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Mara Villegas

Principal / Co-founder

“Light has this subtle but powerful effect on people’s state of mind. This is why I fell in love with lighting design.”

Mara Villegas is an accomplished lighting designer with over 15 years of experience and a master’s degree in Architectural Lighting Design from Parsons NYC. Her expertise spans diverse residential, commercial, and hospitality projects across Asia and South America. Mara's work has earned recognition in reputable publications like A+L Magazine and The Second Ibero-American Biennial of Lighting Design.

Mara’s design approach thrives on collaboration as she works closely with interior designers, architects, and clients to create exceptional environments and memorable experiences through lighting. As Co-founder and Principal of Within Light Studio, Mara's passion lies in merging the technical aspect of lighting with its artistic side  to craft unique spatial experiences that transform spaces and create meaningful human experiences.

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Wes Burdett

Principal / Co-founder

“Lighting design is a simple and pure way to bring beauty and functionality to the world.”

Wes Burdett is a seasoned lighting designer with over 15 years of experience in the field of lighting design. Armed with a mechanical engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Wes' passion for lighting design was sparked by his aspiration to blend technical expertise with artistic expression. Embracing the interplay of light and shadow in lighting design, Wes found a perfect balance between the objective world of science and the subjective world of art.

Throughout his career, Wes has worked on diverse projects worldwide, including luxury hotels in Asia and high-end residences in Los Angeles. His work has been featured in publications like Architectural Digest and Interior Design Magazine. Wes finds inspiration in travel and film, and enjoys exploring the intersection of art and design.

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Andrés Trujillo

Lighting Designer

"Light plays with the materials and details of a space shaping its appearance and ambiance."

Andrés Trujillo is a Colombian architect and lighting designer whose work explores the relationship between light, materiality, and spatial experience. With a background in Architecture and advanced studies in Lighting Design in Barcelona, he has collaborated on commercial, hospitality, and architectural lighting projects across Colombia and Spain.

Before joining Within Light Studio Andres worked with studios such as LAMP, IDP Ingeniería y Arquitectura Iberia, and Artec3 Studio, combining technical precision with a strong artistic sensibility. As a trained architect, he is particularly interested in how light interacts with materials, textures, and architectural details to shape atmosphere and human perception.

His design approach is rooted in collaboration, craftsmanship, and the creation of meaningful spatial experiences through light.

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Henry Rose

Lighting Designer

"Lighting is about creating a feeling people may never be able to fully describe, but will always remember.”

Originally from rural England and now based in Los Angeles, Henry Rose is a British creative whose work bridges photography and lighting design. Through his studies at the University of the Arts London, Henry developed a deep appreciation for light as both a visual and emotional medium.

That foundation now informs his work at Within Light Studio, where he brings a narrative-driven and highly visual approach to lighting design. Henry approaches each project with an artistic eye and technical precision, designing lighting that allows spaces to look as beautiful as they deserve.

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Abigail Brown

Administrative Assistant

With a background in Music Business and Tour Management, Abigail Brown has a growing passion for the lighting industry. Although new to the technical side of lighting design, she’s enjoyed applying her education and experience in business management, organization, and collaboration to support projects and company operations.

Her background from Berklee College of Music, along with her time on the road, has shaped how she approaches her administrative work through the fast-paced and unpredictable nature of the music industry. Accustomed to wearing many hats, Abigail continues learning and contributing behind the scenes while enriching our collaborative and creatively driven environment.

architectural LIGHTING DESIGN STUDIO

architectural LIGHTING DESIGN STUDIO

with(in) us

“From the emotions within a person to the lighting within a space”

From the 5th floor of an interior design studio in SoHo, Within Light Studio emerged from a dream that Mara Villegas and Wesley Burdett shared over 15 years ago. Through countless late nights collaborating with interior designers and crafting artful lighting for luxury hotels, residences, and bars, their vision evolved and blossomed, leading to the creation of our lighting design studio.

With humility and unwavering dedication, we've honed our craft, delving deep into the art and science of architectural lighting design. Our focus remains firmly fixed on the experiential connection between lighting and hospitality. We cherish the privilege of illuminating spaces that inspire and elevate the human experience.
Meet The Team
the team
ACCOLADES
the team
2024
LIT Lighting Design Awards Winner
Hospitality Lighting Design
, 
Moxy Williamsburg
Hospitality Lighting Design
Hospitality Lighting Design
2024
LIT Lighting Design Awards Honorable Mention
Restaurant Lighting Design
, 
Mesiba
Restaurant Lighting Design
Restaurant Lighting Design
2024
LIT Lighting Design Awards Winner
Hospitality Lighting Design
, 
Marina Grand Resort
Hospitality Lighting Design
Hospitality Lighting Design
2023
LIT Lighting Design Awards Winner
Hospitality Lighting Design
, 
AC Hotel LA
Hospitality Lighting Design
Hospitality Lighting Design

Other projects

back to (projects)

Hotel Saint Augustine Exterior

Hotel Saint Augustine Exterior

Houston, Texas

Hotel Saint Augustine Food & Beverage

Hotel Saint Augustine Food & Beverage

Houston, Texas

Hotel Saint Augustine Lodging

Hotel Saint Augustine Lodging

Houston, Texas

Park Hyatt New York

Park Hyatt New York

New York City

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