Your Interview Seyma Kilic
Seyma Kilic
Designer, Architect
Turkey
Introduce yourself (name, company, position, country) and tell us how you got into lighting design (including education/qualifications).
My name is Seyma Kilic. I am the design director of the Human Centric Lighting Department at LAMP 83.
I graduated in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in Architecture from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University based in Istanbul. While doing a design internship in Milan, I looked for a design master's program. Politecnico di Milano's Lighting Design and Technologies masters program excited me. Because light is life, and as maestro, Le Corbusier said, "there is no architecture without light".
In 2019 September, I started the program. Attending this program was one of the milestones of my career. After getting my master's degree, I worked in Milan for three years in two different lighting companies. Then I returned to Istanbul as a Lighting designer at an independent lighting design studio. Since 2019 October, I have been working at LAMP 83 as Human Centric Lighting design director.
After more than ten years, I feel happy about my decision when I look back.
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?
During my LAMP 83 orientation training, I was introduced to Human-Centric Lighting. As I deepened my research on the biological and psychological effects of light on the human body, I realized that it was not the right approach to do lighting design only on the visual effects of light.
Light is a factor that can directly affect our hormonal balance, circadian rhythm, mood, and success at school or work and trigger many disorders we suffer. For this reason, we established the Human-Centric Lighting department in November 2021 to develop healthy and comfortable lighting projects following the Well building standards. Where the biological and psychological effects of light are also taken into account. I design healthy illuminated spaces with the data we obtain by investigating the answer to the question of how we can provide healthy lighting without disturbing our natural hormonal cycle and circadian rhythm. That is, without experiencing a kind of jet lag, mainly in interior areas where we spend 90% of our time, such as offices, hospitals and educational institutions.
What project are you most proud of and why?
Developing environmentally friendly and sustainable projects that offer healthier environments to people is the proudest part of my profession. I am thrilled to be able to make a positive contribution to human health while making enjoyable designs that provide visual comfort on the one hand.
Our profession requires being intertwined with design, physics, biology and medical sciences.
The most challenging and proudest work for me is the Human-Centering Lighting projects that we do in the pediatric and newborn units of the hospitals. Although it is psychologically challenging for us to see newborns and children in hospital beds rather than playing in the parks, being able to contribute positively to their treatment processes is priceless. Improving the intensive care units' lighting conditions, helping the patients to be able to sleep more comfortably and healthily at night, allows me to hold on to my profession even more tightly and enjoy it more.
My second impressive proud project was The Venice Architecture Biennale Turkish pavilion project. I was involved as a lighting designer (ZKLD) in 2016, one of the most exciting projects of my professional life. In the project, which emphasizes the shared cultural and architectural heritage between the shipyard cities of Venice and Istanbul, a ship was built from 560 pieces, collecting old ship parts from two shipyards in Istanbul. Each piece was determined to highlight or left in the shadows, and the lighting fixtures were directed one by one to get the best visual effect. The result of the fieldwork that lasted day and night for days was fascinating and proud.
How does light inspire you?
In the right light, and at the right time everything is extraordinary. (Aaron Rose)
What is your message for other Women In Lighting?
I am delighted to be a part of such a community with all my colleagues who are devoted to light. I hope to be together more and share more experiences in the future. Sending my love to all the beautiful women who light up our world.
“I am delighted to be a part of such a community with all my colleagues who are devoted to light. I hope to be together more and share more experiences in the future. Sending my love to all the beautiful women who light up our world.”
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