Katia Kolovea Lighting Design

One week later and just before we globally celebrate the International Day of Light @internationaldayoflight , we are still reflecting on the conversations, insights and energy shared during our latest The Lighting Police event at Arup in London: 💡 Rethinking Learning Spaces: Light, Control & Human Experience. What made this evening truly special was not only the content itself, but the diversity of people engaging in the conversation. Lighting designers, engineers, architects, manufacturers, educators, students and professionals from outside our immediate industry all came together to reflect on one essential question: 👉 Are our learning environments truly supporting people to focus, grow, collaborate and thrive? Throughout the evening, one message became very clear: Lighting should never be treated simply as a utility or compliance exercise. It is part of the human experience. From discussions around adaptability and usability, to the emotional reality of being a learner, to the importance of controls that genuinely support the people using spaces every day, the conversation highlighted how deeply environmental quality affects the way we learn and interact. One of the most rewarding parts for us was seeing the audience actively become part of the discussion, asking thoughtful questions, sharing reflections and continuing conversations long after the panel had finished. And perhaps that is exactly the point of The Lighting Police: not simply to host events, but to create conversations that continue growing beyond the room itself. A huge thank you to: ✨ @arupgroup for hosting us in their beautiful London space ✨Helvar @helvar_int for supporting the initiative as sponsor ✨ Our fantastic speakers and panelists: Dan Lister, Katharine van Someren, Thet Oo @thet_00 and James Short ✨ And every single person who attended and contributed to the dialogue The feedback and reflections we received after the event reminded us once again why these multidisciplinary conversations matter so much. This is only the beginning. 🌍 #thelightingpolice #lightingdesign #humanexperience #learningspace #internationaldayoflight

Feeling stuck creatively? Save this.💎 #MDW26 Milan Design Week just ended ~ and while everyone is sharing this year’s highlights, I found myself going back to last year’s moments.💖 (FYI ~ everything you see here is from Milan Design Week 2025) Not because of nostalgia. But because it reminded me of something simple: ✨ Inspiration is not something you wait for. 👉🏻It’s something you notice. You don’t need Milan to feel inspired. 👉🏻You need to be present enough to see what’s already around you.‼️ So next time you feel stuck, try this: → Slow down → Observe more → Look at light, materials, people, details → Step outside your routine (even slightly) → Stay curious Because creativity doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from feeling more.🔥 🔔Save this for the days you feel uninspired 👉And send it to someone who needs a creative reset Tell me with a word, what inspires you lately?👇🏻 #MilanDesignWeek #InspirationEverywhere #LightingDesign #archifos

If you’re going to Milan Design Week 2026… SAVE THIS 😘✨ So many of you have been asking how to structure your agenda during #MDW2026 how to see as much as possible without losing the joy of the experience. 💎 Because here’s the truth👇🏻 you will not see everything. And if you try… you’ll miss the magic.✨ 💡 A few key reminders before you swipe: • 2026 is not a Euroluce year → for my fellow LDs the city becomes your main stage • Fuorisalone is where the real exploration happens • The goal is not to do more, but to choose better Inside this carousel, you’ll find my step-by-step approach to help you: → build your itinerary → prioritise what actually matters → avoid burnout → and still leave space for the unexpected moments that make Milan… Milan 🇮🇹 Because the best experiences are rarely the ones perfectly planned.💖 👉 If you’re going this year, tell me what’s already on your must-see list 👉 And if you know someone heading to Milan, send this to them Let’s help each other experience it in best possible way 💛 Are you ready? Go Go Go #MilanDesignWeek #Fuorisalone #DesignCommunity

Lighting designers shape the experience.💡 Controls define how that experience actually works. ✅ And yet, we rarely sit at the same table. 🤔 👉🏻 Do we agree? Over time, I’ve realised this isn’t about knowledge. It’s about language. As lighting designers, we don’t need to become control engineers. But we do need to understand what’s possible, and what’s not and how to ask for it. 💬 Because that’s where the real quality of a project is shaped: in collaboration. 🙌🏻 A few weeks ago, at @lightbuildingfrankfurt 2026, together with Safak Koc (@elekonenerji ) and Pavlos Gklavinas (@helvar_int ), we had a conversation that stayed with me. Not about products. Not about systems. But about the gap between what we design, and how it is actually delivered. 📣 So, we decided to do something about it. We are building something new…starting in Istanbul 2026, bringing lighting designers, architects, and control experts into the same room. Not to explain. But to align. To experience. This is not just a “stay tuned” post. It’s an open question: Where do you feel this gap the most in your projects? Do you feel it at all? What do you wish you understood better about controls? What still feels unclear or unnecessarily complex? And from the other side, what do you wish control specialists understood better about design? If you are based in Türkiye, or working closely with the region, and this resonates: → comment below or send me a DM → tag someone who should be part of this conversation We are shaping this carefully, and I want the right voices in the room. 💡 More soon. If you’d like to be involved, feel free to reach out here #lightingdesign #lightingdesigners #lightingcontrols #architecture #archifos

