Central Saint Martins (CSM), UAL, was one of three international universities invited to take part in The Future of Light exhibition, a highlight of Zumtobel’s 75th anniversary celebration held at the Light Forum in Dornbirn, Austria.
The collaboration was embedded into the BA Product and Industrial Design (BAPID) Stage 2 curriculum as part of Unit 7: Collaborative Industry Project. Over the course of just three weeks, 12 students developed speculative, forward-thinking lighting proposals exploring how we might live and interact with light in the future.
Supported by lecturer Adrian Allen, their work was presented through a video installation in the exhibition’s “Future Zone,” receiving feedback from a panel of design and innovation experts.
This live brief was made possible through a long-standing connection: Teresa Zumtobel – a BAPID graduate who has stayed in touch with the course over the years. When the company approached CSM to join two other partner universities for this international collaboration, the timing aligned with Unit 7’s built-in industry project.
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Part of the temporary 75-year-anniversary exhibition at the Light Forum in Dornbirn, with a view of the new generation of the Zumtobel continuous-row luminaire system TECTON II, portraits of employees and the Future Lab from outside. Image courtesy of Nina Bröll.
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Originally designed for the “Lichtstadt Feldkirch 2024” festival, Sofia Hagen’s light installation Crystalline is temporarily on display at the Zumtobel Group Light Forum. Inspired by its original site at the Churer Tor, an epicentre of salt trade in Vorarlberg, “Crystalline” features a 2.7 m tall, illuminated salt crystal, accompanied by smaller crystals, all of which are crafted from recycled medical plastic waste using advanced 3D printing technology. Born in Vorarlberg, the artist, designer and architect combines sustainable materials, innovative technology and artistic expression (light: Zumtobel). Image courtesy of Nina Bröll.
While the other universities had been developing their work for several months, CSM students had just 3 weeks to respond. Still, the team embraced the pace and treated the brief as a live rehearsal for their third-year client project.
Rather than focusing purely on problem-solving, CSM’s approach encouraged students to speculate on experiences, emotions, and futures shaped by light. From nightclubs to workplaces, the proposals focused on interaction, atmosphere and wellbeing – often using light to foster more human, connected environments.
Some responded to personal or urban spaces – like the Greenwich foot tunnel in east London, reimagined with lighting that makes pedestrians feel safer and more at ease. Others developed products like a retractable office lighting fixture that converts into a quiet booth made from sound-absorbent panels, designed to create a quiet, calming space for phone calls or small meetings.
Adrian travelled to Austria to represent the course during Zumtobel’s 2-day Light Forum event in May. There, he joined an international panel discussing design education and student output across the 3 partner universities.
“We’re very different institutions – one more technical, one working under incredibly challenging political conditions,” Adrian said. “It was great to hear how others support students in developing their practices, and to see how our more experience-led, immersive approach stood out.”
The project also offered valuable professional exposure for students, who had their work reviewed by industry leaders and Zumtobel stakeholders. “It was exciting to see the final outcomes, to hear feedback from Teresa, and to witness how much students had achieved in just three weeks,” Adrian said. “They explored circularity and sustainability, but also took a more optimistic, inspiring approach to the future.”
The collaboration is highly likely to continue, with discussions underway for another project with Zumtobel next year. “It’s the kind of experience that helps our students build confidence, make global connections, and imagine what they’re capable of creating as designers.”
