Light Lounge

Shilpa Suresh is a Senior Associate at the prestigious Rockwell Group, an award-winning, interdisciplinary architecture, interior, lighting - and design firm specializing in hospitality, culture, healthcare, education, and many more fields. 

Shilpa holds a BA in Architecture and a Master’s in Fine Arts in Interior Design from Parsons New York, where we first met. This conversation is particularly relevant as Shilpa’s expertise spans interior design, architecture, and lighting design.

In addition to leading her own team of ten talented designers, Shilpa dedicates her after-hours to running a mentorship program for students entering the design industry. 

In our discussion, we delve into her upbringing in India, her journey to New York City, and her experiences as a female person of color in the design industry. We explore how her immigrant background has shaped her unique design perspective. Please enjoy this enriching 🎙️ conversation with Shilpa Suresh.

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The Light Lounge was founded as an art project by Thomas Mnich in 2018, interviewing and talking with the most brilliant and creative lighting designers in the world. To learn from them and to get inspired by the stories they share. Please let me know if you have any questions and feel free to contact me via ⁠LinkedIn⁠ or ⁠Instagram⁠. 

"That was an art project, for me it was very important, but also the reaction of the people was amazing, because everyone was very intrigued about the project. This idea, to have an element, that brings you to think about something else." Gabriele Negro

"I highly admire people who have an idea, an obsession, particularly one friend who is a film director, he talks over and over about this idea, until you are into the idea and then he makes a movie. Wow! That kind of mental process, I love that type of conversation, when people are obsessed with ideas.", Paola Pietrantoni

This week on Light Lounge, I had the pleasure of speaking with the dynamic co-founders of Studio Atomic, Paola Pietrantoni and Gabriele Negro. Our conversation took place in their vibrant lighting design studio in Dumbo, New York City, where I experienced their hospitality, creativity, and boundless energy firsthand.

Paola and Gabriele shared their incredible journeys, their passion for design, and the importance of friends, mentors, and connecting with people. We delved into their love for objects, writers, filmmakers, color, fashion, and how bringing diverse expertise together fuels their inspiration.

Please find their website here: https://studioatomic.net/

Tune in to this inspiring episode to learn from these creative powerhouses and be inspired by their stories and insights.

The Light Lounge was founded as an art project by Thomas Mnich in 2018, me interviewing and talking with the most brilliant and creative lighting designers in the world. To learn from them and to get inspired by the stories they share. Please let me know if you have any questions and feel free to contact me via LinkedIn or Instagram. 

"We all have ideas that come because we are social beings and in our exchange about ideas we all profit more than hiding anything (...) There is a lot of magic and if we know about it as the experts for light we can do a lot of magic."

In this weeks Light Lounge I speak with Ulrike Brandi. Ulrike is one of the most prolific lighting designers in the world, leads her own practice Ulrike Brandi Licht GmbH in Hamburg Germany and works on the most prestigious project all over the world.

On her way to the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) conference in Banff at the end of last year, Ulrike stopped by in New York City for a wonderful conversation. She shared exclusive insights from her recently launched book: ‘Light Nature Architecture: A Guide to Holistic Lighting Design’ (published by Birkhäuser), which is available now.

This comprehensive guide not only reflects her beliefs, experiences, and enthusiasm for light and lighting design, but also delves into the most relevant topics in the field today. Reading through the book, personally I think it is providing a lot value, thoughts, ideas and knowledge for anyone interested in light, at all levels. 

I felt our conversation was both enlightening and inspiring, covering beautiful personal stories and a wide range of important themes, including nature, culture, sustainability, health, atmosphere, magic and much more. And as always the value of good design and excellence in lighting design.

The book is a reference work and source of inspiration for professional planners, architects as well as laypeople. Available in English and German (Light Nature Architecture, ISBN 9783035624083) - available anywhere you can get books.

The Light Lounge podcast was founded in 2018 as an art project, me interviewing and talking with the best lighting designers in the world, to learn from them and get inspired by their stories. In this episode: Ulrike Brandi.

