“So, how did you decide to become a lighting designer? Can you talk about it?”
Honestly, there wasn’t a single moment where I sat down and made a big decision like, “This is it.” From the moment I first got involved with theatre, I was drawn to it. I loved the idea of working with a group of talented people to create something big together. That sense of collaboration and creativity just pulled me in.
For me, the reason I’ve been able to stick with this job comes down to two things: I love it, and I’m good at it.
Even from a young age, I realized I can’t force myself to do things I don’t enjoy. In high school, I really struggled and suffered through subjects I wasn’t interested in. But when something genuinely fascinates me and triggers my curiosity, I’ll give it my all: time, energy, attention, I am completely immersed, and enjoy every minute of it.
I’m someone who thrives on creating. I hate repetitive tasks that feel pointless. To me, creativity is a human instinct. Other types of work mostly serve survival, and they keep the social machine running.
Looking back, even though I never made some dramatic declaration like “I’ll never do a job I don’t love,” my subconscious made those choices for me. Every time I had to make a decision, I always prioritized passion over money or practicality.
And so far, I can honestly say I’ve never worked outside of what I truly love.
I realized that since we spend most of our waking hours working, I have to choose something that brings me joy. Otherwise, I’d have to squeeze all my happiness into the few hours after work, and that’s not the life I want.
The first time I saw a lighting design done by Andrew Pye at school, I was amazed. It was magical. I tried it myself and found that not only could I do it, I was actually good at it. And from that moment, I just kept going down this path.
Unlike some other designers, I firmly believe that design can be learned.
Some people think design is all about talent, and yes, to be world-class, talent matters. But to reach a professional level and make a career out of it? That knowledge can absolutely be studied, shared, and taught.
It’s exactly because of this belief that I started writing about lighting design, to share what I’ve learned and let more people know that lighting design isn’t something distant or unreachable. It can be taught, learned, and mastered.
This is the genuine mindset that’s guided me all along.
So maybe one day, I’ll become a teacher and share the philosophy that’s guided me all this way.