We recently connected with Claudia Kappl-Joy and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Claudia, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I have been asked about my discipline of showing up daily, and for putting in the work and time before. Often, I had attributed this attitude to my upbringing, family values and cultural background. Recently and after watching a documentary, where another Austrian (by heritage) responded to a similar question about motivation and work ethic by quoting his mother, saying: ‘make yourself useful’.
This strongly resonates, and I believe work ethic can be understood as a commitment to making one-self useful and making most of one’s time by making it worthwhile.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am an Austrian transplant living and working in the Sonoran Desert. 10+ years ago I co-found the Lighting and Interior Design Consultancy Studio, CLL . Concept Lighting Lab, LLC, based in Tucson, Arizona, where I passionately lead our international team of lighting, interior designers and project managers on a variety of projects.
As architectural lighting designers we support a project, designer or client need; ensuring visibility and safety, code compliance, system compatibility, ease of maintenance or control, and guiding the gaze; while being able to co-create the mood. We are the protectors of the dark, and advocates for good lighting, not just using light.
As lighting designers, we help bring things or contexts to light (life), we make visible, draw attention and guide the user physically and emotionally.
As interior designers we complete the architectural concepts, designs and spatial program in feels, thru material and furniture selections that are close to the human; elements we engage with constantly, thru functionality, comfort and aesthetic.
Thru both, the architectural/landscape lighting design scope – where we are able to work with the intangible and ephemeral, and thru the interior build out and furnishings – where we add the haptic and tangible material presences, we get to complete an intended project language and atmosphere, and in the process, we get to closely work with architects, designers and clients.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I had the privilege of a great education as foundation to my base of thinking. First with general, musical and art focus in high school, followed by ‘architecture studies’ at the University of Technology in Graz/Austria, with a technical and conceptual focus; continued by a specialty education in ‘architectural lighting design and health’ at the Royal Institute of Tecnology in Stockholm/Sweden.
Living in these varied places and abroad strongly impacted/expanded my understanding as a human and designer; 1) the rural Austria with its deep valleys framed by the steep mountain landscape of the Alps, with seasons, fresh water and fast changing weather pattern; 2) growing independent in the second largest city in Austria, Graz, where the contemporary architecture of the present day juxtaposes the well persevered historic structures and infuses an appreciation for the authentic (versus fake historic or aesthetically driven or derived design); and, 3) Stockholm, the Royal City of the North, of 1000 Islands, which I could embrace and call home for several years; where culture and place, people and lifestyle are based in ‘lagom’, the moderate, also found within balanced approach to life; and where, thru living the absence of light in winter and the overwhelming presence of light in summer, I learned lights impact on the human psyche and well-being..
Each place, its encounters and people have impacted my thinking, being in and engaging with the world.
Education, exposure and opportunity form a basis of this becoming, but it remains up to you or us personally, what you or we do with and make of it.
My advice: Dare! Go beyond the known and your comfort zone. Dream to reach for the stars and don’t get discouraged by the first roadblocks on the way to get there. Stay focused. Be determined. Let curiosity guide you, Follow your intuition.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
My parents.
My father, a pragmatist, rational, with a deep appreciation for nature and sports. A family man, person of principles with a big heart and rational mind, who lived fully, unapologetically, authentically, who had strong convictions, but could be debated, and who trusted his gut/instinct. All or nothing in attitude, he’d encourage us to face challenges head on, and not to shy away from confrontation. Standing our ground if we had a basis, reverting from a position if we had new insight; try, fail, acknowledge mistakes and own them as much as achievements; but in any case, facing challenges head-on, to find resolve and grow from it.
My mother, lover of classical music, the arts and culture; enjoying a good conversation, a good read; passionate about being and staying informed, curious still and open to learn new things even at older age; drawn to plants, flowers and tending to growing the garden as much as her family; Blessed with a green thumb and the patience it takes to do and let be – with plants, family and friends; sounding board; a council. Ever supportive and believing in us children and now grandchildren; our mirror, honest critique and biggest fan, she’d support us in finding our interest (or failed interests); infusing a confidence that ‘if we knew what we wanted to do, we’d find a way’.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cll-conceptlightinglab.com (currently in rework)
- Instagram: studio_cll
- Linkedin: CLL . Concept Lighting Lab, LLC
Image Credits
Logan Havens (Photos 1, 2, 3, 8); Alexander Basler | CLL (4, 5, 6, 7)