Howard Brandston was one of the most influential lighting designers to have ever lived. He founded the world-renowned Howard Brandston Lighting Design practice in 1965 and was a founding member of the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) in 1969. His impact on our field was immense.

The podcast interview with Howard Brandston is online now, ready for you to listen to and be inspired by one of the most influential lighting designers in the world. Rest in peace, Howard.

The Light Lounge podcast was founded in 2019, as an art project, me interviewing and talking with the best lighting designers in the world, to learn from them and get inspired by their stories.

Live from the IALD Enlighten 2019 Conference in Albuquerque. Please say hi if you are here! Looking forwrad to see you very soon!

Best Thomas

Jordana Maisie Design Studiorecognizes the phenomenal in the everyday.

JMDS creates architecture, installation, furniture and lighting design projects with a dedication to concept, craft, detail, durability, play and an overarching commitment to a heightened user experience.

The studio founder, Maisie, began her career as an installation-based Artist, she holds a BFA in Photography and a Masters in Video Production and Sound Engineering.  Maisie’s work has been shown in galleries, museums and festivals throughout Australia, Asia and Europe, for which she won the ANZ Private Bank and Art & Australia Contemporary Art award.  About her practice, Art & Australia Magazine wrote, "Maisie consciously allows her audience and inventions to influence the form, she heralds a fresh relationship between interface and viewer - one that is intuitive, unlimited and, above all, equal.”

Maisie earned a Master of Architecture and MFA in Lighting Design from the Parsons School of Design during which time she combined her expertise as an installation-based artist with the tools of architecture. Out of this synthesis JMDSwas born.

After graduation Maisie brought her unique approachto the office of world-renowned architecture studio Diller Scofidio + Renfro.

JMDShas gone on to design and execute critically acclaimed residential and commercial builds such as the Feitretail spaces at Prince Street Nolita, Greenwich Ave West Village and Jackson St, San Francisco locations, for the Contra Restaurant Group on Orchard Street LES, and Wardrobe.NYC’sinaugural SoHo retail location. JMDSis currently completing a number of residential projects on both the East and West Coasts, and together with Jo Garst Design and their collaborative practice, Social Studios, a multi-family social housing project in Nevada City CA.

http://www.jordanamaisie.com/

You can also find the Light Lounge Podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcast. In order to promote professional lighting design, please help spread the word, leave a great rating on Apple Podcast or say hi on Instagram 

@thomas_mnich

More info:hhttp://www.thomasmnich.com/podcast

Enrique Peiniger was formally trained in the fields of architecture and social sciences, his manifold way of thinking defines all his work. As a humanist and engineer, Enrique articulates a project’s historical and cultural context while devising state-of-the-art technology developed to achieve economy of work. Enrique designs with sensitivity, clarity, and logic, integrating originally-engineered lighting into his aesthetically sophisticated solutions.

Enrique’s contribution to OVI’s practice has produced work that is timeless. His cutting-edge lighting technology befits historical, contemporary, and avant-garde projects seamlessly activating space and materials for the benefit of the user. Utilizing his former experience in the lighting industry, Enrique is known to spearhead collaborations with manufacturers to develop custom luminaires for one-of-a-kind projects that incorporate specialized finishes, advanced fabrication techniques, and emerging light sources. Two of OVI’s recent projects, the winning solution for the new ‘modular’ LED Streetlight for New York City and the Canadian Parliament’s highly specialized optical design, showcase Enrique’s scientific dexterity.

A discerning innovator devoted to advancing culture through catalyzing conversations and collaborations across design fields, Enrique Peiniger is dynamically shaping the lighting design field.

This is a brief episode sharing why Lighting Design matters to me personally! 

