Andrea Mantello is an architect and lighting designer based in Brussels. With over two decades of experience, he sees lighting as a creative and storytelling tool, not just a technical element. His approach has been shaped by collaborations with artists and architects in cities such as Turin, Berlin, and Helsinki.
In 2014, he founded DERA.lighting, a multidisciplinary studio working with architecture, renovation, product design, and urban lighting masterplans.
His approach to lighting and space is captured by a phrase shared with him by the artist/architect Zvi Hecker: “an artist may not always know where the process leads but must execute every step with precision”.
Andrea first joined Lights in Alingsås as a Workshop Head in 2011. He describes it as an intense and inspiring experience built on collaboration and rapid learning. Returning to Alingsås as a Workshop Head again is a dream come true.
Andrea Mantello, based in Belgium. Team with Giusy Gallina
Andrea Mantello is an architect and lighting designer based in Brussels. With over two decades of experience, he sees lighting as a creative and storytelling tool, not just a technical element. His approach has been shaped by collaborations with artists and architects in cities such as Turin, Berlin, and Helsinki.
In 2014, he founded DERA.lighting, a multidisciplinary studio working with architecture, renovation, product design, and urban lighting masterplans.
His approach to lighting and space is captured by a phrase shared with him by the artist/architect Zvi Hecker: “an artist may not always know where the process leads but must execute every step with precision”.
Andrea first joined Lights in Alingsås as a Workshop Head in 2011. He describes it as an intense and inspiring experience built on collaboration and rapid learning. Returning to Alingsås as a Workshop Head again is a dream come true.
Giusy Gallina is an independent architectural lighting designer with over 25 years of experience. She has worked on cultural, architectural, and landscape projects across Europe and the Middle East. Her work focuses on dynamic lighting systems and creating natural, atmospheric environments inspired by daylight.
In 2024, she joined DERA.lighting as Partner and Technical Director.
Giusy is also active in the professional community. She serves as Scientific Advisor to the Order of Architects of Turin and participates in Women in Lighting initiatives.
She applied to be a Workshop Head at Lights in Alingsås to support professional education and cultural exchange and looks forward to mentoring young designers in a creative, hands-on environment.
Giusy Gallina, based in Italy. Team with Andrea Mantello
Giusy Gallina is an independent architectural lighting designer with over 25 years of experience. She has worked on cultural, architectural, and landscape projects across Europe and the Middle East. Her work focuses on dynamic lighting systems and creating natural, atmospheric environments inspired by daylight.
In 2024, she joined DERA.lighting as Partner and Technical Director.
Giusy is also active in the professional community. She serves as Scientific Advisor to the Order of Architects of Turin and participates in Women in Lighting initiatives.
She applied to be a Workshop Head at Lights in Alingsås to support professional education and cultural exchange and looks forward to mentoring young designers in a creative, hands-on environment.
Shoshanna Segal is a Principal at Hartranft Lighting Studios in New York and an architectural lighting designer who uses light to shape atmosphere, supports equity and accessibility, and creates environments that feel grounded, legible, and human.
Shoshanna is among the first lighting professionals worldwide to earn the Certified Lighting Designer (CLD) credential and recently completed her term as President of the IES New York City Section.
While much of her professional practice is decentralized, she values in-person collaboration as a powerful complement, particularly in workshop settings where ideas are tested through shared observation, hands-on making, and real-time exchange.
As a mentor, she encourages students to test ideas, ask better questions, and understand how design intent is shaped through collaboration and implementation.
Shoshanna believes that “Light becomes most powerful when it’s treated not as a solution, but as a conversation—between place, people, and intention.”
“Lights in Alingsås offers a rare opportunity to step outside familiar professional structures and into a setting where experimentation, collaboration, cultural exchange, and artistic exploration are essential. It is the kind of environment that invites boldness, curiosity, and a return to the fundamentals of why we design with light in the first place”, Shoshanna says.
