Meet Maitreyee Bakshi

What path did you take to become a lighting designer?

I practiced as an architect in Mumbai before moving to Sydney to pursue further studies. Human perception of light was part of the course work and it was the first time I was introduced to anything to do with the biology related to light. With this newly found fascination for light and my passion for architectural design, I switched courses and completed my studies in illumination design.

Why does light matter to you? And why should it matter to our clients?

There are many facets to lighting – nighttime safety and human circadian cycles, to lighting up entire buildings and cities. Light has the power to augment architecture or alter the perception of a space. No matter the architecture, light has the ability to add a new dimension. Lighting plays a crucial part in many ways and yet is often an afterthought.

Lighting designers and architects can work together towards creating lighting opportunities which can be integrated within the architecture and add that element to complement architecture.

What innovative new approaches are you seeing when it comes to lighting design?

Every conversation about innovation in some way involves dynamic and interactive lighting, as does newer and smarter lighting technology. This being the forefront of lighting today, an area to watch for is its application in the public realm. I’m also keen on keeping a watch on lighting technology advancements that make lighting more sustainable, ecologically sensitive and address climate change at large.

What advice do you have for aspiring lighting designers looking to break into the industry?

No matter the background or experience, a general understanding of space, attention to detail, a flair for creativity and the right technical tools are fundamental to starting off as a lighting designer. The industry is hot, expanding and is always welcoming towards passionate individuals.

Lighting design – is it art or science? Why?

It’s that grey area where we designers add creative value to spaces to make them aesthetically appealing, but also understand the dynamics and technology of lighting and biology in terms of human perception.