Studio Atomic's Paola Pietrantoni on 'Ninja Lights' and Discreet Illumination

Paola Pietrantoni, one of the founders of Studio Atomic in New York, is a big advocate for 'ninja lights,' which are subtle fixtures designed to minimize glare and blend into the architecture. During a panel titled 'Illuminating Wellness' at the Davide Groppi showroom, moderated by AN's editor-in-chief Jack Murphy and presented by Be Original Americas, she shared that lighting design should prioritize enhancing human experiences over the fixtures themselves. Studio Atomic often starts by analyzing how people interact with a space, using the ceiling as a key design element. Examples include a jewelry store on Madison Avenue with integrated lighting and a Boston hotel featuring projectors hidden in ceiling cut-outs. In Miami, a custom 10-foot paper chandelier serves as a striking centerpiece. Pietrantoni highlighted the TWA Flight Center restoration as a prime example of effective invisible lighting, noting that client expectations for lighting have shifted towards more customized, intentional designs that focus on gradients, minimal colors, and low glare.