An Interview with Robert Sonneman

For Robert Sonneman, founder and chief creative officer of SONNEMAN-A Way of Light, this year has been one of unexpected challenge. Yet even while navigating business in the midst of a pandemic, creativity is thriving. Sonneman built the company into a successful one by changing our perception of lighting, bringing together form and function in unexpected ways. Innovation continues to be a driving force, and it is something that Mr. Sonneman and his team are poised to deliver—at a time when the industry needs it the most.

Just as SONNEMAN-A Way of Light has continued to evolve, so has lighting itself, with the light-emitting diode, better known as the LED, at the forefront. The LED is something that we now take for granted, but the move from electric to electronic illumination was a pivotal advancement. “It was a revolutionary change. It really was like going from a candle to the first bulb. It was that dramatic,” said Sonneman. Indeed, once manufacturers adopted LED, and learned to use it effectively, lighting was transformed.

Sonneman explained that he could now fully indulge in artistic experimentation. He created pieces that had never been seen before, and thought about how a fixture could be integrated into a space. “It was a complete liberation from an aesthetic and design standpoint. The scale of everything changed. The whole idea of having to shroud a large heat element went away. That left us free to develop form, and to use different shapes. It allowed us to think differently.”

Materials used today to fabricate fixtures are chosen to create cleaner, more streamlined pieces. Brass and steel were favored in years past for more classic styles. Sonneman noted that his metal of choice is aluminum, because he appreciates its versatility. It can be found in singular lights or the systems that the company is known for. “Now, we use a lot more aluminum. We can extrude it or cast it. It gives us the very thin profile that we want.”

Ideas can come from almost anywhere, but Sonneman avoids close examination of the lighting made by other manufacturers. Pre-coronavirus, he was a regular at the trade shows in Europe to keep his pulse on trends. More often than not though, he takes in anything from an art exhibit to motorcycles. “I try not to look at lighting, which ends up being too similar. I try to bring a different exploration to it, and hopefully, I’ll get a fresh result,” he noted.

Architecture serves as Sonneman’s greatest source of inspiration, from buildings to the designers themselves. “We’ll name certain architects we’re referencing at the moment. I am a big fan of Tom Kundig, his houses are just amazing.” Even though his travel and site visits are limited for now, he still manages to find images that generate a creative spark for him—in his personal collection of books. “I have a really large architecture library that I consult,” he added.

All of these influences contribute to a contemporary line of lighting that can function in a range of interiors. “Our lighting is really designed to be set in a more modern environment,” Sonneman said. As the lines of design continue to blur (think resimercial), lighting will continue to shape our spaces.

The office is one place that is on everyone’s minds, and, how it will differ once we return.. Sonneman believes that lighting, whether for the workplace or home office, is an essential component that makes focused work with laptops or tablets easier. “With LEDs, we have the ability to adjust and vary lighting, it’s not an issue. We do need more comfortable indirect lighting, because we don’t want the direct beams on the screens.”

LEDs can also serve as mood boosters, an added benefit since we are spending more time indoors. Dimming and color tuning can be employed together or separately to create a unique emotional and visual experience. Dimming creates more or less light, while color tuning changes the appearance of the illumination. LED technology continues to be refined, and Sonneman expects that we’ll see greater improvements in the near future. “We continue to evolve the science. We continue to increase the capacity, productivity, and utilization of the LED medium.”

Scalable systems can be placed on the wall or suspended from the ceiling for flexibility. New configurations can be created as tastes shift or décor is updated, which is especially suitable in commercial spaces. Some of the newest introductions are prime examples of these popular  lighting solutions.

Cubix allows for ceiling surface mounting or suspended installation, and when the cube-shaped fixtures are grouped together they create a look that’s reminiscent of contemporary sculpture. The Coral Surface luminaire features a series of three-light modules that, when connected together, bring a sense of movement.

Hospitality lighting has always been a strong category for the company, and even though that business has slowed because of the pandemic, Sonneman is confident that there will be a robust recovery for the sector because people still want to gather in person, especially after months of connecting virtually. “When we emerge, there’s going to be a thirst for socialization. So, the hospitality industry will have shot at returning, and what we do there is highly relevant.”

There’s been a growing demand for modifications to existing fixtures already in the line. This allows designers to request changes in height or width so that a luminaire can fit perfectly in the room they are working on. “We’ll have something that an architect likes, but he wants it in a different scale, and then we build it. They want different configurations or sizes to meet a client’s needs. We’ve been doing a lot of that,”Sonneman said.

With the introduction of new systems slated for early next year, and a growing creative team, Sonneman is looking ahead with optimism. “We’re only at the very beginning of what we can do. Knowing what we are working on, and seeing what we see, I think we’re going to be able to do expansive, life-scale configurations that we previously couldn’t even consider.”

A native of California, Anna Zappia has been in New York City for more than a decade, covering a range of topics from fashion to architecture. She has written for Metropolis, Google, and Zagat. She currently serves as a contributor to Floor Trends magazine.