Shoshanna Segal, based in the USA
Shoshanna Segal is a Principal at Hartranft Lighting Studios in New York and an architectural lighting designer who uses light to shape atmosphere, supports equity and accessibility, and creates environments that feel grounded, legible, and human.
Shoshanna is among the first lighting professionals worldwide to earn the Certified Lighting Designer (CLD) credential and recently completed her term as President of the IES New York City Section.
While much of her professional practice is decentralized, she values in-person collaboration as a powerful complement, particularly in workshop settings where ideas are tested through shared observation, hands-on making, and real-time exchange.
As a mentor, she encourages students to test ideas, ask better questions, and understand how design intent is shaped through collaboration and implementation.
Shoshanna believes that “Light becomes most powerful when it’s treated not as a solution, but as a conversation—between place, people, and intention.”
“Lights in Alingsås offers a rare opportunity to step outside familiar professional structures and into a setting where experimentation, collaboration, cultural exchange, and artistic exploration are essential. It is the kind of environment that invites boldness, curiosity, and a return to the fundamentals of why we design with light in the first place”, Shoshanna says.
Jose Cardon, born in Barcelona, is a lighting designer with more than 24 years of experience. He is Director of Artec Studio’s Mexico office, an award-winning lighting design practice that has worked with leading architects such as David Chipperfield, Renzo Piano, Zaha Hadid, and Jean Nouvel.
Jose has also had a long academic career. He has taught lighting design in Barcelona and has been Academic Director of the Postgraduate Program in Lighting Design (UPC and Arquine, Mexico City) for over 12 years. He regularly gives lectures and takes part in international lighting discussions.
He has known about the Alingsås Workshop since 2002 but never attended as a student. In recent years, he has sent top students from the UPC postgraduate program in Mexico to participate. Encouraged by his students, he has now decided to join as a Workshop Head for the first time — with great enthusiasm.
Jose Cardona, based in Mexico
Jose Cardon, born in Barcelona, is a lighting designer with more than 24 years of experience. He is Director of Artec Studio’s Mexico office, an award-winning lighting design practice that has worked with leading architects such as David Chipperfield, Renzo Piano, Zaha Hadid, and Jean Nouvel.
Jose has also had a long academic career. He has taught lighting design in Barcelona and has been Academic Director of the Postgraduate Program in Lighting Design (UPC and Arquine, Mexico City) for over 12 years. He regularly gives lectures and takes part in international lighting discussions.
He has known about the Alingsås Workshop since 2002 but never attended as a student. In recent years, he has sent top students from the UPC postgraduate program in Mexico to participate. Encouraged by his students, he has now decided to join as a Workshop Head for the first time — with great enthusiasm.
Randall Fisher is based in Seattle, where he works as Principal Lighting Designer at NBBJ, a global architecture and design firm.
With more than 29 years of experience, he has completed over 300 projects in 25 U.S. states and 13 countries, across healthcare, cultural, educational, civic, workplace, and commercial sectors. Always with a focus on how light shapes emotion and experience.
He has received 21 lighting awards, including the IALD Radiance Award for Excellence in Lighting Design in 2024.
Mentorship and education are central to his practice. At NBBJ he leads the integrated lighting studio, guiding a diverse team of designers through the full journey from concept sketches to the built projects.
This year Randall joins as a Workshop Head. He looks forward to creating a memorable light installation together with the participants. Although he has travelled to Nordic countries four times in the last ten years, this will be his first visit to Alingsås.
Randall Fisher, based in the USA
Randall Fisher is based in Seattle, where he works as Principal Lighting Designer at NBBJ, a global architecture and design firm.
With more than 29 years of experience, he has completed over 300 projects in 25 U.S. states and 13 countries, across healthcare, cultural, educational, civic, workplace, and commercial sectors. Always with a focus on how light shapes emotion and experience.
He has received 21 lighting awards, including the IALD Radiance Award for Excellence in Lighting Design in 2024.
