Barbara Corti announced as the new Chief Creative Officer of Flos
(Italy) – Barbara Corti has been announced as the new Chief Creative Officer of Flos. As CCO, she will set the creative strategy for the development of product lines in every division, as well as content creation strategies through all the brand’s online and offline channels.
Corti, who has been global Chief Marketing Officer at Flos since 2017, will move to her new role as of October 2023 and will be the first to take this position at Flos. CEO Roberta Silva introduced the role as a way of internalising a strategic function while enhancing the talent of a leader.
After graduating with a degree in architecture, Corti worked for 10 years as Creative Director in communication agencies and for seven years in the same role at Condé Nast Italia. Corti has also played an active role in international human rights projects, addressing the issue of Human Rights Design in developing countries.
As CCO, Corti will lead the creative and design team, which will include two important areas: product design and content design. The product design division, in close collaboration with the research & development team of all collections – decorative, architectural, outdoor, and bespoke – will guarantee the central role of designers, who will have access to an array of talent and skills for future projects.
The appointment of Corti’s new role coincides with the end of Flos’s collaboration with Fabio Calvi and Paolo Brambilla in their role as Flos’s Design Curators, which was created specifically for the Milanese duo.
Silva comments: “In 2019 we created the role of Design Curator, starting a very fruitful collaboration with Fabio Calvi and Paolo Brambilla. Now we are ready to take the next step. The time has come to internalise this role, which is fundamental for the success of Flos, through the creation of a new ‘Creative and Design Team’. Barbara Corti will guide this team, becoming Chief Creative Officer.”
Corti adds: “I am very thankful for this splendid opportunity and extremely motivated, not only to continue to strengthen the recognised brand identity of Flos, but also to deeply nourish the inclination to dare and the capacity to explore new territory, which is at the heart of our DNA. My objective to further strengthen the natural playground that Flos represents for the creativity of our designers, are the most important thing.”
Workspace Design Show returns for 2024
(UK) - Workspace Design Show, the trade show that brings together the UK workplace design community, returns to London’s Business Design Centre for its third UK edition from 27-28 February 2024.
At the 2023 event, visitor number increased by an impressive 75% year on year with exhibitors from over 20 countries showcasing innovative and transformational workplace interiors products. Due to this success, 75% of stand space is already booked for 2024.
The organisers of the Workspace Design Show have unveiled exciting plans for the upcoming February event. This year, the show will revolve around the theme of Bloom: Exploring the thriving ecosystem of work life. One of the standout features will undoubtedly be the raft of collaborations with renowned architects’ practices, promising an unforgettable experience for attendees.
Workspace Design Show allows an opportunity for architects, designers, occupiers, developers, consultants, coworking companies and fit-out companies to explore the latest industry trends, see the latest products as well as find inspiration in the talks programmes.
Gurvinder Khurana, Director of M Moser Associates said: “I would highly recommend attending the show next year, it is a brilliant chance to learn and to meet many people through a shared interest in the design sector.”
Natalie Smith, Principal of Planning and Strategies for Perkins and Will added, “Highly recommend - a show that brings the entire industry together; a great place to network.”
The 40 under 40 Awards nominations open today
(UK) - The 40 under 40, an annual competition where young and talented individuals in lighting in architecture are recognised for their achievements, has now launched the submission for nominations.
The submission deadline will be closing 17 November, and to be eligible for participation nominees must be under the age of 40 on 15 September 2023. Nominations must also be a part of lighting in architecture in some capacity whether it be as a lighting designer, technician, engineer, artist, or architect.
Winners will be announced in January 2024 at Light Building Middle East in Dubai.
To find out more on how to enter go to www.40under40.com.
New Lighting Collection from Astro
Astro Lighting has recently launched a new collection using contemporary lighting concepts for hospitality, residential and commercial spaces.
The collection showcases enduring materials such as translucent porcelain and highlights functional and flexible applications, including portable and plug-in options. In addition, Astro now offer ‘Made to Order’ to provide for flexibility and choice for customers.
The new collection offers two new ranges of complete floor, table, wall and wall-mounted reading lights for cohesive lighting schemes. The Venn range brings warm ambient lighting and focused task lighting, ideal for hospitality guest rooms. All Venn lights are inspired by minimalist architecture.
