38 - Martin van Koolbergen, Partner at KGM Architectural Lighting (NYC)

“You just have to surround yourself with the best people you possibly have, and empower them with the knowledge we have (…) and so you are never afraid if somebody in your team will surpasses you — you want them to. We constantly tell our project architects or designers, ‘We want the client calling you.’ That’s the next succession. If they are calling you for a commission, that’s a wonderful thing. We are not afraid when that happens.” – Dave McCarrollToday, I’m speaking with Dave McCarroll, one of the founding partners — and the “M” in KGM Architectural Lighting (Kaplan, Gehring, McCarroll).KGM is a multidisciplinary lighting design studio with offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta. Since the mid-1980s, they’ve been crafting lighting that elevates architecture — thoughtful, technically sharp, and deeply human. Their portfolio spans casinos, stadiums, cultural landmarks, interiors, residential, and commercial projects, across a wide range of scales and geographies.As a founding force behind the firm, Dave has shaped not only KGM’s design legacy but also its business philosophy — grounded in trust, transparency, and a commitment to education that fuels team growth and expertise.In this episode, Dave shares:Stories from KGM’s early daysHow the firm evolved and expandedThe art of building something that lastsInsights on mentorship and leadershipStrategies for scaling creative teamsPreparing the next generation of designers and leadersWelcoming new partners while preserving the firm’s values and legacyIt’s an inspiring conversation about vision, culture, and the lasting impact of great leadership.Enjoy my conversation with Dave McCarroll.---The Light Lounge was founded as an art project by Thomas Mnich in 2018, me interviewing and talking with the most brilliant and creative lighting designers in the world. To learn from them and to get inspired by the stories they share. Please let me know if you have any questions and feel free to contact me via ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

"Its up to you to try something in order to improve yourself - it reinforces the notion that failure isn't the end of everything." - Martin Van KoolbergenIn this episode, I’m joined by Martin van Koolbergen, partner at KGM Architectural Lighting and head of KGM’s New York office.KGM — short for Kaplan, Gehring, McCarroll — is a multidisciplinary lighting design firm with studios in Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta. Since the mid-1980s, they’ve been creating transformative lighting designs for spaces across the globe.Martin joined KGM in 2000 after working as a licensed architect, a background that deeply shapes his approach to lighting. Over his career, he’s led projects in more than 20 countries and has been instrumental in building KGM’s reputation in stadium and sports entertainment lighting.Our conversation covers:Career growth and mentorshipScaling creative teamsSuccession planning in design firmsThe role of travel in expanding creative perspectiveBuilding a studio culture centered on collaboration and curiosityHow mentoring builds confidence, capability, and trustIt’s a wide-ranging and insightful discussion, full of wisdom on leadership, design, and the future of the profession.Please enjoy my conversation with Martin van Koolbergen.---The Light Lounge was founded as an art project by Thomas Mnich in 2018, me interviewing and talking with the most brilliant and creative lighting designers in the world. To learn from them and to get inspired by the stories they share. Please let me know if you have any questions and feel free to contact me via ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠. 