And finally… Day 6 at @lightbuildingfrankfurt shared a few weeks later 😌 but marking the closing chapter of an intense and inspiring week. The last day is always about slowing down, revisiting and saying goodbye. I started the morning at the @zumtobel_light forum, wrapping up details for a series of interviews with Greek lighting designers, excited to share these soon with the Greek architectural and design community. 🎥 Then one final walkthrough across the halls: In Hall 3.0, @aero_lighting really stood out with their auto-tracking lighting solution, something refreshingly different from what we saw across the fair. 👀 Quick stops followed at @vkleadinglight , @ledflexgroup (Joe, always great to catch up!), @anolislighting , where lens experimentation really caught my attention, and @folio_lighting with a very clean and structured presentation. The @dasgutelicht booth was impressive in scale, while @alphabet_lights by @zambelislights brought a beautiful minimal “white canvas” approach. So proud to see Greek brands present at such a high level. 🇬🇷 Further visits included @simes_light , @puk_lighting with a gallery-like installation, and @electron_lighting , great to see the growth and presence this year. Up to Hall 4.1, I revisited @opplelightingeurope and their artificial sky technologies, had a quick catch-up with @studio_due_light , and was genuinely surprised by @spectrumled_pl showcasing live 3D printing. 🤯 One of my favourite moments was experiencing @kerailight , designed by @sophya.acostaldstudio , a space that invited you to slow down and truly feel the light. ✨ Back to Hall 3.1 for final goodbyes: @prolicht.at , @linealightgroup with a beautifully curated path, @_omlight (Ruxandra, loved the story behind Loom), and @lightnetgmbh with @playmodesstudio , such a powerful collaboration. 👏🏻 And of course, one last stop at our Light Swing with @saasinstruments , truly one of the highlights of my week. 🥳 We closed the day at the @redogroupromania booth (and yes… with some very good pasta - thank you @lumiplan 🍝) ~ the perfect ending. IT’S a wrap! Grateful for every conversation, every collaboration and every moment shared. #LB26

Day 5 at @lightbuildingfrankfurt Building, and what a day. 🚀 Today was all about the #FutureForum by the @vld.community , a full day of ideas, conversations and inspiration. More than 18 talks, voices from across the industry, and a space that truly reflected the energy and ambition of our global lighting community. 💙 I’m incredibly grateful to the whole team, Ingmar, Martin, Amardeep and Gemma, and to all the speakers who shared their knowledge and perspectives.💡 It was a day of many roles or my multiple hats 🧢 …backstage documenting, curating, capturing interviews… and at the same time stepping on stage to host the @silhouetteawards panels and presentation. 🎤 A big thank you to @courtneyderoymark , @claudia_paz_lighting_studio @astridhebert @riddhi_bhootda , @ksushy_chu and @ahmadi.armaghan , as well as all the mentors, mentees and supporters who joined. Moments like this remind me why mentorship and community matter so much in our industry. ✨ One of the highlights was seeing new AI tools for street lighting being presented, a glimpse into how our design processes are evolving. 🤖 my eyes are at #TAMAN by @skiradean All talks and interviews will be shared soon on the VLD platform, stay tuned and join as member! 👀 In between everything, I returned to our Light Swing with @saasinstruments for a quick moment of play and interaction with visitors as everyday💖 Another standout moment of the day was finally experiencing Living Light, curated by @lichtvisiondesign , a beautifully crafted space where lighting products come alive in application and invite people to engage and interact. This is exactly the kind of experience we need more of within trade fairs. 👏🏻 I also loved taking a small creative pause, sketching with Copic alongside young talents and reconnecting with the joy of drawing. ✍️ A final walk through Hall 3.1, a few sneak peeks before last day… and Day 5 came to an end.🥹 A long one, but incredibly fulfilling and inspiring 💖 Beyond #grateful

