PROFILE
A former professional child actor who became a fashion designer, and later pursued a lasting career in product and interior design, London-based Lee Broom is a true Renaissance man. Today, he’s best known for his sculptural lighting pieces and unique furnishings, which adorn homes the world over. Ahead of his Opticality exhibition at this year’s London Design Festival, which features numerous works from his Optical lighting collection inspired by the 1960s op-art movement, he shares how his plethora of passions have influenced his design sensibility.
WHY DID YOU WIND UP PURSUING A CAREER IN DESIGN? I’ve always been a very creative person, be it in theatre, fashion or interior design. There’s something so satisfying about producing something three-dimensional – whether it be an interior or product – that has been in your head for so long.
WHAT IS CURRENTLY INSPIRING YOU? When I have free time, I make a point of visiting art galleries; they never fail to provide inspiration. I recently visited the Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology exhibit at the Met when I was in New York, and I found that very inspiring from an art, product design and manufacturing point of view.
WHY IS LIGHTING SO CRUCIAL TO INTERIORS? The right lighting is vital to whatever outcome you’re looking for within the space. I often design my interiors to focus on the lighting first, rather than at the end – it shouldn’t be an afterthought.
WHAT’S YOUR DREAM PROJECT? I would love to design and stage a pop concert. I think it would combine many of the disciplines I have learnt over the years. I always listen to music when I’m designing – and music is a big part of my shows. I would have loved to create a show for someone like Michael Jackson or Prince.
這位前職業童星後來成了時裝設計師，再轉戰產品與室內設計界，駐倫敦的Lee Broom確實是位新世代男性。今天，他以帶雕塑式美態的燈具和獨特傢具聞名全球。本年倫敦設計節Opticality展覽便陳列出數件啟發自60年代抽象美術運動的Optical燈具系列作品，他跟我們分享自己對多界別的愛好怎樣影響其設計取向。
分享轉戰設計界的經過？舞台上、時裝或室內設計界內，我也充滿創意。製作立體作品(室內裝潢或產品也好)最教人滿足的地方就是它已在你腦內存在很久。
當下一刻，你的靈感從何來？我會在空餘時間到訪藝術館，它們總是靈感泉源。最近出席紐約Met時，我到過Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology展覽，從藝術、產品設計和生產角度看去，也非常吸引。
光線為何對室內空間如此重要？不管追求哪種效果，合適的照明也屬關鍵。設計室內裝潢時，我會首先集中處理燈光，而非待到最後才考慮。
你的夢想項目？我希望可以設計和組織一場流行演行會。這大概可應用到我多年來從各方面學過的知識。設計時我常享受音樂，佔我製成品的一大部分。要是可為米高積遜或Prince打造表演就好了。leebroom.com; ARCHETYPAL.HK
Lee Broom reveals his inspirations in our Moodboard of the Month: bit.ly/hjleebroom Lee Broom於本月靈感板分享他的豐富泉源：bit.ly/hjleebroom