The Illuminati(s)

Lighting designers are often underappreciated in the design world, but the makers of an element that is integral in shaping the character of a space deserve all the attention.

- Shruti Jain

Niamh Barry (Niamh Barry)

What makes light magical to you?

I am drawn to light as we are drawn to fire. I see it as life itself.

Do you have a design or lighting philosophy?

My approach is instinctive and visceral, I try not to interfere with my creative process by being tied down by too much analysis or by having a defined philosophy, I prefer to let the creative process be free.

A project of yours that stands out in your mind as rewarding or challenging or somehow memorable?

The monumental piece that was commissioned by the Central Bank of Ireland “Vesselscape”, at 10 meters long, it is a commanding, technically challenging and beautiful piece and the fact that, unlike most of my work, it is here in Dublin makes it even more rewarding.

What trends are you seeing in lighting design?

I actively avoid seeking out any information about trends in any regard but most specifically in lighting, my approach is to satisfy my own aesthetic, to simply make work that pleases me and then send it out into the world. I do not want that process to be diverted or influenced by external influence.

What are you most excited about in terms of how lighting technology has evolved?

It is without a doubt the advances in LED technology that have directly changed my work. When I made my first ‘edge lit’ piece in 2003/2004, I was working with incandescent light sources and so with the advancement of LED technology that were cutting edge at the time, this new technology allowed me to literally draw with light, as seen in my very first LED edge lit piece in 2005…As this technology has advanced, I now have much greater control over illumination levels and colour temperatures and this, although subtle, continues to improve my work.