MSLD Team
Marcus Steffen
Founder
Designer, author and university lecturer, Marcus Steffen is Founder of MS Lighting Design, based in London. Marcus studied Mechatronics at Kings College London before becoming a lighting designer, and now has over fifteen years' experience in the residential lighting design field, as well as undertaking various hospitality and commercial projects. In this time Marcus has dealt with a huge variety of projects ranging from tiny extensions to large mansions, many of which have won awards.
Marcus lectures at the Inchbald School of Design and Chelsea College of Art in London, teaching classes on lighting design to interior designers. He is also the author of ‘Residential Lighting Design’, a book which introduces the tools of the lighting designer and explains how to produce a lighting design for a home.
Why did you become a lighting designer?
I fell into lighting design by accident. I actually studied engineering (mechatronics specifically) at university, and needed a job afterwards. I had the opportunity to help a lighting company move the design process into CAD, and then fell in love with light. It can change your entire environment with the touch of a button, it is almost like having magical powers.
What do you like the most about lighting design?
There are two amazing moments when working on a lighting design. The first is meeting a client for the first time, and opening their eyes to the possibilities of what lighting can do. Seeing that realisation dawn on their face about the potential for their project, and the excitement, is wonderful. The second is when we are doing the final commissioning of the lighting, after the clients have moved in. I get to see the realisation of the project and how happy it makes the clients, while we have a glass of wine and discuss what has been created.
Do you have a favourite light fitting?
There are a couple of fittings I adore. The 265 by Paolo Rizzatto is a wonderful, versatile fitting for placing light where you want it. I also love a humble recessed uplight. Not specific one, but in general a recessed uplight just adds a little bit of drama to a space, which I love.
Vanessa Macedo
Senior Lighting Designer
After studying Product Design in college and doing a Bachelors and a Masters in Interior Design at ESAD (Escola Superior de Artes e Design) in Portugal, Vanessa moved to UK in 2014. She started her career as a lighting designer working for lighting manufacturers, working on several Commercial, Educational, Healthcare and Workspace projects for names like Tesco, GWR, the Royal Air Force and the NHS, among others.
Vanessa also managed a light supplier showroom, where she acquired a substantial knowledge in decorative light pieces and brands, making her a key part of the team when it comes to finding that perfect centrepiece for the space.
In 2017 she joined the MSLD team, where she has designed spaces from small kitchen extensions to luxury airport lounges, and found her love for residential and hospitality. Vanessa combines her expert knowledge of lighting design and interiors to create amazing spaces for clients.
Why did you become a lighting designer?
Stroke of luck, like so many of us in the industry. After moving to the UK in 2014, I couldn’t find a position as an Interior Designer, until someone saw on my CV that I had lighting knowledge from my master’s degree, and put me in contact with some recruiters. It wasn’t easy as I didn’t have any references in the country to give and I was about to call it quits, when someone believed in me. Seven years later, I couldn’t be more proud of the career that chose me.
What do you like the most about lighting design?
Light is life for me. We can change the mood of a space, a person, an assembly, by just changing the light that surrounds you. Light is the best friend of architecture, it can highlight the best and hide the not-so-great details, it is like magic.
As a lighting designer I love to go to the West End shows and be in total awe in how the lighting can change so dramatically what you are experiencing in a big space like a stage.
Where do you get inspiration for your designs?
I have 3 main sources of inspiration:
Theatre and Music event spaces - Is just magical to see light transforming a space and the way the audience can feel. Light should always be an experience.
Nature – What would light be without shadow? And nature can do that better than anyone. But having the sensitively to embrace the light and the shadow/dark in a project is a skill that is essential to all lighting designers.
Japan – The materials, translucence, shapes, textures; it just makes you think out of the box sometimes. It is a very different culture from the western world we live in, but it has a very holistic approach in how to live in a home and is something we should embrace more and more.
Do you have a favourite light fitting?
That is like asking a parent if they have a favourite child. I have several favourites, really depends on the style or my mood.
I really like most of the collections from Bomma; the glass craftmanship is outstanding. But if I had to pick only one fitting I would say the Saucer Bubble by George Nelson, it is everything I am inspired by. With the right selection of lamps it is the most amazing fitting you could have, and it can fit with pretty much in any style of décor.