The second rage, Leda, distinctive cylindrical shade is available separately in a range of ‘Made to Order ‘modern finishes. The fixture uses replaceable, long-lasting GU10 lamps, enabling full flexibility in the choice of light colour and brightness. Leda’s lamp head features an innovative, heat-dispersing design which maximises the lifespan of the lamp.
To see the complete collection go to www.astrolighting.com
Cundall appoints Natalia Duffy as Birmingham Lighting Associate
(UK) – Global engineering company, Cundall, has broadened its presence in Birmingham with the appointment of Natalia Duffy as the company's first Lighting Associate in the region.
Specialising in lighting design, Duffy has contributed to the successful delivery of projects in a range of sectors including commercial, residential, education, transport, and sports and leisure. She was also the lead designer for the public realm lighting strategy of Paradise, a new commercial and cultural hub that pays homage to Birmingham’s history and allows freedom of movement for pedestrians though the city.
Duffy’s background in both engineering and architecture allows her to combine architectural lighting concepts with engineering aspects in design solutions. In her new role as Lighting Associate, she will collaborate with Cundall’s global lighting team as well as the wider Birmingham design team, contributing her knowledge of lighting software, technologies, and the lighting industry’s policies, adding considerable value to the technical aspects of projects.
Commenting on her new role Duffy says: “I am excited to join Cundall Birmingham and add lighting design to the portfolio of design services already on offer. I have always had a passion for sustainability, and I am grateful to be working as part of a talented and energetic team, for a dynamic company with net zero commitments that resonate with my own personal beliefs and professional initiatives.”
Andrew Parkin, Partner and Global Head of Acoustics at Cundall commented: “The addition of Natalia as a Lighting Associate in our Birmingham office is something we are hugely pleased with. She has extensive experience with external lighting and environmental impact that complements our pioneering Dark Skies preservation work both in MENA and the UK and will help us achieve our ambitious net zero goals.”
Cundall’s lighting team has matured in recent years and now serves a broad geographical base with representation in three UK locations, Birmingham, Manchester, and London, in addition to Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia. Duffy’s new presence in the Birmingham team, demonstrates Cundall’s ambition to grow its lighting team’s geographical base and has plans to grow their presence to Dubai and KSA.
Nulty launches new Singapore studio
(Singapore) - International lighting design studio Nulty has opened a new Singapore office in response to a recent influx of work across Southeast Asia.
Nulty Singapore is the company’s sixth international studio and its third base in Asia following the launch of Bangkok in 2019 and Pune in 2022. The expansion comes off the back of several active years in the region, which have seen the team develop a growing pipeline of projects, including multiple high-end hotels and F&B outlets, a premier department store in Manila, and a private hospital in Bangkok.
The new studio will be led by Chloe Fung, a design professional who has amassed valuable on-the-ground expertise working for lighting design practices in both Singapore and Hong Kong. Chloe will work in close partnership with Founder, Paul Nulty, Managing Director, Mark Vowles, and Director, Simon Berry, an ex-resident who spent over ten years in Singapore leading the lighting design arm at global hospitality firm Hirsch Bedner Associates.
Paul Nulty, Founder comments: “The launch comes at a crucial time for us as a business, as the scale and complexity of our work in Asia continues to evolve. It will be a huge advantage to have a local office to complement our Bangkok outpost and we are delighted to have Chloe at the helm. She will work collaboratively with our 25-strong team of designers across Asia, building on the great results that our team has achieved so far.”
[d]arc thoughts return to LiGHT 23
(UK) - [d]arc thoughts will return to LiGHT 23 on the 22 and 23 November in Islington, London.
Held on the Gallery Level of the Business Design Centre, the highly regarded talks-programme will be deliver two-days of content covering the most important topics and trends currently circling the lighting and design sectors.
Brought to you by [d]arc media’s Managing Editor Helen Ankers and the editors behind lighting design magazines arc and darc. The programme is completely free to all LiGHT 23 visitors and will feature a mix of presentations and panel discussions from leading industry professionals working with light.
Headlining the show will be the internationally renowned artist, Grimanesa Amoròs, 'Illuminating Boundaries: The Exploration and Creation of Art Through Light', followed by a Q&A session with arc magazine's editor, Matt Waring.
