someday meets Tala
Our founder Emily first met Tala when launching our Case Pendant back in 2017 (we have an option to purchase it with Tala bulbs!). We fell in love with their beautiful lighting and carefully considered, thoughtful designs and knew we would love to work with them again.
So this New Year, we are delighted that Tala lighting is now available to purchase on our shop (with free + fast delivery to boot!) and to celebrate this news we chatted with one of the founders, Josh Ward.
Pictured here alongside fellow founders Max Wood and William Symington, the three friends met at Edinburgh University and launched Tala with a belief that conservation and beauty can be combined to create exceptional design. They have since become a leading brand for sustainable, design-led LED lighting.
Hear more from Josh in our interview below >
How would you describe the Tala design style?
It’s a pared back style with expressive notes and a rich material palette of mouth-blown glass, brass, hardwoods and aluminium casting. We celebrate the simplicity of the LED bulb, but we are playful with the category and try to solve problems in the home. At its core we try to find beauty in utility.
What inspires and influences your designs?
We try to find balance between design, technology, and sustainability. Some briefs are more technical – some are more biomimicry and form led.
Tala champions the Right to Repair movement, can you tell us more about this and Tala's approach to repairability?
Electronic waste is a big issue, and we think that end users should be able to repair their electronics and design objects over a long period. We design for longevity and repairability in equal measure. For instance with The Muse lamp (above), we offer replaceable parts including the battery system and, of course, the bulb itself!
When it comes to carbon-zero interiors, what are some of the challenges the industry still face to achieve this?
With 37% of carbon emissions coming from buildings, interiors has a big part to play in reducing the overall embedded carbon of a project and trying to minimise ongoing energy demand. Fitouts tend to create a lot of waste, so one challenge is to look at longer-term design. The challenge here is the capital cycles and demands businesses face often create short-term pressure on budgets and investment horizons. One approach to this is to look at increasing quality and reducing the total volume of installation investments like lighting. Another challenge in the industry is the standardisation of measurements, tools, and use of data in projects. We have some exciting announcements in this direction coming this year and there are some great thought leaders and companies in this space helping the industry to de-carbonise.
What is your top tip for people when considering lighting for their home?
Get the right balance between daylight and LED in each space. Don’t overdo spotlights – we see that a lot. Less can be more with considered decorative lighting; let the form of the light breathe in your interior space and be playful with layers and complimentary surface designs. Also, consider your sleep-wake (circadian) cycle. Bedroom lighting versus kitchen or workspace lighting should function very differently. For example, the higher Kelvin (cooler lighting) you need in the kitchen should not be transferred to your sleeping zones.
What is your favourite Tala piece at the moment?
I love our new Kilter range – the tubular glass design is really satisfying and elegant. The range is great for bathrooms, hallways, or garden lighting. I’ve recently completed a garden office project at my home and decked out the entrance with a pair of Kilter lights.
How do you see home lighting evolving over the next few years?
We see a growing willingness to make investments in quality design and a more engaged approach to sustainability when purchasing. Connectivity is starting to mature, especially as scene-setting and human-centric lighting is becoming more standardised.
You are renowned for your beautiful, responsible and innovative lighting - what’s next for Tala?
We have some very exciting collaborations in the works, and we are actively developing the link between health and lighting in the home. Tala will also be expanding its collections to solve and explore other areas of home lighting. Finally, we’re also investing more in our sustainability programme, and we will be announcing exciting news mid-2023.