Name: Lucius Lee (XU LI) 李旭
Title: Senior Lighting Designer
Years Worked at VT: Since 2023.
Favorite Project: My favorite project is one I can’t name due to a strict NDA, so I’ll simply refer to it as ‘Project NDA’. It was an incredibly demanding journey that pushed the entire team to our limits, involving countless all-nighters and a constant stream of complex challenges and obstacles. To give you an idea of the intensity: we had to calculate the illuminance levels for the staircases with such precision that every single inch of every step had to be accounted for. You can imagine the sheer volume of work that required. However, I believe that the greater the challenge, the greater the reward. I learned more during the execution of ‘Project NDA’ than on any other project in my career; it was a masterclass in resilience and technical rigor under pressure.
Tell us your funniest or most memorable memory at Visual Terrain: My most memorable moment has to be the 2024 TEA Awards Gala. It was a rare and special occasion where almost the entire team was present, along with our families—except for a few colleagues who couldn’t fly in from out of state. It was the first time I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with nearly everyone in person. Seeing everyone dressed to the nines and taking group photos together was truly unforgettable. On a more personal note, it was also the very first time in my life wearing a tuxedo, which made the evening feel even more like a milestone!
Favorite Aspect of Lighting Design: My favorite aspect of lighting design is its power to redefine a space. By manipulating color, color temperature, and shadow, we can instantly transform a cold architectural structure into an evocative, storytelling environment. Light is far more than functional illumination; it is an emotional regulator and a silent guide for the audience’s journey.
What or Who Inspires You: I am deeply inspired by I.M. Pei. And just to be clear, my admiration for him has nothing to do with our shared roots in China—it is purely about his genius for “treating light as a building material.” He famously said, “Let the light do the design,” and I’ve always been captivated by how he balanced the silence of stone with the movement of shadow. His work taught me that lighting isn’t just an addition to a space; it is the essential element that breathes life into architecture. As a designer, I strive to bring that same level of structural intentionality and emotional impact to every project.
Fun Fact About Yourself that No One Knows: I was actually a pretty great singer in my younger days. However, as I’ve gotten older, my vocal cords have loosened up a bit. I’ve lost my ability to nail those high notes, so these days, I mostly stick to singing in the shower. Lol.
What is your favorite part about being a lighting designer? My favorite part about being a lighting designer is the absolute sense of control over the environment and the participant’s perception. In a dark space, I am the one who defines reality. By deciding what to illuminate and what to leave in shadow, I can curate the visual hierarchy, directing exactly where the audience looks and how they experience the story.