About us

Story

Welcome to Formation Lights. I'm Ryan, the founder. This journey began in my second year of design study in Dunedin, where I showcased my first prototype of the Tussock Light Shade in my end of year exhibition. Soon after, inquiries started rolling in, and within twelve months, my light shades were available in lighting stores across New Zealand.

Formation Lights crafts bespoke, eco-friendly lighting and furniture inspired by nature. We blend sustainable materials with innovative craftsmanship, ensuring each piece is handcrafted for high quality and a reduced environmental footprint. Our goal is to bring nature into homes through our naturally inspired designs.

Form and Creation as one.

Upbringing...

I grew up in a small town at the bottom of the South Island called Gore. I was fortunate enough to spend much of my childhood outdoors — whether that was working on farms, exploring native bush, or 4WDing through the mountainous terrain of Central Otago.

Journey

Fast forward to university in Dunedin, I met a very knowledgeable lifelong friend called Keir through one of the lecturers. Keir taught me a lot while I was studying, covering all sorts of tech — from 3D printers and CO₂ laser cutters to advanced 3D scanning. This started my journey.

1st Exhibition

This is a snapshot of the very first Tussock Lamp and Lightshade I designed before I started Formation, on display at my second-year exhibition. Talking to people and seeing their reactions to my products sparked my motivation to bring them to market. Small beginnings.

Background

Fast forward three years of study, I had moved my life up to Cambridge in the mighty Waikato, securing a great opportunity with Work From Home Desks and later Fiasco Cases as an industrial designer. I learned all about CNC design, mass manufacturing, and import/export from China to the USA.

Design

As a designer I handle a bit of everything —from initial sketches and packaging to the final build. I love blending style with function and taking an idea from a rough concept to a polished reality. I’m pretty big on the details, so I make sure every element feels right before calling it done.

Auckland Home Show 24

After I had started Formation Lights I had the opportunity to exhibit lighting at the Auckland Home Show. This was a huge success, gaining alot of exposure for the brand, future leads and sales. I look forward to opportunities like this in the future as I learn't so much. Risk worth reward.

Tsujiri cafe Albany

A large commercial client commissioned a full cafe fit-out with 13 custom light shades. This was one of my largest projects to date, and the result was stunning—perfectly complementing the Japanese cafe’s vibe and aesthetic.