Lighting Designer
Santiago Navarro Castro
London - Spain | +44(0)7825187377 | santinavarro@casual-lighting.com
Creative and Technically Proficient Lighting Designer
With over five years of experience across diverse sectors, from architectural lighting to museum lighting projects, I bring a blend of creativity and technical expertise to every project. I hold an MSc in Light & Lighting from The Bartlett, University College London, where I developed a strong foundation in lighting design principles.
My journey began in architectural lighting, collaborating with manufacturers to supply luminaires to commercial, residential, and hospitality projects in the UK, Ireland and different European countries. This experience sharpened my technical knowledge and my ability of project management. It also inspired me to establish a lighting firm, Casual lighting limited, offering lighting consultancy, design & supply services.
As an independent designer, I have collaborations on projects for major UK cultural institutions, such as the V&A, The British Library, The Royal Academy of Arts and The British Museum amongst others.
Driven by a desire for continuous learning, I believe in enriching my designs through cross-disciplinary influences. I thrive in collaborative environments, creating lighting solutions that elevate both the aesthetics and functionality of spaces. Passionate about the transformative power of light, I am committed to continuously pushing the boundaries of design to enhance and elevate environments.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Co-Founder & Creative Director | CASUAL LIGHTING April 2021 – Present
I co-founded Casual Lighting, a family business run by my father and I, focusing on offering independent lighting design, consultancy and supply services to our clients. I engage with clients to propose and implement lighting solutions for various retail and residential projects, integrating holistic designs. I manage lighting design proposals, procurement, client accounts, and l lead strategic growth initiatives.
website: CASUAL LIGHTING
Freelance Collaborations |
RECORD LIGHTING December 2023 – Present
I collaborate as a Lighting Designer with Record Lighting to develop lighting schemes from Stage 2 to Stage 5 for temporary and permanent exhibitions in prestigious UK museums, including the V&A, Royal Academy of Arts, British Library, and British Museum.
I contribute to designing lighting schemes that enhanced the visual impact of exhibits while solving complex conservation and energy efficiency challenges. We focus on designing to meet the unique needs of museum environments, visitor experience, and artistic intent by working closely with curators to ensure lighting designs enhance the spatial narrative of exhibitions.
I contribute to designing lighting schemes that enhanced the visual impact of exhibits while solving complex conservation and energy efficiency challenges. We focus on designing to meet the unique needs of museum environments, visitor experience, and artistic intent by working closely with curators to ensure lighting designs enhance the spatial narrative of exhibitions.
DARKLIGHT DESIGN April 2025 – Present
I collaborate as a Lighting Designer with DarkLight Design on residential and retail lighting design projects, contributing from concept development through to project completion. My role involves supporting the design process from initial client consultations and spatial analysis to fixture selection, lighting plans and on-site coordination, ensuring cohesive, functional, and aesthetically-driven lighting solutions tailored to each space.
ILLUMINATIONWORKS July 2025 – Present
I collaborate as a Lighting Designer with Illuminationworks on commercial lighting projects, supporting the development of comprehensive lighting schemes. My role involves updating detailed lighting plans, producing control schedules and specification documents, and conducting light pollution studies using DIALux to ensure compliance and sustainability across projects.
EDUCATION
MSC in Light & Lighting – The Bartlett, University College London, 2022 – 2024
Key modules: Advanced Lighting Design, Lighting Controls, Lighting Practice.
Dissertation: Perception of contemporary paintings under different lighting conditions.
Dissertation: Perception of contemporary paintings under different lighting conditions.
BSC (Hons) in Business Management – Kingston University, 2016 – 2019
First-class Honours. Modules included strategic management and international business operations.
Norwegian Business School BI – Erasmus Programme, 2018
SKILLS
Lighting Design Software: DIALux, AutoCAD, Rhino 7 & Grasshopper.
Technical Skills: Advanced in Microsoft Office, Adobe InDesign.
Languages: Spanish (native), English (full professional proficiency), French (professional working proficiency).
Project Management: PRINCE2® Foundation Certificate.
Technical Skills: Advanced in Microsoft Office, Adobe InDesign.
Languages: Spanish (native), English (full professional proficiency), French (professional working proficiency).
Project Management: PRINCE2® Foundation Certificate.
INTERESTS
Passionate about art and design, regularly visiting galleries such as the V&A, The Tate Modern and The National Gallery to draw inspiration for projects.
Outdoor enthusiast with a love for hiking and trail running, using nature as a source of creativity and inspiration.
Outdoor enthusiast with a love for hiking and trail running, using nature as a source of creativity and inspiration.
NOMINATIONS & AWARDS
Best mark for the dissertation - MSc Light and Lighting 2023-2024
Nomination for The Worshipful Company of Lightmongers UCL Award 2025