[d]arc thoughts will also address lighting’s role in, ‘Designing for Healthy Office Spaces’; ‘Designing for a Global Brand’; ‘Restaurant and Bar Design’; and ‘Sustainability and Circularity in Design’. There will also be a series of short presentations from lighting professionals, looking at ‘The Animated Light’; ‘Driving Human Behaviour with Light’; and ‘Parents in Lighting’, just to name a few.
“We have been inundated with designers from all areas of the industry keen to be involved in this year’s line-up and it’s been quite the challenge to narrow down our final selection,” says Helen Ankers, Managing Editor of [d]arc media. “After the success of [d]arc thoughts at LiGHT 22 last year, we have been keen to build on our offering – keeping both our content and speakers as fresh and varied as possible. While there are key topics that need to be addressed through our talks programme – such as sustainability, diversity and technology advancements – it is important to find new ways to address these existing topics. We are looking forward to announcing our final speaker selections and by working with various industry associations and media partners, we’re confident there will be something for everyone at LiGHT 23.”
The full [d]arc thoughts programme and speakers will be announced this September. Find out more on the LiGHT 23 website: www.lightexpo.london
LiGHT 23 announces [d]arc thoughts programme detail
LiGHT 23 wants to promote lighting specification to the whole design community, and not just to lighting designers. The show looks to encourage clients, developers, architects, and interior designers to discover how critical it is to have light at the forefront of any projects.
The show looks to highlight the importance of working with the right tools and having the right knowledge to produce the best light – and in turn the best environment for the end-user.
Aimed at designers who work with lighting in some capacity, the show and its talks programme aim to expand on topics such as understanding the effects of good and bad lighting on design schemes and the end-user, and broadening knowledge on the built environment.
The show will feature 100s of high-end lighting brands all under one roof so that residential and commercial projects of all sizes will be accommodated. Product offerings from an array of international brands will include IP-rated fixtures for bathroom and garden schemes, as well as statement decorative pieces for the hospitality market. Brands that offer bespoke solutions will also be present for clients looking for a tailored approach to a project.
LiGHT 23 will also host the highly regarded talks programme [d]arc thoughts, featuring experts from across the world of design, and moderating editors from design magazines including arc, darc, ICON, and OnOffice. The talks programme will cover topics that affect all areas of the industry, such as sustainability and circular design; designing for a global client; designing for healthy office spaces; and designing for small and large spaces, to name a few.
The show’s association partners will also support the talks programme with speakers from the likes of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID); Society of British & International Interior Design (SBID); New London Design Association (NLD); Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP); Society of Light and Lighting (SLL); and the International Association of Lighting Design (IALD).
The BIID and IALD will also be hosting members and potential new members in the Associations Lounge at the show, which will be a welcome chill out area for visiting designers throughout the two-day event. Guests can join IALD for a drink’s reception on 21 November as a part of the late-night opening and the BIID for a designers’ lunch on 22 November.
For the most recent up-to-date exhibitor list and all visitor information head to www.lightexpo.london
Silhouette Awards Announce Open Call for Mentors
(UK)- Silhouette Awards have announced an open call for mentors for its 2023/2024 programme, the team are encouraging senior members of the lighting industry to apply.
Applications are open from Thursday 6 July until Thursday 10 August 2023. The Silhouette Awards team will review all submissions and contact the successful candidates at the beginning of September 2023, before the new programme begins mid-September.
Those selected will become part of an international network of renowned past and present Mentors, defining the winners of the programme by forming a valued part of the judging panel. Mentors will review all nominations and participate in the independent judging process, before being part of the online winner’s ceremony.
“We launched the Silhouette Awards due to our belief that everyone should be supported and given the opportunity to reach their goals through mentorship. I’m personally very passionate about nurturing young talent, as well as newcomers to the industry. By lifting up emerging talent and helping them excel we are giving back to our much-loved lighting industry. A mentor-mentee relationship can be life changing so we encourage those who have the same passion about making a difference to apply to become one of this season’s mentors,” says Co-Founder, Eve Gaunt.
“Being a mentor comes with great responsibility and commitment towards the young generation, the future of our profession. Reflecting on the two successful years of the Silhouette Awards program and receiving feedback from all past and present mentors, I can say with 100 % certainty that this is a rewarding experience for everyone involved! Together we are stronger and here we are initiating long-lasting professional friendships! We would like to share our deepest gratitude to all those amazing past, present and future Mentors - thank you for the valued support and knowledge you all share,” says Co-Founder, Kate Kolovea.
