5 minute read
Drawing Light - A Journey from Thesis to Book
Antonia Peón-Veiga, a lighting designer and architect, has transformed her passion for visualizing light into a thought-provoking book, Drawing Light. Initially conceived as her thesis during her master’s program at Parsons School of Design, the project has evolved into a published work that explores innovative ways to represent light graphically.
The Genesis of Drawing Light
Antonia’s journey began with her architecture studies in Chile. After earning her degree, she moved to New York to complete a Master’s in Lighting Design at Parsons from 2008 to 2010. Her thesis, which earned the Parsons Thesis Prize, served as the foundation for her book. The recognition didn’t end there— Antonia was also awarded the prestigious Richard Kelly Grant to continue her research on translating luminous phenomena into visual tools.
“I always wanted the thesis to be more than a single copy in the Parsons library,” Antonia shared. “I wanted it to be a shared document—a resource for lighting designers and architects alike.”
From Idea to Publication
After returning to Chile, Antonia pursued her vision to publish the thesis independently. However, a friend suggested she collaborate with a publisher to reach a broader audience. Enter ARQ, a publisher specializing in architecture-focused academic works. Over two years, Antonia worked with the ARQ team to refine her thesis into a cohesive book, complete with new chapters and interviews with prominent lighting designers like Douglas Leonard.
The book isn’t just a reproduction of her thesis—it’s an expansion. Antonia included an appendix and fresh illustrations, exploring the intersection of light, space, and time.
A Deep Dive into the Case Studies
The book’s core lies in its four case studies, which analyze methods of representing light through the lens of botanical illustration, stage design, Cinemetrics, and music composition. Each chapter borrows the structural framework of an existing illustration or diagram, deconstructs it, and repurposes it to visualize lighting ideas.
For example, Antonia’s analysis of botanical illustrations reveals how these drawings convey the passage of time and overlay layers of information. She used this structure to represent light and its interplay with materials and spatial elements.
Similarly, Antonia drew inspiration from stage design and music composition. One striking example is her adaptation of a graphic score by composer Iannis Xenakis. In his original work, Xenakis used color-coded lines to represent musical instruments and their intensity over time. Antonia transformed this into a lighting diagram, replacing instruments with light fixtures and intensity curves with scenes of light transitions in an auditorium.
“These structures offer tools to communicate lighting concepts that are often intangible or complex,” she explained. “It’s about translating light’s interplay with time and space into something tangible.”
Academic and Professional Applications
While Drawing Light could easily serve as a textbook for lighting design programs, Antonia hopes it will also inspire professionals to think beyond conventional representation techniques. The book challenges designers to use drawings not just as presentations but as tools for ideation and exploration.
“I want this book to open up discussions about how we represent light graphically,” Antonia noted. “It’s not just about creating visually pleasing drawings—it’s about pushing boundaries and enhancing our understanding of light’s complexities.”
The Challenge of Distribution
The physical copy of Drawing Light is currently available through ARQ, and an online PDF version is also accessible. The PDF is part of ARQ+, an online platform featuring a vast collection of books and magazines. The annual subscription to ARQ+ is $30.00 for regular users and $15.00 for students. While Amazon might seem like an obvious choice for distribution, Antonia opted for a publisher closely tied to architecture and academia.
“Amazon isn’t as prominent in Chile as it is elsewhere,” she explained. “By working with ARQ, I’m able to position the book in schools and universities where lighting design is studied.”
The Importance of Collaboration
Antonia credits much of her success to her education at Parsons and her professional experiences. After completing her master’s, she spent two years working with Suzan Tillotson, a globally renowned lighting designer. Though Antonia eventually returned to Chile to fulfill a scholarship requirement, she maintains a close relationship with Tillotson and other mentors.
Reflecting on her time at Parsons, Antonia expressed gratitude for professors like Craig Bernecker and, more recently, Glenn Shrum, who invited her to present her work at a lecture series. These connections have been instrumental in her growth as a designer and author.
Looking Ahead
Antonia continues to push the boundaries of lighting design. She’s currently exploring performance lighting, collaborating with her sister, a choreographer, to create dynamic stage environments.
When asked about her long-term goals, she said, “I hope this book sparks new ways of thinking about light. I want it to be a starting point for others to develop their own tools and methods for representing lighting ideas.”
For lighting designers, architects, and anyone fascinated by the art of light, Antonia Peón-Veiga’s Drawing Light offers an invaluable resource that combines academic rigor with creative exploration. It’s a testament to her passion for lighting design and her commitment to sharing knowledge with the global design community.
Purchase the book here: https://edicionesarq.com/ Drawing-Light ■
