‘Occhio has already arrived in the future’

The idea behind Occhio was born out of practical experience – Axel Meise was already developing his first lighting concepts back in the 1990s. ‘The aesthetic and technical proliferation of luminaires,’ as the designer and entrepreneur called it, was a thorn in his side. And so the quest for a universal lighting system that could be adapted to the individual situation began. After just a one-year development phase, he presented the result in 1999 – the first Occhio system was born. An interview with founder and lighting designer Axel Meise about his fascination with light, milestones, and why Occhio has already arrived in the future.

AXEL MEISE: Light is an elemental part of our lives, we use light to create living spaces, mood and atmosphere. When light, interior design and architecture enter into a symbiotic relationship and convey a sense of supreme wellbeing by doing so, it results in quality of life. It’s a passion I succumbed to early on – the desire to create light for the people and living spaces of today. A new culture of light that gives users new, fascinating possibilities for shaping lightscapes.

AM: Good light is created when light and shadow, direct and indirect, focused and ambient lighting interact perfectly with the architecture and space – and the light is top quality. That produces an atmosphere that people feel at ease in. As far as the lighting is concerned, less is more – it’s possible to create a fantastic atmosphere with just a few, well placed luminaires or spotlights, which should ideally harmonise with one another in terms of design and light quality. They should also be controllable because it’s important to be able to change the lighting atmosphere whenever you want, depending on your needs and mood. Competent consulting is essential for ensuring the magic of light can take full effect.

AM: My passion has always been to design living spaces holistically with light. With perfect light, naturally. But the right ‘tools’ for that didn’t exist back then. There wasn’t a single family of luminaires with a consistent design and light quality that provided the right light for any situation. That was the idea right from the start and that’s how the original Occhio system was born, which we gradually expanded into a comprehensive product portfolio. There wasn’t and still isn’t any other system that provides such a holistic solution as Occhio – not just in terms of design and function, but in the joy of use it delivers as well. Rather than a luminaire collection, we have a well thought-out portfolio of products that are meticulously coordinated with one another. It’s clearly and simply structured, based on a comprehensive concept and totally unique with regard to the range of potential applications. It permits perfect solutions for any situation and any room. We’ve created a holistic ecosystem that permits maximum customisation, as well as ensuring an optimal fit with the architecture and interior design – and the customer’s wants and needs too, of course. Take the finishes, for instance: virtually all of them are available across the entire portfolio. Thanks to the wide choice of designs and the mobility of the luminaires, there are no limits to the creativity of the lighting design. Lenses are the perfect optical instrument in this respect. They enable us to produce directional, glare-free light for the highest possible light quality. The selection of optics permits both highly focused and diffuse effects, providing a comprehensive toolbox for professionals and consumers alike. That’s how we turn users into the lighting designers of their living spaces.

AM: The basic idea behind Occhio was and still is a holistic approach to lighting that’s consistent in terms of light quality, design and joy of use. We first implemented this idea back in 1999 with our modular ‘bodyhead’ system, which was based on halogen technology and was truly disruptive at the time; it served as the basis for the Sento luminaire series and later the Più spotlights. Then LED technology opened up totally new possibilities in terms of the design and control of our products. That’s particularly apparent in the Mito series: we took totally new approaches in terms of both the technical aspects and the design. With Mito we succeeded in creating not just an iconic form but totally new possibilities for lighting design and control as well. At the same time, we never lose sight of the added value for our customers; we want to wow them and enhance their quality of life. I’m certain this “designer to user” philosophy is the most important factor for Occhio’s success.

AM: Occhio makes people the lighting designers of their living spaces. Because the requirements that light and luminaires have to meet are so wide-ranging, our systems provide maximum freedom for the lighting design. That means we take a holistic approach to light quality. Our model – the sun – is perfect, and the colour rendering of our LEDs comes very close to its light. In addition, the range of precise, glare-free optics ensures the right light in any situation – and therefore also the most comfortable lighting characteristics possible. For us, beauty and product excellence are an inseparable entity. That includes finishes and functions that are available across the entire portfolio, our high aesthetic standards and our passion for detail: an optical and functional symbiosis at the very highest level. What’s more, we invite customers to use the Occhio air app, the Occhio controller or intuitive ‘magic’ gestures to create their own very personal lighting atmosphere and change it whenever they want to. That all adds up to the joy of use that’s typical of Occhio.

AM: Every single series of Occhio luminaires, every one of their characteristic designs fills me with incredible pride. But obviously our latest models always hold a special place in my heart: Mito aura, our centrepiece from 2021, and Mito cosmo from 2022, which have created a totally new category of luminaires and revolutionised the way lighting is staged in a unique and spectacular way thanks to their electric height adjustment. But with the Gioia series that we’re launching right now, I would even go so far as to say that we’ve made a little bit of history. Gioia is really our new definition of table and reading luminaires. It’s a truly incredible series – technically, design-wise and functionally. Gioia means joy. And you experience joy every time you touch this fascinating luminaire.

AM: Our goal is to provide the right light for any situation and any living space – and in doing so, to give our customers the gift of a unique experience. That means that every new luminaire is an additional element for expanding Occhio’s spectrum of applications. On top of that, it’s always important to only do what makes sense for the portfolio – and delivers added value for users too, of course. For us, taking a holistic approach is key – thinking consistently, living up to our own standards – and offering our customers the very best.

AM: For me, the future of light always goes hand in hand with added value for users. People will take a more active, intuitive and playful approach to light and experience totally new possibilities for using light to design their surroundings – and influence their wellbeing as a result. Basically, our luminaires are already equipped with those features – we call it ‘joy of use’. So I would say we’ve already arrived in the future.

Text: Roland Merz | Photos © Bohman+Sjöstran, Robert Rieger

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