In Profile:
Hawksbee

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
Design is heading into an increasingly interesting and more responsible phase. One of the most significant shifts is the growing awareness around health and well-being, particularly as we begin to better understand the impact of light, including areas such as blue light exposure and the long-term effects of LED technology. This is bringing lighting further to the forefront of design conversations, rather than it being treated as an afterthought. I see clients placing greater value on lighting design as a discipline in its own right, and being more willing to invest in both thoughtful design and higher quality, longer-lasting products. Sustainability is also becoming a key driver, not just in materials and manufacture, but in how we design for longevity, adaptability, and reduced waste over time.
Cost and budget are always part of the conversation, but I don’t see them as a barrier to good lighting design. There’s a common misconception that considered lighting is only for high-end projects, when in reality thoughtful design can be applied at many different scales and price points. A key part of the role is helping clients understand where value is truly added, whether through better planning, fewer but higher quality interventions, or simply making more informed decisions early in the process. Good lighting design isn’t about excess; it’s about clarity, intent, and making the most of what’s available.
Overall, I think the direction is positive, but it’s also more considered where everyone should have access to well-considered lighting. It has a direct impact on how we experience and inhabit space. We’re moving towards a space where lighting is expected to do more: support well-being, respect the environment, and elevate architectural intent in a more meaningful and informed way.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in the future.
1. Health and human experience
2. Light as a integrated architectural tool
3. Value over volume
4. Sustainability and longevity
5. Accessibility of good design

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to designing, what would it be?
Design less, think more. In lighting especially, the most successful schemes rarely come from adding more. They come from slowing down early decisions and being clear about what the space actually needs to feel like, function like, and support over time. If you get the intent right first, the technical and aesthetic decisions tend to resolve themselves with far more clarity. Restraint, at its best, is what makes the work feel effortless.

How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?
International design and architecture awards can be useful markers of recognition and can help open doors, especially early on or when entering new markets. They can validate work in front of peers and sometimes clients who are still learning how to judge quality in design. In that sense, they have commercial and reputational value.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
The focus for Hawksbee moving forward is on continuing to explore how lighting is specified and detailed, from finishes and fittings through to more deliberate moments within a space where light plays a stronger role. This sits alongside a continued emphasis on user experience, with growing interest in circadian-informed design and the introduction of more experimental ideas where the brief allows. A key part of this is also a focus on how things are resolved in detail, using more mock-ups and close coordination with architecture to test and refine how lighting actually performs in real conditions, across a carefully considered range of projects….and we’re always evolving through the work itself.

Your most treasured possession?

My Netherland dwarf bunny, his name is Mochi.

Sorry to those who thought is might be a downlight!

Your favourite holiday destination?
I love returning to Sicily each year, and Japan is simply unforgettable. Bangkok is another place I keep coming back to (it’s a particular smell you get hit by when you leave the airport!). Travel is a huge part of my life, whether working remotely or simply exploring, it’s an integral part of how I reset, observe, and gather inspiration throughout the year.

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar?

Hotel: Marufukuro
Restaurant: Din Tai Fung
Bar: Gordons Wine Bar

Your favourite book, film & song?

Book: The Big Sleep, Raymond Chandler
Film: I like Artist Biopics, a bit of John Wick (who doesn’t love Keanu) and then some Robin Williams in Aladdin.
Song: Right now – Home by Good Neighbours

Your favourite food and drink?

Food: my refine side would say sushi but then my comfort side says you can’t beat a cheese burger and chips with a side of mayo.
Drink: I’m loving AF mushroom beer at the moment! With alcohol, either an Aperol spritz or vodka tonic

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?
I tend to gravitate between quite simple contrasts! The cinema, cooking with friends and family, and spending time somewhere new whenever I can. A lot of it is about switching pace; noticing different environments, and letting ideas settle without forcing them, which is often where things start to make sense!

If you weren’t in this sector, what would your alternative profession be?
As a child I wanted to be a painter or a secret agent, which probably says more about how I think than I realised at the time! Drawn to both creativity and curiosity, and a strong interest in observing and noticing things others might miss. I’ve also always enjoyed working with people and the energy that comes from collaboration and shared ideas. I’ve found that particularly through working with others in a teaching context, where it was genuinely surprising, in the best way, to see people grow in confidence and direction, and to be part of that process. I think that balance between observation, creativity, and people still underpins how I work today.

Anything else interesting?

Richard Gregory noted that, under the right conditions, a candle flame can be visible from several miles away. At first that might seem surprising, especially when compared to the fact that we can see stars that are effectively millions (and in reality billions) of miles away. The key point is that it’s not distance itself that determines visibility, but how much usable light actually reaches the eye and how clearly it is perceived against its background. A candle is a relatively weak light source, and on Earth its signal is quickly disrupted by atmospheric conditions and competing light. A star, by contrast, is an extremely powerful light source, and in the near-vacuum of space its light travels with far less interference, allowing it to remain visible despite the distance.
In simple terms, it’s not about how far something is, but whether enough light survives the journey to still be detected.
A useful way to think about it is almost like lighting design in reverse; what matters isn’t scale or distance, but whether the light has enough strength and clarity to still be perceived once it reaches the observer.