“When I started there, I didn’t know what I was doing. I had some idea what I liked and what I thought lighting design was about… but I didn’t really have people watching over me to help. It was kind of working a bit in the dark and fighting my way.” — Stephen MarguliesToday, Stephen Margulies is widely recognized as one of the leading figures in architectural lighting design—with over 35+ years of experience as an award-winning designer, firm founder, and gifted storyteller, he has touched countless projects, peoples lives with light, and mentored countless individuals. I’ve always admired One-Lux Studio. Years ago, I even applied for an internship (spoiler: I didn’t get it 😅). But since then, I’ve only heard amazing things about their culture, design excellence, and Stephen’s extraordinary ability to communicate and lead. After some overlapping educational engagements, we finally sat down for a conversation.Here the top 5 learnings I drew out for myself: 💡 Get ahead of project challenges — anticipate challenges before they happen and prepare. The best leaders don’t wait for issues to escalate.🤝 Manage client relationships by leaning into challenges — loyalty is earned not when things are easy, but when you step up and help fix problems.🔄 Do the right thing even when it feels small — today’s small choices often become tomorrow’s defining moments.🎯 Be selective and clear on your targets — success comes from focusing on the right clients and opportunities, not trying to be everything to everyone.🏢 Managing the business is life — building and leading a design practice is an ongoing, evolving journey, not just a job.If this conversation sparks your curiosity, give it a listen—and I’d love to hear your takeaways. There’s so much more wisdom packed into this episode, thanks to Stephen’s experience and insights.If you’d like to learn more about One-Lux Studio, Stephen Margulies, and his partners Jack Bailey, IALD, IES, LC, LEED AP and Fernando Soler, visit 👉 oneluxstudio.com---The Light Lounge was founded as an art project by Thomas Mnich in 2018, me interviewing and talking with the most brilliant and creative lighting designers in the world. To learn from them and to get inspired by the stories they share. Please let me know if you have any questions and feel free to contact me via ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠. 

Golsana Heshmati is an architect, lighting designer, and educator who founded The SEED (Studio of Embodied Experience Design), a women-owned lighting design studio based in New York City. With a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a Master’s in Architectural Lighting from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work. Before establishing The SEED, Heshmati held positions at firms such as HLB Lighting Design, Callison Architects, and AGF in San Francisco, as well as working with design studios in Barcelona. She is also a professor at Parsons School of Design, Pratt Institute, and the New York School of Interior Design. Recognized as one of the “40 Under 40” top lighting design talents in 2017, she continues to contribute to the field through her involvement with the Illuminating Engineering Society’s education committee and as a jury member for the International Association of Lighting Designers’ awards program. Please enjoy, get inspired and learn, listening to the conversation I had with Golsana Heshmati, Founder The SEED.The Light Lounge was founded as an art project by Thomas Mnich in 2018, me interviewing and talking with the most brilliant and creative lighting designers in the world. To learn from them and to get inspired by the stories they share. Please let me know if you have any questions and feel free to contact me via ⁠LinkedIn⁠ or ⁠Instagram⁠. 

Charles Foster is a Senior Director at Lightswitch and one of the key leaders at Lightswitch’ NYC office location. With decades of experience in lighting design across the globe, Charles has built a distinguished career with a diverse portfolio that spans event, entertainment, and architectural lighting design. He graduated summa cum laude from Francis Marion University with a B.A. in Theatre Design & Technology, and further advanced his expertise with a Master of Fine Arts in Lighting Design from Boston University. Charles’s exceptional talent quickly earned him recognition as a sought-after designer. His guiding philosophy—that successful lighting design starts with a deep understanding of the end-user—has solidified his reputation for delivering outstanding results and exceeding client expectations. Charles and I first connected through a project in NYC, and now we sit down for an in-depth conversation on lighting design, intention, project priorities, authenticity, and commitment.  Please enjoy, get inspired and learn, listening to the conversation I had with Charles Foster, senior director of LightSwitch.  The Light Lounge was founded as an art project by Thomas Mnich in 2018, me interviewing and talking with the most brilliant and creative lighting designers in the world. To learn from them and to get inspired by the stories they share. Please let me know if you have any questions and feel free to contact me via LinkedIn or Instagram. 

Shilpa Suresh is a Senior Associate at the prestigious Rockwell Group, an award-winning, interdisciplinary architecture, interior, lighting - and design firm specializing in hospitality, culture, healthcare, education, and many more fields.  Shilpa holds a BA in Architecture and a Master’s in Fine Arts in Interior Design from Parsons New York, where we first met. This conversation is particularly relevant as Shilpa’s expertise spans interior design, architecture, and lighting design. In addition to leading her own team of ten talented designers, Shilpa dedicates her after-hours to running a mentorship program for students entering the design industry.  In our discussion, we delve into her upbringing in India, her journey to New York City, and her experiences as a female person of color in the design industry. We explore how her immigrant background has shaped her unique design perspective. Please enjoy this enriching 🎙️ conversation with Shilpa Suresh. ... The Light Lounge was founded as an art project by Thomas Mnich in 2018, interviewing and talking with the most brilliant and creative lighting designers in the world. To learn from them and to get inspired by the stories they share. Please let me know if you have any questions and feel free to contact me via ⁠LinkedIn⁠ or ⁠Instagram⁠. 

