Design Perspectives Podcast with Axel Meise

In this episode of Design Perspectives, host Moritz Marder speaks to Axel Meise, founder and design director of lighting manufacturer Occhio. In the late 1990s, Meise developed an idea that continues to shape the company to this day: thinking of light not in terms of individual products, but as a holistic system. In the course of the conversation, he explains how his fascination with light evolved into a design philosophy, why light is more than just illumination, and how it influences our perception and quality of life. The discussion covers innovations such as gesture control and explores why, for Occhio, sustainability primarily means timeless design and the further development of existing products.

Chapters

01:23 – From hobby to profession: Axel Meise’s journey into lighting

05:35 – Why Occhio was conceived as a holistic system from the very beginning

09:28 – Between lighting effect and design object

13:52 – Product development, innovation and the Occhio portfolio

19:31 – The Apple parallel: ecosystems, branding and user experience

26:34 – Light as science: colour rendering, LED technology and perception

32:19 – Gesture control and new ways of interacting with light

39:12 – Personal experiences of light and the origins of the “Culture of Light”

41:50 – Sustainability through longevity, modularity and retrofit solutions

47:50 – What good lighting does for people – and why it enhances quality of life

Takeaways

Systems thinking instead of standalone products
Occhio evolved from Axel Meise’s experience as a lighting designer, retailer, and consultant. He realised that existing lighting solutions were lacking in both aesthetic and technical consistency. His solution was a comprehensive system that combines design, light quality, control and the overall user experience. For Meise, this commitment to excellence remains at the heart of the brand.

Light is both science and emotion
Natural daylight remains Occhio’s most important point of reference. Axel Meise explains why colour rendering, the light spectrum and overall light quality play a crucial role in how we perceive light, and why the company continued to rely on halogen technology until LED lighting was able to meet its exacting standards. At the same time, he views light as a cultural force that shapes quality of life, wellbeing and human experiences – a philosophy that Occhio encapsulates in the term Culture of Light.

Sustainability through longevity
For Axel Meise, sustainability begins with timeless design. Products should remain relevant and appealing even after decades of use. This ambition is complemented by modular systems and retrofit solutions such as clipLED, which enable existing luminaires to be upgraded with modern LED technology. At Occhio, sustainability is therefore achieved not through short-lived trends, but through durability, quality and the longest possible product lifespan.

Der Podcast des German Design Council