Defined as a sudden realisation drenched with enlightenment, a lightbulb moment has the power to be an earth-shattering, life-altering experience. And this couldn’t ring truer for Melbourne-based designer Ilan El, who had a bright idea that ironically put him on the path to becoming a lighting designer.
Enjoying a typical childhood filled with Lego kits, Ilan went on to study a range of subjects at university, from the history of art and design to engineering, psychology, sociology, chemistry and architecture. After graduating overseas, Ilan worked as an architect for two years before a friend asked him to design a fashion boutique, and another, a sushi bar.
“A couple of years later, I was orchestrating a total design project [Japanese restaurant] — from the interior layout to the finishes, logo, menus,…
