The Challenge coaches for 2018/19
The Challenge is a talent promotion project in the form of a speaker competition for young designers in four rounds. Participants can be students or recent graduates embarking on a career as a lighting designer.
Six internationally renown lighting designers will be coaching the young designers to success!
The coaches have the task of selecting the best 18 elevator pitches for the semi-final (Round III) in Berlin from 31. January to 1. February, 2019. Each coach will support three young designers for their presentation in Berlin and select their finalist for Round IV at PLDC 2019 in Rotterdam.
“It is a Challenge, but nevertheless it is all about team spirit and sharing visions. All the participants bring wonderful ideas to the table and I really enjoy discussing the future of lighting design within this inspired circle.” – Thorsten Bauer/DE, coach in The Challenge 2016/17
Gold Partner
Susanna Antico/IT, Studio Susanna Antico Lighting Design
Susanna Antico is the founder and principal of Studio Susanna Antico Lighting Design in Milan. She specialises in lighting design for architectural, artistic, urban and environmental lighting projects and has developed more than 50 urban lighting projects on different scales. Susanna is currently serving as the President of APIL.
Keith Bradshaw/UK, Speirs+Major
Keith Bradshaw studied fine art before training in architecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture. This education provided him with the opportunity to develop ideas where materials became less
important than the atmosphere and experience of space: this led naturally to working with light. Keith became a Principal of Speirs + Major in 2009. He is based in Edinburgh and directs projects from both of Speirs + Major’s studios.
Deborah Burnett/US, Benya Burnett Consultancy
Deborah Burnett is an internationally recognized registered interior designer, colour authority, licensed general contractor, keynote presenter and former National TV personality. She is a leading authority in the practice of Epigenetic Design, targeting the connection between human health and built environmental light.
Rune Nielsen/DK, Kollision
Rune is co-founder and partner of the design practice Kollision. He is an architect and holds a PhD, but refers to himself as an Interaction Designer. He is specialised in interactive exhibitions and media architecture projects that take the form of engaging and experience-oriented largescale installations.
Jim Collin/SE, ÅF Lighting
Jim Collin is an award-winning lighting designer and the Head of ÅF Lighting. He has more than 15 years of experience as a lighting consultant, working on a variety of international projects, including master planning, architectural lighting, technical lighting solution, aesthetic lighting and energy optimization projects. Jim regularly lectures at universities and professional conferences on lighting design topics ranging from energy efficiency issues to the effects of daylight and artificial light on humans.
Jonathan Rush/UK, Hoare Lea LLP
Jonathan Rush studied Furniture Design in Birmingham and joined Hoare Lea Lighting in 2005. He completed his Masters in 2009 at the Bartlett School of Architecture. Jonathan now manages the Hoare Lea Lighting Design team, with an oversight on all project work and delivery both in the UK and internationally.
