What is your current role in the lighting industry and what do your day-to-day tasks look like?
On any given day, you might find me exploring the city, gathering inspiration for project mood boards, engaging in thoughtful discussions with my professors about technical and conceptual ideas, or working on detailed AGI lighting models. My internship at Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design keeps me hands-on—building CAD layouts, testing fixtures, and refining designs to bridge creativity with technical precision.
What is the best part of your studies?
One of the most rewarding parts of being both a student and an intern is engaging in discussions and developing ideas about how people experience space—not just as brick-and-mortar spaces, but as living, breathing systems designed to support their work and enhance their lives.
How did you find the lighting industry?
During my bachelor’s studies, I became deeply interested in product design and even began freelancing while still in school. During that time, I designed a set of lamps and a custom lighting installation for a hotel, which was very well received. Through their reference, I was contacted by a custom lighting design firm, Lumen Studio in Ahmedabad, India, which marked the start of my professional journey in lighting design. After gaining 2.5 years of experience in the field, I decided to continue my education to deepen my understanding of architectural lighting and expand my design approach.
What is the most surprising part of your studies?
The most surprising discovery was the power of color and how even the smallest change can profoundly influence human psychology and daily functioning, often without people noticing.
What is something people in other industries don’t understand about light?
People outside the industry have trouble understanding how the quality and design of light can change the perspective and use of space by the inhabitants, as well as how the architecture gets its true meaning once it is properly illuminated.
Do you have a dream project?
My dream project would be working with Heatherwick Studio. The organic geometry and design concept is something that inspires me.
Is there a project that you have not worked on but find inspiring? Why?
The 9/11 light memorial by Fisher Marantz Stone inspires me, as it shows how simple but effective design can provide hope and meaning to so many people.
Is there a current lighting designer and/or design firm that you particularly admire? If so, who and why?
From the very beginning of my journey in lighting, Focus Lighting has been a source of admiration and inspiration. Its approach to architecture, materiality, and fixtures feels pioneering—not merely solving design challenges but transforming them into opportunities for innovation, creating new products, and using light itself as a material to reimagine space.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone considering a career in the lighting industry?
Many people shy away from the technical side of lighting, but I believe it holds incredible potential. With an open mind and a passion for design, merging creativity with technology can lead to extraordinary results.