Day 4 at @lightbuildingfrankfurt , another full day moving between halls, conversations & unexpected discoveries. We started the morning with a visit and video teaser to @elekonenerji stant together with @helvar_int We’re working on something very exciting together, more soon.🔜 Thank u Şafak & Pavlos for the inspiring conversations, can’t wait to create this experience with you! 🚀 Next stop was the @dalialliance stand where it was great to see Emma and Tad again and exchange thoughts on the future of lighting controls and education.🤓 Still in Hall 8, we passed by the Eldoled experience. Five minutes were enough to see the amount of work behind it, a very thoughtful presentation. Well done Mark, Patrick & the entire team. Definitely something educational that the @thelightingpolice might want to explore further.👏🏻 After that, it was great to reconnect with the team at @pharos_controls .Thank you Bas for the tour & for sharing all the latest developments.💡 A quick hello followed at @schnick.schnack.systems with Jari & Solveig before continuing our journey across halls 5 & 3, definitely a day with many KM of walking.🏃‍♀️ One of the most impressive stops was the @xal_lighting booth. The entrance sequence and spatial atmosphere felt like stepping into a hub of conversations.🤩 It was also great catching up with @weverducre team and Oliver, and yes, me & @thelightingpolice absolutely agree with the message: life is too short for boring lighting.👌💙 Later we returned to our collaborators @saasinstruments to check how the Light Swing competition is evolving and capture a few more playful moments with visitors. 💖 The afternoon continued at the @signifycompany for #TheBucketList talk hosted by @arc_magazine & @lightcollective @matt_waring24 @h.a.n.k.e.r.s I had the pleasure of sharing the story behind my chosen photograph 🎤, a sunset captured in Elafonisi, a place I truly believe everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. 🌅 Thank you for the invitation & for sharing the stage with such inspiring voices @beatadenton @kevin.grant.56481 @linus.lopez @magalikmt Jean-Yves After a few more meetings, the day slowly came to an end ✨

Day 3 at Light + Building, and probably my longest day of the week so far. My morning started at the @prolicht.at stand for a booth tour and interview.📹 Thank you Pilar and Guillermo for the invitation, and Filippo for the thoughtful questions about my journey and path in the lighting industry. We love exchanging ideas in such an open and inspiring setting. Such an excellent work by @fabiana_studiorainbow and team - thank you for making it so easy ☺️ From there we headed to the Zumtobel Group at the forum to host a special conversation with Greek lighting designers reflecting on their experience at the fair, powered by @zumtobel_light Greece A big thank you to everyone who joined and shared their perspectives: @aslight__studio , @danilof_thanos , @philippopoulou_anastasia , Dr. Alkestie Skarlatou and @ideadesignltd These reflections will soon be shared as a short interview series for the Greek architectural and design community.📹✨ One of the most playful moments of the day happened at the @tridonic booth, where a Lego city installation demonstrated the power of lighting controls. 💡 Placing a small brick on specific points activated different lighting scenarios, a brilliant and interactive way to explain complex systems. I had so much fun that Eduardo Pereira even gifted me a small “mini-Katia” Lego figure to remember the moment. We loved it.❤️ The afternoon continued with a quick catch-up with the KTH alumnis @kth_Lightinglab , followed by a special #40under40 community gathering hosted by @FILIX_Lighting , complete with freshly prepared pizza right inside their booth! It was delicious, Marko 👌 Before leaving the halls, we stopped by the @llucelight event to discover some of their latest products and especially loved the chess game spotlighting the gobo projector! The evening ended at the @iald night, always a beautiful celebration of our global community.✨ Many friends and studios were recognised and the big Radiance award went to @lichtkunstlicht 👏🏻 It was an honor to collect @studiolumenofficial award of merit as they weren’t able to attend. The night was full of Polaroid moments powered by @formalighting and lots of fun!

Day 2 at @lightbuildingfrankfurt and the sunshine was almost too tempting to stay outside a little longer. ☀️ But the fair was calling. The day started with a few educational talks at @leds_c4 , something I always appreciate seeing during large trade fairs. Lighting manufacturers creating space for learning and knowledge exchange is incredibly valuable, even if it’s impossible to attend everything happening across the halls. In between sessions there were more moments of fun at the photo booth by the @vld.community Virtual Lighting Design Community in collaboration with @digidottechnologies Always a good excuse to pause, connect, and capture a few memories with friends from around the world. 🌍📸 We also spent some time with our collaborators at @saasinstruments , testing creativity in the Light Swing and trying to capture the most playful pictures with the installation. A quick visit to the @zumtobel_light stand followed! A beautiful booth that definitely deserves a proper tour tomorrow. The event won the best booth prize for this year! More tomorrow ✨ Later in the afternoon I returned to the Design Plaza for the #40under40 Lighting Design Award 10-year celebration. Receiving the recognition back in 2019, very early in my career, felt like a turning point. It came with a strong sense of responsibility, to advocate for the profession, connect people, and contribute to the future of our industry. It was very special to reconnect with the extended 40under40 family and welcome the new generation joining the community. The evening continued with some well-deserved dancing and celebration thanks to the @wacgroup_official before heading to dinner hosted by @selux , where we had the chance to discover some of their latest products.💡 Another full and inspiring day. Now getting ready for Day 3. ✨

