Interview Jonathan Speirs
Experience is as critical as
education in learning the
art of lighting design, says
Jonathan Speirs.
Jonathan Speirs

CV
BSc (Hons); Dip.Arch;
RIBA; ARIAS; ELDA;
FRSA; Hon. FSLL.
Jonathan Speirs trained
as an architect and
developed a passion for
working with light and
form early in his career.
He co-founded Lighting
Design Partnership in
1984. In June 1992 he
left to form Jonathan
Speirs and Associates
> art, it is a science, but I heavily weight everything on have a good electrical engineer as part of the team that
in Edinburgh. In 1993
he formed a working
the art side. I do not believe that lighting design is a delivers the great lighting. But there doesn’t seem to be
association with Mark number-crunching process, and the spaces we have that much passion felt from that side of things.’
Major which developed
which have been number-crunched don’t necessarily Another aspect of the problem, according to Speirs,
into Speirs and Major –
the London studio of the
provide a beautiful visual picture or necessarily a place is how graduates are told they are fully fledged lighting
Lighting Architects Group. where people want to inhabit.’ designers when they leave their lighting design
Speirs and Major
Speirs carries a camera everywhere and says he is a school, despite having no experience or track record.
Associates was formed sponge that soaks up everything around him: ‘I tend In order to try and combat this problem, Speirs and
from the merger of the
to design by walking around the building that’s not Morgan Associates train and educate their young
two companies in 2003.
been built yet in my head, and I walk round and turn lighters by providing a number of small projects for
Speirs has won a number
the lights on, one at a time. I find that, for me, is a very them to work on in their own studios, in London and
of international and
national lighting awards
good way of changing designs and adjusting things.’ Edinburgh.
including the Lighting He firmly believes that experience is as critical Somewhat controversially, Speirs admits that in
Dimensions International
as education in learning the art of lighting design, the real world, perhaps lighting designers shouldn’t
Architectural Lighting
Designer of the Year
particularly now that the amount and scale of projects exist at all. But what architects learn about lighting in
Award in 1997. has changed so dramatically. In the early 1980s the staple architecture isn’t inspiring enough for most of them to
He lectures widely on
of a lighting designer’s work came from office reception take it forward in their own buildings, admits Speirs:
lighting design around areas, pubs, small restaurants or car showrooms. Now, ‘Leading architects are never going to be the lighting
the world and is actively
a novice designer’s first job is likely to be a massive designer.The point is, the person who is trying to control
involved in lighting
education. He is a
multi-billion dollar development, which Speirs fears the overall vision should be the person who is originating
Corporate Member of poses a real dilemma for the industry: ‘The profession the idea. As that’s not going to happen, there absolutely
the Royal Institute of
isn’t ready in terms of the amount of work clients are should be a lighting designer working alongside the
British Architects, the
Royal Incorporation of
expecting creatively and in terms of experience. architect. After all, all we see is reflected light.’
Architects in Scotland and ‘It’s hard for us to make sure that there’s an His personal aim now is to encourage the designers
the European Association
intelligent historic reference for these designers to in his own studios to greater heights, while doing the
of Lighting Designers.
He is also a Fellow of the
lean upon and to help their thinking processes on best job they can for their client and ‘having as much
Royal Society of Arts and these massive projects. It’s tricky. It’s down to us, in fun as possible’, declares Speirs: ‘If you don’t love it,
an Honorary Fellow of
terms of leading the teams, to actually make sure that you shouldn’t be in this profession – it’s a passion.’ l
the Society of Light and
Lighting.
happens.’ He adds: ‘While we might be leading the For more information about the Society of Light and
lighting design aspect, we need to work well with and Lighting, visit www.sll.org.uk
40 CIBSE Journal January 2010 www.cibsejournal.com
Cibsejan10 pp38-40-interview-speirs.indd 40 18/12/09 12:41:38
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