Lighting in Design February-March 2018

Lighting for function and funk

Light.Func, a boutique lighting design studio with branches in Dar es Salaam and Dubai, was established by Tanzanian lighting designer, Sakina Dugawalla.

T he ‘func’ in Light.Func, referring to both function and funk, explains how the team approaches its projects: ‘with a function in mind, but with the ability to make people feel ex- citement, wonder and joy, not unlike funk music’. The company provides independent lighting solu- tions that are pleasing to the eye and practical for all architecture and design, from commercial and industrial through landscape and heritage to en- tertainment. The entire team has a background in architecture and/or interior design, so every space is seen through the eyes of a design-infused brain. Texture, colour, composition, volume, these are all things considered before any project is tackled. Gregg Cocking of Crown Publications spoke to Dugawalla about her love of lighting. GC:What drew you to lighting? SD: Light is emotive and still misunderstood. During my second year lighting module at design

school, my professor persuaded me to intern for ERCO, one of the most important lighting manufac- turers in Europe. That company’s approach to light fixtures is based on a philosophy of giving the best lighting solutions, and its unique technology allows the company to spread the ‘less is more’ mental- ity, which architects and interior designers love. I realised that it was possible to light spaces using a combination of different principles of lighting and the result was, not only does the look of the space change, how we feel while in that space changes, as does our perception. In realistic terms, I could emphasise one element more than another, and create a calm, soothing space or a dramatic one. I then began delving into the vast realm of lighting design where I discovered that crucial things are often overlooked, like the psychology of seeing and the physiological, natural aspects of the human eye. Understanding physiology, psychology and the impact of lighting allows you to create spaces

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LiD FEB/MAR 2018