Find the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zUZ6qqyfByM

What is your why in Lighting Design? Please let me know and say hi on Insta: thomas_mnich

Mark Major trained and practised as an architect prior to focusing on the unique relationship between light and architecture. He has worked on a wide range of award-winning lighting projects including the Millennium Dome, 30 St. Mary Axe, Beijing International Airport, the refurbishment of Royal Festival Hall and the re-lighting of the interior of St. Paul’s Cathedral. He is a specialist in the field of urban lighting and was named as a key city advisor by Monocle in 2013. Mark acted as the Lighting Design Advisor to the Olympic Delivery Authority for London 2012 and was appointed to the Mayor of London’s Special Assistance team for the Outer London Fund in the same year. With an active interest in architectural and lighting education Mark has lectured extensively in the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, U.S. and Australia. He was the co-creator of an educational project ‘Made of Light – the Art of Light and Architecture’. Mark is a corporate member of the Royal Institute of British Architects and the International Association of Lighting Designers and a Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland. He was created a Royal Designer for Industry in 2012.

http://www.speirsandmajor.com/

Mark and I speak about challenges in the lighting profession, education and the art of communicating with clinets and building strong teams. I am very excited to have Mark Major on the show. Please enjoy this weeks episode!

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You can also find the Light Lounge Podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcast. In order to promote professional lighting design, please help spread the word, leave a great rating on Apple Podcast or say hi on Instagram thomas_mnich

More info:hhttp://www.thomasmnich.com/podcast

Claudia Kappl Joy is Co-Founder, Creative and Managing Director of CLL - Concept Lighting Lab founded in 2013. The Tucson based lighting design studio consists of a team of energetic and motivated Lighting Designers and Architects with more than fifteen years of experience. - Our fascination with the ephemeral quality of light and its essential role when creating atmospheric space is at the base of our approach. We search for high quality lighting solutions with the goal to achieve an all encompassing experience - from emphasizing the designers vision, revealing the intended character and (co-)creating the mood; all creating a cohesive atmosphere and atmospheric space - a space that moves us psychologically and emotionally. We value the close collaboration with our partners and clients, who like we, are passionate about lighting. - http://www.cll-conceptlightinglab.com/

You can also find the Light Lounge Podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcast. In order to promote professional lighting design, please help spread the word, leave a great rating on Apple Podcast or say hi on Instagram thomas_mnich 

More info:hhttp://www.thomasmnich.com/podcast

Mr. Stone’s parents sent him to the Harrisburg Community Theatre, hoping to keep him out of trouble while Charles was trying to become a singer and trombonist in a rock band. And there, at the stage door, he was transfixed by the Magic of Light: Lekos and Fresnels, colored gel and dimmers –  emotion and passion. From that day, whether on, off, or backstage, at science fairs, or writing term papers in school, it was always about the power of light to change the human experience. His parents continued to worry for another 25 years that he might never have a career.

Mr. Stone received an AB in English and a special Certificate for Lighting Design from Princeton University in 1976. He is Lighting Certified by the NCQLP, a LEED AP BD+C, a Fellow and Past President of the International Association of Lighting Designers, a member of the IESNA, serves on the IESNA Lighting for Outdoor Public Spaces Committee, and serves on the Project Candle advisory group at Penn State University. Mr. Stone’s Traveling Light speaking tour visits universities and professional conferences around the world, and has landed in 20 countries since its founding in 2005. In addition to lectures, Charles regularly serves as a leader for educational and public outreach workshops including Ålingsås, Sweden, and cities worldwide with The Lighting Detectives. Mr. Stone joined FMS in 1983, became President in 2003, and has led design teams on hundreds of successful and award-winning projects with loyal and satisfied clients on five continents.

In this weeks Light Lounge Charles and I speak about the challenges in the lighting design industry, how to set up a culture for success and what is important in life to be successful. https://www.fmsp.com

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You can also find the Light Lounge Podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcast. In order to promote professional lighting design, please help spread the word, leave a great rating on Apple Podcast or say hi on Instagram thomas_mnich 

More info:hhttp://www.thomasmnich.com/podcast

Light Collective consists of Sharon Stammers and Martin Lupton who have both been involved in the lighting industry for over 20 years. Based in the UK and essentially architectural lighting designers, their portfolio of work has diversified in many different directions – light activism being one of them.

