The LIA Annual Lunch 2026 at Drapers' Hall – John Barrett

Among those attending was John Barrett, a recent BSc (Hons) Product Design graduate from Nottingham Trent University. With experience spanning consumer, medical and scientific design projects, John brings a user-focused approach to product design, combining creativity and innovation with practical, real-world considerations.

John’s connection with The LIA began through his university studies and the opportunity to showcase his work to the lighting industry. For a recent graduate exploring where his career could take him, the Annual Lunch offered a valuable opportunity to meet industry professionals, share ideas and gain a fresh perspective on the possibilities within lighting.

We caught up with John after the event to hear about his experience, the conversations he had on the day, and how engaging with The LIA community has opened his eyes to the opportunities available within the lighting industry.

Could you tell us a little about yourself?

I’ve recently finished my final year at Nottingham Trent University, where I studied BSc (Hons) Product Design. I’m originally from South West London, but I’ve also spent time living in Nottingham during university and up in the North East during my placement year.

Over the course of my studies and industry experience, I’ve built up a strong interest in design, especially seeing it as something shaped by user wants, needs and behaviour. My approach is all about taking those insights and turning them into products that feel both innovative and desirable, while still paying close attention to detail and the bigger picture.

I’ve worked across a mix of consumer, medical and scientific projects, which has helped me develop my design, prototyping, testing and technical skills. It’s also taught me how to balance what users want with real-world constraints to create practical, well-thought-out solutions.

Now that I’ve graduated, I’m looking for my next opportunity in the design industry where I can keep learning and building on what I’ve started.

What was your experience at The LIA Annual Lunch 2026?

My experience was really positive. From the moment I arrived, I received a warm and friendly welcome, which set the tone for the rest of the event.

I particularly enjoyed engaging in conversations with both members and guests, making it a great networking opportunity.

How did you find the networking and industry engagement?

There was a really good level of engagement throughout, with loads of people wanting to know what I’d done and asking questions about our work.

It was nice to see that level of interest and have proper conversations about it. I also got some really interesting feedback, which was useful and gave us a few things to think about going forward.

What were your key takeaways?

It’s made me more interested in where lighting could take me and excited about the potential to be part of it going forward.

There’s a lot more opportunity in lighting than I originally thought, which definitely opened my eyes to the industry. Speaking to people on the day and seeing the level of interest in what we’d done made me realise how many different paths there are within lighting.

What are your future career aspirations?

I want to keep developing as a designer and building on the skills I’ve picked up so far.

I’m keen to keep the areas I work in quite broad, as I’ve enjoyed working across different types of projects and think that variety really helps me grow. At this stage, I’m open to different opportunities and interested to see where they take me, using each experience to keep learning and shaping the kind of designer I become.

Do you have any final thoughts?

A big thank you to The LIA, everyone who voted, and everyone who took the time to talk with us on the day.

As university students, it was a great opportunity to learn, connect and be part of such a welcoming industry. I’m really excited to see what the future holds and where the lighting world takes us next.