Kate Furst

Kate is a celebrated and respected lighting designer in the architectural and experience design community. Her 19-year career began in the professional theater where those formative years sparked a life-long passion for applying light. Kate thinks of her medium as a powerful tool that helps to both elevate story and sculpt environments. She cultivates a collaborative design process, leading to strong connections between architectural spaces and those who inhabit them. Kate’s work meshes bold and innovate design ideas; she embraces creative and technical challenges with an eye towards the seamless integration of light within the built environment.

Kate earned a B.S. in Business Administration and Theater at Mary Washington College and an MFA in Lighting Design from the University of Cincinnati – College Conservatory of Music. An active member of both the IES and IALD, she serves on the IES-LA board of managers; her focus on training young designers is evidenced by serving as chair of the Russell Cole Memorial Student Lighting Design Competition.

Kate’s theatrical portfolio includes musical and dramatic professional productions, including world premieres and Off-Broadway productions. While studying for her master’s degree in theater, Kate was introduced to the world of architectural lighting and was immediately drawn to this immersive, impactful, and long-lasting medium. Her architectural project experience includes designs for wide range of dynamic and sophisticated projects including retail, themed entertainment, museums, hospitality, office, residential, landscape architecture, cruise ships, and multi-media/multi-layered project types. Kate’s designs have received multiple awards from the Illuminating Engineering Society and Themed Entertainment Association.