Women in Lighting is an inspirational digital platform that profiles women working in the field of lighting design. It aims to promote their passion and achievements, narrate their career path and goals, celebrate their work and therefore help elevate their profile in the lighting community.

There is a need to increase the profile of successful women working in lighting to help encourage, support and inspire the next generation. There is no doubt that women currently have a lower professional profile despite making up approximately 50% of the lighting design profession. Let’s change this.

I was fortunate to sit down with Sharon and Martin on a rooftop in New York and get their insights about their work and women in lighting. More information under https://lightcollective.net/ and https://womeninlighting.com/

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You can also find the Light Lounge Podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcast. In order to promote professional lighting design, please help spread the word, leave a great rating on Apple Podcast or say hi on Instagram thomas_mnich 

More info:hhttp://www.thomasmnich.com/podcast

Paul Gregory is the founder and president of Focus Lighting, an architectural lighting design firm based in Harlem, New York (www.focuslighting.com). He was trained in theatrical lighting at the Goodman Theatre School of the Art Institute of Chicago.   Paul has been awarded numerous honors in recognition of his design work, including over twenty Lumen Awards, IALD Waterbury and ASID Awards, Lighting Dimensions International's "Lighting Designer of the Year" Award, and induction into Architectural Lighting Magazine’s Hall of Fame. In just over 30 years, Focus Lighting has designed lighting for hundreds of projects across the globe, approaching each with the primary goal of ensuring that when a patron enters a restaurant, hotel, or retail shop, or when a passerby first looks at a lit façade at night, the initial impact is as stunning and memorable as the moment the curtain rises on a Broadway stage.

You can also find the Light Lounge Podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcast. In order to promote professional lighting design, please help spread the word, leave a great rating on Apple Podcast or say hi on Instagram thomas_mnich 

More info:hhttp://www.thomasmnich.com/podcast

Sean O’Connor recognized the power of light and shadow as a student of architecture. Since establishing his firm in 1997, Mr. O’Connor has developed an award-winning body of work by defining spaces and their character, identity and beauty through the use of light. https://www.seanoconnorlighting.com/

Mr. O’Connor works in close collaboration with architects, interior designers and owners to implement integrated lighting systems that strengthen a project’s vision. Unique within the lighting design community, Mr. O’Connor is an avid collector of 20th century and contemporary art, furniture and decorative arts. He is also an active member of the art and design communities, having served on committees at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Sean also contributed to the curation and design of the “ICONS” exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. These passions and experiences inform every project, creating a like-minded vision and common vocabulary amongst design teams.  

You can also find the Light Lounge Podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcast etc. In order to promote professional lighting design, please help spread the word, love and leave a good rating on Apple Podcast and say hi on Instagram: thomas_mnich 

More info:http://www.thomasmnich.com/podcast

Charles Marshall is the Design Director and a principal of Parc Office. Marshall utilizes his background in industrial design to create interactive environments and develop innovative ways of integrating digital information in physical spaces. Prior to Parc Office, Marshall ran the Lab at Rockwell Group, designing experiences and innovation labs for Coca Cola, Google, YouTube and Tata Industries. Marshall is a graduate of Falmouth College of Arts, an alumnus of The British European Design Group and a mentor at NEW INC, the New Museum’s art and tech incubator. https://parcoffice.com/

"Our practice is driven by a desire to seamlessly integrate digital technology within physical environments. At the heart of each project is a belief that design can, and should, foster significant, meaningful interactions and experiences."

Charles and I met 2016 at Parsons in New York. He was teaching a class for interaction design in space. In this episode, we speak about his way to design, becoming a design business owner and challenges along the way. 

