Light Lounge

Charles Foster is a Senior Director at Lightswitch and one of the key leaders at Lightswitch’ NYC office location. With decades of experience in lighting design across the globe, Charles has built a distinguished career with a diverse portfolio that spans event, entertainment, and architectural lighting design. He graduated summa cum laude from Francis Marion University with a B.A. in Theatre Design & Technology, and further advanced his expertise with a Master of Fine Arts in Lighting Design from Boston University.

Charles’s exceptional talent quickly earned him recognition as a sought-after designer. His guiding philosophy—that successful lighting design starts with a deep understanding of the end-user—has solidified his reputation for delivering outstanding results and exceeding client expectations.

Charles and I first connected through a project in NYC, and now we sit down for an in-depth conversation on lighting design, intention, project priorities, authenticity, and commitment. 

Please enjoy, get inspired and learn, listening to the conversation I had with Charles Foster, senior director of LightSwitch. 

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. 

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 Studio recognizes 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 JMDS was born.

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

JMDS has gone on to design and execute critically acclaimed residential and commercial builds such as the Feit retail 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’s inaugural SoHo retail location. JMDS is 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/

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@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