Beatrice Bertolini: Light as a Guide Through Her Career

In the world of architecture and lighting design, Beatrice Bertolini belongs to that rare group of professionals who speak with equal passion about theory, practice, and the people they work with. Her presentation offers a look into a career shaped by curiosity, learning, and every new challenge that pushed her forward.

From the Politecnico di Milano to Stockholm and London, Beatrice followed her fascination with light — first through an unexpected encounter with the Ghent Light Festival, and later through projects that taught her how ideas transform into functional and emotional spatial experiences. Her early years at Equation Lighting Design brought the pace of a big city, but also important lessons: how galleries and art fuel new concepts, how execution can reshape the original idea, and how necessary it is to stay flexible when a project takes a different direction than planned.

One of the key moments she often returns to is the Saudi Pavilion — a project that, despite a tight timeline and many compromises, became proof that expertise is truly tested under pressure. From that experience, she took a lesson she often repeats: the concept may be the beginning, but the real story unfolds on site.

A special place in her journey belongs to the EBRD Headquarters in London, her first major design leadership role. Developed at the height of the pandemic, the project required trust — in herself and in the team — despite remote work, limited testing, and constant uncertainty. That’s why its opening remains one of her most meaningful professional milestones.

Through her reflection on mentorship, Beatrice emphasizes that every step forward in her career was encouraged by people who gave her a chance. Today she gives that energy back through international organizations like ILD and Women in Lighting, contributing to workshops, education, and building a community where knowledge circulates and younger colleagues find room to grow.

In the end, the same initial fascination with light remains — a constant source of ideas and discovery. She summed it up best herself:

“Light never fails to amaze… it is always inspiring.”

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