✨ Day 1 at @lightbuildingfrankfurt ~ what a start. We landed in Frankfurt under beautiful sunshine, dropped our bags at the hotel and headed straight to the fair. 🏃‍♀️ First stop: the @womeninlighting International Women’s Day gathering at the Design Plaza, and the room was completely full. 🤩 Inspiring presentations. Powerful conversations. And a wonderful reminder of how strong and supportive our global lighting community has become.💖 A new WIL Utility Belt campaign was also launched together with a creative photo challenge encouraging more visibility for women working on construction sites. A small initiative with a very big message. #WILonsite Later in the day I met with the team from @saasinstruments to experience their beutiful poetic booth and get ready for our activation #ProtectingDarkness! Visitors are invited to share their reflections on darkness ~ and one lucky participant will receive the beautiful saas Sense Light Swing. We also made a quick stop at the Virtual Lighting Design Community @vld.community photo booth with @digidottechnologies ~ so if you’re at the fair, head to Hall 3.1 and take your picture! 📸 The evening closed with a wonderful dinner hosted by @formalighting Great conversations, familiar faces, and that special sense of community that always makes this industry feel a little bit like home. 💖💖 Grateful for such an empowering first day. On to Day 2. 🚀 I decided to do those daily recaps for my global friends who were supposed to be at the exhibition this year and their plans got affected and cancelled! 🌍If you want to see something specific feel free to ask in the comments below 👇🏻 #Archifos #LightingCommunity #LightandBuilding

✨ Frankfurt is calling 🥹and this year the schedule is more intense than ever… ⏳ @lightbuildingfrankfurt week is finally here and many of you have been asking where we can meet, so here it is 💖 From poetic activations to community gatherings, mentorship conversations and Future Forum discussions, this week will be full of ideas, encounters and inspiration for the global lighting community.🌍 If you’re in Frankfurt, here are some of the key moments 👇 ✨ @womeninlighting IWD Celebration [SUN] Celebrating the incredible global community of WIL at the Design Plaza with inspiring speakers and conversations. A new creative photo challenge is also loading , generously sponsored by @formalighting . 🌙 Suspended in Darkness [DAILY] A poetic activation with @saasinstruments ~ powered by Archifos. Not simply a competition. But a question: What does darkness mean to you? Come and feel it. One reflection will receive a very special gift. 🏆 #40under40 Anniversary [MON] Going back to where it all started for me in 2019. A special moment celebrating the extended 40under40 family. 📖 The Bucket List Event [WED] If you love the legendary back page curated by @lightcollective for @arc_magazine this one is for you. Yes… my submission includes a sunset captured in Elafonisi, Crete ☀️ 🎓 @silhouetteawards Awards Meetup [THU] Celebrating the new winning mentees and discussing mentorship, portfolios and the path for emerging talents in lighting. 🚀 Future Forum by @vld.community [THU] One of the biggest highlights of the week. Expect inspiring talks on community, mentorship, AI and the launch of @lux.futurum Year 3. My schedule is insanely packed, but if you’re around send me a message, I would love to meet you. And for those who couldn’t travel this year, I’ll share daily moments and stories from the fair ✨ Safe travels everyone. See you in Frankfurt. #LightAndBuilding #LightingDesign #LightingCommunity

#HighlyReccomended Never stop learning. Especially when two hours can bring you so much! 🤩 Today at 5PM (Greek time) the Archviz Masterclass @creativelighting.co x @chaos.vray 2026 begins! And it’s completely FREE. 7 sessions. 2 hours each. Massive value. If you’re an architect, interior designer, lighting designer or visual storyteller, this is absolutely worth your time. Today: Getting Started with AI (MidJourney focus) Then in the upcoming months: • 02. Composition & storytelling • 03. Mastering Interior lighting • 04. Exterior lighting & mood • 05. Materials & mood boards • 06. The art of colouring • 07. And a visual storytelling competition in October I joined parts of it last year and honestly, the level of practical knowledge is incredible. No fluff. Just real tools you can apply immediately. ⚠️ The only catch: you must attend LIVE. There are no recordings. Even if you can’t make today’s session, register so you don’t miss the next ones. I’ve already added them to my calendar. If you join and find value, I would genuinely love to hear your feedback. Your engagement and reflections are what help us keep discovering, supporting and sharing initiatives like this within our creative community.🤗❤️ Let’s keep evolving. Let’s keep elevating how we communicate ideas. Link in bio. See you there.💡🌍 -#freemasterclass #creativeindustry #designfreelancers #lightingdesigners