Zerlina Hughes is a visionary lighting designer whose work has transformed the way we experience light in architectural, museum, and performance spaces. As the founder and Creative Director of Studio ZNA, Hughes has become a prominent name in the world of lighting design, known for her ability to blend artistic expression with technical excellence. Her designs evoke emotion, shape environments, and tell stories through the power of light.
The Early Spark: Foundations in Art and Design
Zerlina Hughes’s journey into lighting design began with a deep-seated passion for art and creativity. Born and raised in Scotland, Hughes was naturally drawn to the world of visual arts. Her early interest in how light interacts with space led her to pursue a BA in Fine Arts at Goldsmiths College, University of London, where she honed her creative sensibilities.
After her undergraduate studies, Hughes realized that her true calling lay at the intersection of art and technology, which led her to further her education at The Bartlett School of Architecture, where she earned a Master’s degree in Light and Lighting. This unique combination of creative intuition and technical expertise would set the stage for her future as a leader in lighting design.
Zerlina Hughes A Rising Talent in Lighting Design
Zerlina’s professional career began in the world of theatre and film, where she found the perfect outlet for her artistic vision. Lighting plays a crucial role in performance spaces, not only in terms of functionality but also as an integral part of storytelling. Hughes quickly grasped the profound impact lighting has on an audience’s experience, guiding emotions, enhancing drama, and bringing narratives to life.
Her early work included collaborations with theatre companies and film productions, where she learned to use light as a tool for mood-setting and spatial transformation. One of her most formative experiences was working alongside acclaimed director Mike Leigh, where she assisted in lighting for several notable films. This exposure to the world of cinema enriched her understanding of light’s potential to evoke emotional responses.
Studio ZNA: Creating a Legacy in Lighting Design
In 2006, Hughes founded her own design practice, Studio ZNA, which has since become synonymous with innovation and creativity in lighting design. Her studio has tackled a wide array of projects, from museum exhibitions to luxury residential spaces, as well as high-profile retail and commercial environments. What sets Studio ZNA apart is its holistic approach to lighting, which emphasizes collaboration, storytelling, and sustainability.
Hughes has always viewed lighting as more than just a technical necessity. For her, it’s a medium of expression, one that can transform the mood of a space, guide the flow of movement, and even alter perceptions of architecture and objects. Whether working on a large-scale museum exhibition or a luxury showroom, Hughes applies a narrative approach to her lighting design, considering how light interacts with the broader context of the space.
Lighting as Narrative: Bringing Spaces to Life
At the heart of Hughes’s design philosophy is the belief that light tells a story. She uses light not only to highlight features of a space but to guide the audience’s emotional journey. By adjusting elements such as color temperature, contrast, and shadow play, she creates lighting schemes that evoke feelings, moods, and even time of day.
For example, in her work with museums and galleries, Hughes employs lighting to accentuate the narrative flow of exhibitions. Each light transition helps tell the story of the objects on display, making the environment an extension of the narrative. In some cases, Hughes uses dynamic lighting sequences that change over time, reflecting a thematic progression or enhancing the viewer’s emotional engagement with the exhibit.
Zerlina Hughes Notable Works: Transforming Museums and Cultural Spaces
One of the most notable aspects of Zerlina Hughes’s career has been her work in the museum and exhibition sector. Over the years, she has worked with several prestigious institutions, bringing her distinct lighting touch to cultural spaces around the world. Each of her projects is marked by a deep understanding of the emotional impact that light can have on a viewer’s perception of art and culture.
Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto at the Victoria and Albert Museum
One of her most celebrated works is the Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Hughes designed the lighting to not only enhance the garments but also to immerse visitors in the world of Coco Chanel herself. The use of soft yet focused lighting helped create an intimate atmosphere while allowing the intricate details of the fashion pieces to stand out. The design allowed the audience to experience the exhibition in a way that felt both luxurious and contemplative. This exhibition went on to be one of the museum’s most attended shows.
Raphael Court at the Victoria and Albert Museum
Another highlight of her career was the Raphael Court at the V&A. Hughes designed a lighting system that complemented the grandeur of Raphael’s iconic cartoons, while also ensuring that the pieces were lit with care and precision. The lighting design didn’t just illuminate the art; it brought the room alive, creating a rich sensory experience that felt both historical and contemporary at once.
Zerlina Hughes Innovative Approach to Sustainability
In today’s design world, sustainability is a growing concern, and Zerlina Hughes is fully committed to integrating eco-friendly practices into her designs. She embraces energy-efficient solutions without sacrificing the artistic impact of her lighting schemes. This involves using LED technology, incorporating low-energy fixtures, and ensuring that lighting systems are adaptable and long-lasting.
Hughes is also a strong advocate for reuse and repurposing. Instead of creating entirely new setups for each project, she often works with existing lighting infrastructure, upgrading and optimizing where possible. This not only helps reduce waste but also supports the circular economy, where materials and resources are used efficiently and sustainably.
Zerlina Hughes Mentorship and Leadership in the Lighting Industry
Beyond her creative work, Zerlina Hughes is known for her commitment to mentorship and leadership in the lighting design community. As a female leader in a traditionally male-dominated field, she is a powerful advocate for diversity and inclusion in the design industry. Hughes is passionate about empowering young designers, particularly women, and providing them with opportunities to thrive in the creative industry.
Her work with women in lighting has been highly influential. She has contributed to initiatives that promote the role of women in the lighting profession and ensure that the next generation of designers is given the resources and support they need to succeed. Hughes is also a frequent speaker at lighting conferences, where she shares her insights and encourages innovation among aspiring designers.
A Lasting Impact: The Future of Lighting Design
Zerlina Hughes has not only revolutionized the lighting design industry but has also left a lasting imprint on how we perceive and interact with light in everyday life. Her creative vision has set a new standard for how lighting can be used to create emotional depth, narrative richness, and spatial awareness in design.
Looking to the future, Hughes’s work will continue to inspire future generations of lighting designers to think beyond traditional concepts of lighting. With her innovative approach, she shows that light can be a tool for artistic expression, environmental responsibility, and cultural storytelling. As Studio ZNA grows and takes on new challenges, one can be sure that Zerlina Hughes will remain at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of what lighting design can achieve.
Conclusion
Zerlina Hughes is a transformative figure in the world of lighting design. Through her work at Studio ZNA, she has demonstrated that lighting is more than a technical necessity; it is a vital component of storytelling, emotion, and environmental design. Whether creating intimate experiences in a gallery, setting the mood in a retail space, or illuminating grand exhibitions, Hughes’s lighting schemes invite us to see the world in new and exciting ways. As her influence continues to grow, we can only imagine the innovative lighting solutions she will bring to the world in the years to come.