Nemo Lighting take over the majority of Reggiani Illuminazione
(Italy)- Nemo Lighting has completed an acquisition of a majority stake in Reggiani Illuminazione, the two leading companies in the lighting industry will create a lighting industry hub worth €60 million.
The acquisition contributes to Nemo Lighting’s vision of creating an Italian-led industrial lighting hub, which began in 2020 with the investment in Ilti Luce, which now a Nemo Studio.
The Reggiani family will remain involved in the management of the company and will support owner of Nemo Lighting, Federico Palazzari, who will assume the position of managing director of the group.
“The first objective of this acquisition is to bring new competencies within the group by training and attracting talents. Reggiani's top-level technical skills and positioning will allow the group to create important synergies also at a commercial level, expanding the offer, but above all opportunities,” says Palazzari.
“From a commercial point of view, the two companies will continue to operate as separate entities, maintaining the respective partnerships. The resulting cooperation and synergies at the production level will strengthen the global competitive positioning, making us able to answer to the increasingly broad and sophisticated market needs, with a structured commercial presence in Italy, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, China and the Middle East and a distribution network that covers more than 80 countries,” says Matteo Reggiani, CEO of Reggiani Illuminazone.
Lodes Announces Partnership with Black Bread + Jam Showrooms
(Canada) - Lodes has announced to be of the inaugural brand partners of Black Bread + Jam an Italian design-focused showroom in the Distillery District, Toronto.
The move allows the Venice-based lighting studio to offer a special brand experience and touch point in the Canadian market as part of an overall strategy of growth and expansion on the continent.
Black Bread + Jam’s opening festivities included a kick-off cocktail party organised in concert with the ICFF - Lavazza Inclucity Festival, an event organised by the Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF) taking place in the Distillery District through July.
The to-the-trade showroom will remain open for five years and feature new product vignettes every six month. This will also include a number of other renowned Italian design brands. Encompassing a total of 29 striking illuminating pieces, Lodes will figure prominently in the space’s first-ever design scheme.
Scheduled tours and appointments are available at the showroom by request. The synergistic partnership will provide customers with the unique opportunity to discover the functional and aesthetic brilliance of Lodes’ lighting solutions.
“We’re excited to follow the news of our recent dedicated U.S. subsidiary and office expansion with the announcement of our presence in Toronto through Black Bread + Jam. Located in the Distillery District, an area rich in history and industrial architecture, the exclusive, made-in-Italy, multi-brand design showroom is the ideal venue to showcase our superlative contemporary lighting in the region,” says Massimiliano Tosetto, Manging Director of Lodes.
Black Bread + Jam Managing Director, Giuseppe Avesani says: “we are thrilled to join forces with Lodes to bring their lighting designs to Toronto. Their commitment to design excellence and blending tradition with innovation perfectly aligns with our mission to showcase the time-honoured artistry of Italian design through a curated assortment of exceptional contemporary design solutions.”
Pooky Opens Showroom in West Yorkshire
(UK) - Pooky has officially opened a showroom in the Redbrick department store in West Yorkshire. Located a short drive away from Leeds, this will be Pooky’s first foray outside of the South-West.
Found on the second floor of the location, customers can see a curated edit of best-selling designs and seasonal favourites across the 2,000sqft space. The brand is renowned for its high-end designs at high street prices as well as trademark use of bold colour and patterns. The showroom is offering table lamps, floor lamps, wall lights, pendants, a plethora of shades and an expanding range of accessories.
Pooky has included displays such as its signature wall light cabinets, which open to reveal and surprise customers alongside panel displays for a selection of sockets and switches. Alongside the displays there is a seating area for finalising those tricky lighting decisions.
“We are delighted to be coming to Yorkshire with our brand-new showroom at Redbrick near Leeds. Showcasing the best of the best, we’ve selected all of our favourite and bestselling items to make a beautiful visual display including an array of our amazing rechargeable lamps as well. Redbrick has long been established as the centre for home brands in the North of England and we are so excited to join the other fantastic brands and welcome our northern customers through the doors," says Rohan Blacker, Founder of Pooky.