You can also find the Light Lounge Podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcast. In order to promote professional lighting design, please help spread the word, leave a great rating on Apple Podcast or say hi on Instagram thomas_mnich 

More info:hhttp://www.thomasmnich.com/podcast

ACTLD about us:

We create exceptional experiences at the intersection of design, art and innovation.

For 25 years, our international team of architects, engineers, scenographers and content-curators have worked with forward-thinking clients, using technology, multimedia and (visual) narration to design, develop and deliver dynamic experiences worldwide. 

With roots in both entertainment and architectural lighting (design), we have stayed ahead of the experiential-design curve by uniting our diverse areas of expertise, multifaceted approach and keen technical know-how. 

Our true calling is to gather, engage and amaze audiences, while creating value for our clients.

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Koert Vermeulen, BIO:

With over 25 years of experience in the fields of architecture, entertainment and art installations, Koert Vermeulen, is today a worldwide renowned visual & lighting designer, with major successes. With a perpetual goal to find new ways to enrapture audiences, he conducted several prestigious large-scale projects.

He was the lighting and multimedia designer of projects as: first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010, “Le Rêve” show in Las Vegas, the Belgian presidency of the European Union, the inauguration show of King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, “Inferno” spectacle for the Bicentenary of the “Battle of Waterloo”, “Mother of the Nation festival” in Abu Dhabi, UAE, The Fang Fu Forever Show in Beijing and the ILIGHT Bicentennial “Bridges of Time” water spectacle in Singapore.

He also carried out the lighting design of several sound & light spectacles as “Plaisirs d’hiver” at Grand Place in Belgium, Naked Truth for Bright Brussels” & 3 multimedia spectacles at Cathédrale de Strasbourg in France.

He was commissioned as lighting designer and director of mise-en-scene of an iconic “Tree of Life” (Albero della Vita) at World Expo Milano 2015. Other Theme Parcs he works with is Puy Du Fou, where he has been working with since 2012 on more then 6 shows like La CinéScénie & Le Dernier Panache in France and Kynren in UK.

As lighting artist he has won several international competitions for the projects as “OVO”, a multi-sensory art object, “Tree rings” festive illuminations of the Champs-Elysées Avenue in Paris (2011 –2014) and “Timeless Elegance” (2015-2017) installation at Regent Street in London.

Always developing new visual design techniques, Koert recently created the drone “Neopter” in partnership with Puy du Fou International during his work on the Cinéscénie spectacle in Puy du Fou theme park in France.

Koert constantly expands his expertise and searches new domains of application to create immersive environments and poetic narrative through play of light and mixed-media for truly surprising experience for the public.

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In this weeks light lounge we speak about the integration of light and technology, subjectivity of design and the future of experiences in space using AR. For potential applications please find more info about ACTLD here: https://actld.com/ 

Please also check out the ACTLD youtube channel to get a better idea about the amazing work ACTLD is doing: https://www.youtube.com/user/actlightingdesign

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You can also find the Light Lounge Podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcast. In order to promote professional lighting design, please help spread the word, leave a great rating on Apple Podcast or say hi on Instagram thomas_mnich 

More info:hhttp://www.thomasmnich.com/podcast

Suzan founded Tillotson Design Associates with twenty-three years of lighting design experience. She has won over one hundred lighting design awards for her work, including a 2018 International Dark Sky Association Lighting Design and Technology Award and the 2017 Lighting Designer of the Year at the Lighting Design Awards. 

Suzan Tillotson is one of the finest lighting designers in the world right now and I am honored to have met her already 9 years ago. Now I am fortunate to get to know and share the story behind her success, challenges, highlights and trends she observes in the lighting design industry that are needed or are about to happen. Please check out her amazing projects and references here: http://www.tillotsondesign.com/

Suzan has also been featured in numerous national and international publications. She is a former member of the IALD Board of Directors, a former IALD NY area Regional Coordinator, and was president of the IES Southwest Louisiana Section. She has also served as an awards judge for the New York IES Lumens and the IALD. Suzan has taught the New York IES Introductory Lighting Course, and numerous lighting design and rendering workshops. She has guest lectured on lighting design at Louisiana State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University of Arkansas, Cornell University, McGill University, and Dalhousie University. She also taught lighting to graduate-level architecture students at Princeton University. Suzan was the keynote speaker for the 2018 United States Lighting Magazine 40 Under 40 Awards and a presenter at the 2017 Dark Sky Association Annual Meeting and the 2017 Lightspace Conference in LA.

