January 15, 2021

There is no design without light. Whether brought in through windows, overhead through functional can lighting or with a touch of character in artistic pendants and chandeliers, light fixtures will always play an important part in design. KBB spoke with three lighting designers to find out more about the challenges they face, where they see trends going and how their industry was affected by the pandemic. 

Tell us about your role. 

“My job as a production designer is to see what the market is doing and execute designs that are fresh and will resonate with buyers and designers.”

– Ben Marshall, creative director of Corbett Lighting and Troy Lighting

“Almost every component of my designs is made in my studio so we can offer many options. A lot of what I do is create unique combinations of our colors and shapes for my clients’ fixtures.” 

– Tracy Glover, Tracy Glover Studio

“My job as a product designer is to create what people want, when they want it and then to keep them wanting it. I like my designs to be attractive, functional, reassuring, tactile (yes even tactile) and relevant – hopefully with longevity. And I have to really like them. I now work with my son leading our wonderful design team, but at the start it was just me. The principles remain the same, and us working together has increased the sense of relevance and provided a different generational perspective.”

– Peter Bowles, founder and managing director of Original BTC

“The Gourd pendants were a collaboration with a group of designers working on a condo lobby. They wanted something big and white and puffy! I came up with drawings and glass samples that were used to create the final product. Later, a restaurant designer saw them and wanted them to be more beach inspired, so I played with the color to make them look more like buoys and worked with a local sailor to make custom ropes to hang them. I love the collaborative evolution of my products.” – Glover, Tracy Glover Studio

What challenges do you face in your work? 

Time. Creative positions spend hours and days perfecting an idea that can be scrapped in seconds. Much of my job comes from creating in my mind, and working against time is the biggest challenge. 

– Marshall, Corbett Lighting and Troy Lighting

Some of our projects require coming up with solutions for site-specific challenges like angled ceilings or a junction box in an awkward place.”

– Glover, Tracy Glover Studio

“The challenges are fortunately not on the creative side. Because we are often working at the limits of a material’s capability, the challenges are often in the development, trialing and settling of the manufacturing processes. We have just about finished solving the new ‘Drop Three’ design, which I initially wanted to manufacture about 15 years ago. Although we tried, we didn’t have the competency and capability to produce it at the time. Now we’ve gone back to do it with more years of experience and our own bone china factory. It’s just started in production and will be available this month. I love it.”

– Bowles, Original BTC

How do you find inspirations for your design? 

I find inspiration in daily life. We take in so much from our surroundings and experiences. I get a lot of inspiration from reading print magazines and designer books. 

– Marshall, Corbett Lighting and Troy Lighting

“Some of my work is collaborative with other designers who only want something unique. They might provide a concept on a napkin drawing or talk through a feeling they want to evoke. There is back and forth as we work on the new idea. Once it is flushed out, I take it to my metal fabricator for additional input on what is possible.”

“We are inspired by quality, raw materials, good solid British design and tried-and-true processes, which we often take to their limits. We love producing lights that we like and think other people will like, both today and for many years to come. Inspiration can come from anywhere – from childhood toys to detailing spotted in an old factory. We seek to infuse our lighting designs with details that make them a pleasure to look at both when turned off and on.”

– Bowles, Original BTC

“I have many favorites. Designed almost 30 years ago, the Hector Range is the overall winner. Today, we design it exactly the same as we did at first, and it remains a customer favorite with more sold every year. One of my favorite designs to date is our bone china Fin Collection, which reflects expert craftsmanship and commitment to innovative production techniques. Our upcoming designs are my new favorites. I really want them in my own home, which is a good sign.”  – Bowles, Original BTC

Where do you feel lighting design will go in the future? 

“It’s hard to say. The market is definitely leaning toward embedded LED fixtures. The technology and color temperatures have improved so much over the last few years. On the other hand, people will always love historical references, things that remind them of the past.”

– Marshall, Corbett Lighting and Troy Lighting

“As engineers come up with new technology to create light, it inspires designers. When you are no longer constrained by standards, it allows you to look at lighting differently.”

– Glover, Tracy Glover Studio

““With all of us at home more, there is more attention being paid to optimizing lighting for comfort, beauty, pleasure, relaxation and functionality. Because of this, there is a decreasing emphasis on mass production, rough edges and poor finish – and a heightening desire for quality in all areas. Our handcrafted bone china lighting collection is a beautiful example of high-quality design; with a translucency that allows for a soft, ambient glow, bone china has become our signature material.”

– Bowles, Original BTC

“Some of my favorites from Martyn Lawrence Bullard’s collection with Corbett are Melrose, Hopper and Beckenham. I have a piece from each family in my home. I also love the Charisma and Jasmine families from Corbett.” – Marshall, Corbett Lighting and Troy Lighting

What is your favorite part of your job? 

I love the moment when you think of a great design, it makes it through every production red tape and is finally on the showroom floor. When it sells like crazy or when you see it installed in a beautiful room, your vision is complete. 

– Marshall, Corbett Lighting and Troy Lighting

“My favorite part of my job is coming up with new ideas and working on big projects like a lobby installation or a fixture for a grand staircase. I like talking to customers, hearing them tell me what they want and then coming up with something special for them.”

– Glover, Tracy Glover Studio

“I am lucky I have so many favorite parts of my job. I love working as part of a creative team. It is always a high to spot our lighting designs in people’s houses and locations, on TV and in films. Reading reviews on our Trustpilot site is a new favorite, a real pleasure and makes me feel so proud of the team.”

– Bowles, Original BTC

How has your job changed since the pandemic? Are there new considerations you need to make in your designs?  

The pandemic has many people working from home, which can be freeing. However, it has also taken away human interaction, which is a huge part of the collaborative design process.

–   Marshall, Corbett Lighting and Troy Lighting

“The pandemic didn’t change my job at all aside from observing health protocols and not going to trade shows. As a manufacturer, we could stay open as long as we kept a safe environment.”

– Glover, Tracy Glover Studio

“Two years ago, I felt we had launched enough new designs for a while and our customers needed time to digest these new offerings, so we held back. When the pandemic came, we wanted newness and aspired to design and build for the future. Owning our own bone china, metalwork and glass-blowing factories in England meant we weren’t constrained by supply and production problems. So we set about creating wonderful new designs that will be launched over the course of 2021. We are working to contribute to our clients’ pleasure, improving their surroundings, ambience and wellbeing, while being considerate of the environment and resources.”

– Bowles, Original BTC

The top photo credit is: meepoohyaphoto/Adobe Stock