Your Interview Nazanin Bahmani

Introduce yourself (name, company, position, country) and tell us how you got into lighting design (including education/qualifications).

Hi, I’m Nazanin Bahmani, an architectural lighting professional based in Toronto, Canada. I’ve worked across various parts of the lighting industry; from agency and manufacturer-side sales to design consulting and education.

My journey started with a passion for design, but it was light that truly caught my attention. The moment I realized lighting could shape not just a space but a feeling, that’s when I knew I had found my path. Over the years, I’ve built my career around empowering and advocating for the design community with tools, knowledge, and better access to lighting solutions.

Currently, I run The Light Menu, a platform that aims to connect specifiers with trusted lighting products through consulting, education, and product research support. I’m the founder and past president of the IES Waterloo Section, and I run Light Has Weight, a slow, thoughtful content initiative that highlights meaningful conversations around lighting, design practice, and industry evolution.

Tell us about your work – is there a specific type of project you like to work on or an area you specialise in and why?

My work blends technical knowledge with storytelling. I consult on lighting and controls for architectural projects, guiding designers toward the right tools for their creative and performance goals.

I work with manufacturers to grow their brand visibility and educate the market on innovative solutions, while helping designers navigate specification challenges in a way that feels human, collaborative, and clear.

On any given day, you’ll find me deep in product demonstration, running discovery calls with design teams, or building educational tools that simplify the complex language of lighting. My focus is always on connection & collaboration; between the creative vision and the right solution, between brand and specifier, and between people and purpose.

What project are you most proud of and why?

One of my proudest accomplishments was founding the IES Waterloo Section. There was no formal lighting community in our region, and I felt strongly that one needed to exist; not just for networking, but to elevate education and give lighting professionals a local voice.

Building it from scratch, finding early supporters, running programming, and serving as its first president was a crash course in leadership and community building. It reminded me that the industry we want doesn’t build itself; it takes committed people showing up and say, “We need this.”

That experience sparked a deeper sense of purpose in me, and continues to influence how I show up in every aspect of my work.

What is the biggest challenge that you have overcome in your career?

The biggest challenge has been creating space where none existed, and doing so as a woman of colour and an immigrant in a male-dominated industry.

There were moments early on where I felt unseen, or underestimated. And while I was fortunate to have some incredible mentors and allies, I often had to advocate for my own value and carve out a voice in rooms that weren’t always designed for me.

That experience taught me how to lead with clarity and compassion. It’s also what drives me to create and be a part of inclusive communities like Women in Lighting Canada, where others don’t have to go it alone.

How does light inspire you?

To me, light is language. It speaks without words and can transform an experience completely.

It’s the warmth that welcomes you into a space. The softness that calms. The focus that empowers work. The story that unfolds in a room without needing to be explained.

What inspires me most is how personal and universal light can be at the same time. It’s a tool, a metaphor, and a muse, and that’s why I never tire of working with it.

What is your message for other Women In Lighting?

We are no longer just part of the story… we’re shaping it.

So keep going. Whether you’re just getting started or deep in the thick of it, your presence is powerful. Make noise. Ask better questions. Pull other women forward with you; a candle doesn't lose any light by lighting another.

And don’t forget: you belong here! Not because you’ve earned it more than others, but because your perspective is essential to how our industry evolves.