painting, illustration, animation, ceramics, weaving, 3D printing and sewing right through to getting creative in the kitchen. It’s all a process of experimentation and fun!
What professional relationships do you value the most?
For me, the most important relationships are the ones I have with the team. We spend almost 40 hours a week together and it’s the people I work with that make the day-to-day great, even more than the amazing projects we do.
If you could change one thing about the built environment, what would it be?
I’d like to see the built environment start taking the next step from a sustainable design focus and further into regenerative design and posthumanist design practices that embrace an equal standing of people, animals, technology and objects.
What does Making Spaces Work mean to you?
It’s about making space work for people. In my design approach, I enjoy focusing on the human-centric experience of lighting and its broader impact on society and the environment. Designing for how people will perceive, use and experience a space in a way that works for them.