Suzan graduated with a Bachelor of Interior Design; from the Louisiana State University School of Architecture where, in 2012, she gave the commencement speech and was the recipient of the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Suzan has directed all phases of design for a wide variety of award-winning domestic and overseas interior and exterior lighting projects including the new Bloomberg European Headquarters and London Mithraeum in London, UK; the Dee and Charles Wyly Theater in Dallas, TX; the R/GA Offices; Lincoln Center North Plaza and South Campus; and One Vanderbilt Tower, the Perelman Center at WTC, and the New Museum of Contemporary Art; in New York, NY.

You can also find the Light Lounge Podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcast. In order to promote professional lighting design, please help spread the word, leave a great rating on Apple Podcast or say hi on Instagram thomas_mnich 

More info: hhttp://www.thomasmnich.com/podcast

Kai Piippo is a Stockholm based award winning lighting designer and Head of Design of ÅF Lighting. (http://www.afconsult.com/en/do-business/our-services/infrastructure/lighting/lighting/)Well renowned throughout Scandinavia and the world, he receives frequent speaking engagements about Nordic light and lighting. One of the latest concepts we talked about is called Liquid Light, which explores the abilities of advanced lighting control: https://vimeo.com/317451710

Kai is also a member of the IALD: https://www.iald.org/Designer-Directory/Designers/Kai-Piippo

One of the amazing projects we talked about: http://www.afconsult.com/en/do-business/our-services/infrastructure/lighting/lighting/news/under-the-sea/

Kai Piippo has extensive experience in lighting design in the field and his sense of lighting design is invaluable in projects that require a large adjustment to the surrounding urban areas and unconventional solutions. He also has a very good ability to create strong lighting design concepts, communicate visions and ideas and thereby gather and enthuse many different stakeholders so that a common vision can become reality.

Kai has won the Swedish Lighting Award 2008, 2012 and 2013 for the lighting design of the K: five, The footsteps of the giants and Royal Library Annex.

Kai Piippo is founder of internationally recognized lighting design company Ljusarkitektur which merged with ÅF Lighting in 2013. With more than 30 years of experience, ÅF Lighting is in the forefront of the professional lighting consultancy field. Their multidisciplinary team of experts possess a wide range of competences in all facets of professional lighting, from initial concepts and ideas through to finished solutions. Their consultancy services are based on a combination of highly specialized engineering services and a Scandinavian design approach.

Please find the Light Lounge Podcast also on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcast. In order to promote professional lighting design, please help spread the word, leave a great rating on Apple Podcast or say hi on Instagram thomas_mnich 

More info: http://www.thomasmnich.com/

Ulrike Brandi is one of the most experienced lighting designer in our times. She was the responsible lighting designer for Herzog de Meurons Elbphilharmonie https://www.ulrike-brandi.de/en/elbphilharmonie-hamburg/, UN Studios Mercedes Benz Museum https://www.ulrike-brandi.de/en/mercedes-museum/ and the masterplan for the World Expo in 2000 or the City Masterplan of Rotterdam https://www.ulrike-brandi.de/en/english-masterplan-rotterdam/. In order to help education and the lighting design industry, she founded the Brandi Institute for Light and Design. https://www.brandi-institute.com/

As a student of Dieter Rams, she follows the principle less is more and always tries to create more experiences using light. We met by coincidence in New York City and spoke in one of her clients offices, at Architect Daniel Libeskind, after a meeting. 