Mentorship and education are central to his practice. At NBBJ he leads the integrated lighting studio, guiding a diverse team of designers through the full journey from concept sketches to the built projects.
This year Randall joins as a Workshop Head. He looks forward to creating a memorable light installation together with the participants. Although he has travelled to Nordic countries four times in the last ten years, this will be his first visit to Alingsås.
Stephan Horn has nearly 30 years of experience in lighting design and light art. He has created both permanent and temporary installations, from private homes to large urban and facade projects, as well as custom-designed luminaires and festival installations.
He studied architecture in Mendrisio, Switzerland. After his studies, he focused on lighting design, working with BDP in Manchester before founding his own studio, o-pium lighting, near Frankfurt in 2006.
Stephan has participated in many international exhibitions and lighting events and has worked on projects ranging from historic castles to major developments like “Four Frankfurt.” He is also involved in the World Design Capital Frankfurt 2026.
Since 2008, he has taught lighting design at universities in Germany and internationally, always ending his courses with hands-on workshops.
He first visited Lights in Alingsås in 2013 and immediately saw its importance. He is now proud to join as a Workshop Head and looks forward to sharing his knowledge and experience.
Stephan Horn, based in Germany
Stephan Horn has nearly 30 years of experience in lighting design and light art. He has created both permanent and temporary installations, from private homes to large urban and facade projects, as well as custom-designed luminaires and festival installations.
He studied architecture in Mendrisio, Switzerland. After his studies, he focused on lighting design, working with BDP in Manchester before founding his own studio, o-pium lighting, near Frankfurt in 2006.
Stephan has participated in many international exhibitions and lighting events and has worked on projects ranging from historic castles to major developments like “Four Frankfurt.” He is also involved in the World Design Capital Frankfurt 2026.
Since 2008, he has taught lighting design at universities in Germany and internationally, always ending his courses with hands-on workshops.
He first visited Lights in Alingsås in 2013 and immediately saw its importance. He is now proud to join as a Workshop Head and looks forward to sharing his knowledge and experience.
Mariliis Kundla is a M.Sc. architectural lighting designer and audiovisual artist from Estonia. Besides working daily with technical architectural projects, Mariliis has a background of spatial design and audiovisual media which she uses to create light art installations. Mariliis’ work is focused on the human senses, combining light with sound and scent, as well as exploration of natural light phenomena. She has contributed to several international light festivals with light installations, stage and festival scenography.
Alongside her design practice, Mariliis actively contributes to the development of the professional lighting field and seeks to strengthen the dialogue between research, professional practice and emerging designers. She is a board member of Estonian Association of Designers.
After living and working in Copenhagen for seven years, Mariliis is now based in Estonia where she co-founded Aether Lighting Design (2023). Mariliis has led architectural lighting workshops and been involved in Copenhagen Light Festival for five consecutive years as both artist and curator. She is now looking forward to further developing her skills as a light art workshop leader at Alingsås.
Mariliis Kundla, based in Estonia
Mariliis Kundla is a M.Sc. architectural lighting designer and audiovisual artist from Estonia. Besides working daily with technical architectural projects, Mariliis has a background of spatial design and audiovisual media which she uses to create light art installations. Mariliis’ work is focused on the human senses, combining light with sound and scent, as well as exploration of natural light phenomena. She has contributed to several international light festivals with light installations, stage and festival scenography.
Alongside her design practice, Mariliis actively contributes to the development of the professional lighting field and seeks to strengthen the dialogue between research, professional practice and emerging designers. She is a board member of Estonian Association of Designers.
After living and working in Copenhagen for seven years, Mariliis is now based in Estonia where she co-founded Aether Lighting Design (2023). Mariliis has led architectural lighting workshops and been involved in Copenhagen Light Festival for five consecutive years as both artist and curator. She is now looking forward to further developing her skills as a light art workshop leader at Alingsås.