"That was an art project, for me it was very important, but also the reaction of the people was amazing, because everyone was very intrigued about the project. This idea, to have an element, that brings you to think about something else." Gabriele Negro "I highly admire people who have an idea, an obsession, particularly one friend who is a film director, he talks over and over about this idea, until you are into the idea and then he makes a movie. Wow! That kind of mental process, I love that type of conversation, when people are obsessed with ideas.", Paola Pietrantoni This week on Light Lounge, I had the pleasure of speaking with the dynamic co-founders of Studio Atomic, Paola Pietrantoni and Gabriele Negro. Our conversation took place in their vibrant lighting design studio in Dumbo, New York City, where I experienced their hospitality, creativity, and boundless energy firsthand. Paola and Gabriele shared their incredible journeys, their passion for design, and the importance of friends, mentors, and connecting with people. We delved into their love for objects, writers, filmmakers, color, fashion, and how bringing diverse expertise together fuels their inspiration. Please find their website here: https://studioatomic.net/ Tune in to this inspiring episode to learn from these creative powerhouses and be inspired by their stories and insights. The Light Lounge was founded as an art project by Thomas Mnich in 2018, me interviewing and talking with the most brilliant and creative lighting designers in the world. To learn from them and to get inspired by the stories they share. Please let me know if you have any questions and feel free to contact me via LinkedIn or Instagram. 

"We all have ideas that come because we are social beings and in our exchange about ideas we all profit more than hiding anything (...) There is a lot of magic and if we know about it as the experts for light we can do a lot of magic." In this weeks Light Lounge I speak with Ulrike Brandi. Ulrike is one of the most prolific lighting designers in the world, leads her own practice Ulrike Brandi Licht GmbH in Hamburg Germany and works on the most prestigious project all over the world. On her way to the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) conference in Banff at the end of last year, Ulrike stopped by in New York City for a wonderful conversation. She shared exclusive insights from her recently launched book: ‘Light Nature Architecture: A Guide to Holistic Lighting Design’ (published by Birkhäuser), which is available now. This comprehensive guide not only reflects her beliefs, experiences, and enthusiasm for light and lighting design, but also delves into the most relevant topics in the field today. Reading through the book, personally I think it is providing a lot value, thoughts, ideas and knowledge for anyone interested in light, at all levels.  I felt our conversation was both enlightening and inspiring, covering beautiful personal stories and a wide range of important themes, including nature, culture, sustainability, health, atmosphere, magic and much more. And as always the value of good design and excellence in lighting design. The book is a reference work and source of inspiration for professional planners, architects as well as laypeople. Available in English and German (Light Nature Architecture, ISBN 9783035624083) - available anywhere you can get books. The Light Lounge podcast was founded in 2018 as an art project, me interviewing and talking with the best lighting designers in the world, to learn from them and get inspired by their stories. In this episode: Ulrike Brandi.

Howard Brandston was one of the most influential lighting designers to have ever lived. He founded the world-renowned Howard Brandston Lighting Design practice in 1965 and was a founding member of the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) in 1969. His impact on our field was immense. The podcast interview with Howard Brandston is online now, ready for you to listen to and be inspired by one of the most influential lighting designers in the world. Rest in peace, Howard. The Light Lounge podcast was founded in 2019, as an art project, me interviewing and talking with the best lighting designers in the world, to learn from them and get inspired by their stories.

Live from the IALD Enlighten 2019 Conference in Albuquerque. Please say hi if you are here! Looking forwrad to see you very soon! Best Thomas