I was fortunate to be invited to New York City as an intern for the interior design firm PARTS AND LABOR DESIGN. My responsibilities included organizing the material library, contacting vendors for material samples, shadowing the principal designer, and producing lighting elements for various projects. The following set outlines the basic process I used to develop concept lighting.
For some decorative elements like lighting and furniture, the team at Parts and Labor Design explores various alternatives to satisfy the particular aesthetic of a given project. In this case, I sketched dozens of armature silhouettes to reflect the theme of an existing interior. Some were explored in greater detail to consider construction methods and the possible use of glass in the final product.
PLD goes to great lengths to include the work of traditional craftsmen and artists in all of their projects. After selected concepts are modeled in Rhino 3D, approved designs are chosen and drawn to specification in AutoCAD. Final plans are sent all over the country to talented glassblowers, metal smiths, and woodworkers.
Light has the capacity to tell a story or influence space. Yet, how an object appears in various lighting conditions is a dimension of aesthetic that is often overlooked. From my experience in glass production and familiarity with the material, I used KeyShot to render the final design in greater detail to indicate color and texture when illuminated.