Please find the Light Lounge Podcast also on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcast. In order to promote professional lighting design, please help spread the word, leave a great rating on Apple Podcast or say hi on Instagram thomas_mnich 

More info: http://www.thomasmnich.com/

Ladies and gentlemen! Here are my top 5 books every lighting designer should have. What are yours? Please see the video experience talking about the books on my youtube channel: Thomas Mnich

Book links below the video on youtube:

01 - DAN FLAVIN - Corners, Barriers and Corridors 

02 - GIOVANNI TRAVERSO - Modelling Daylight 

03 - JUNICHIRO TANIZAKI - In Praise of Shadow 

04 - RICHARD KELLY - The Structure of Light 

05 - JAMES TURRELL - A retrospective 

Also let me know whats your top 5 on instagram: thomas_mnich 

Working as professional lighting designer the last 9 years, Thomas expanded his knowledge working with the most creative architects in the world - including BIG, Heatherwick Studio, Steven Holl Architects, Gehry Partners and many more. 

As one of the prestigious Jules Horton International Student Achievement Award winners, scholarship recipient of the prestigious German National Merit Found and the New Schools' Dean Merit Found, Thomas graduated with  academic honors from Parsons The New School for Design with a Master of Fine Arts in Lighting Design and engaged since the beginning of his career in teaching and mentoring activities to strengthen and grow the lighting design community. 

Thomas holds a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Lighting Design from the HAWK Hildesheim - University of Applied Science and Arts.

Amp T. studied Interior Design Architecture in Thailand and Design Technology in New York. After graduation she worked for iCrave https://www.icrave.com/ and is now an Associate Interior Design Architect at Rockwell Group https://www.rockwellgroup.com/. Working and having work for companies focussing strongly on the experience of users, makes Amp a true specialist and expert of design spaces. Her qualities further lay in the combination of technology and design. We speak about how technology in form of renderings, VR and processing can enhance the design process and what is really important you need to know, she is able to share in this episode. 

For high-end rendering work, Amp offers her service and experience through her company rampviz (http://www.rampviz.com/). As she mentioned, she is super responsive and easy to reach also on instagram: @rampmesh.

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Award-winning Lighting Designer and Art Director Thomas Mnich is founder and creative director of the first lighting design podcast Light Lounge - speaking with leading designers from SanFrancisco to Hong Kong, he created the first lighting design podcast engaging with the high-end lighting design community around the world.

Working as professional lighting designer the last 9 years, Thomas expanded his knowledge working with the most creative architects in the world - including BIG, Heatherwick Architects, Steven Holl Architects, Gehry Partners and many more.

Please say hi on instagram: @thomas_mnich or on LinkedIn: Thomas Mnich

Almost 5 years ago, Clemens Seipelt moved from Berlin to Hong Kong to pursue his passion and work in the Lighting Design field. Clemens and I met in Hildesheim at the HAWK in our undergrad Lighting studies and since then he became a Senior Associate at Licht Vision Hong Kong http://www.lichtvision.com. For New Years he visited me in New York and we talked about the difference between the European and Asian Lighting Design Market, how exercising can improve creativity, focus and output in a high performance and fast pace environment like in Hong Kong. Say hi to Clemens and or any questions regarding the Light Lounge. Instagram @thomas_mnich Enjoy every Monday a new Light Lounge episode on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcast. Thomas Mnich 

Francesca and Alex are the principles of sighte studio located in Brooklyn, NYC https://www.sightestudio.com/bios/ . We met between Christmas and New Years on crips cold sunny day and talked about their business, education, their involvement in the DLFNY https://www.dlfny.org/ and their approach to education and their recent love of a research study they conduct in Gowanus Brooklyn. Both principles are the center of the lighting design community in New York, supporting, challenging and pushing the state of the art understanding of lighting design. 

They still have some volunteer spots open regarding their recent study for the city planning of Gowanus, feel free to contact them and join their team to make an actual impact as lighting designer. info@sightestudio.com

Please say hi and ask any question on Instagram: @thomas_mnich