Aoife O’Leary

Aoife O’Leary is a lighting designer whose work is defined by narrative, nuance, and a deep sensitivity to space. Originally from Ireland and now based in Brooklyn, Aoife brings a multidisciplinary perspective shaped by architecture, travel, and a lifelong fascination with art and atmosphere. Her approach to lighting is rooted in storytelling—creating environments where light is not just functional, but emotional and integral to the experience of material and form.

Through her work at TM, she has collaborated with leading architects like Marlon Blackwell to seamlessly weave light into the architectural fabric. Whether designing a candle showroom suspended in a factory or a jewel-box residence in Greenwich Village, Aoife’s work reveals the quiet power of light to shape memory, mood, and meaning.

Learn more about Aoife in this Designer Profile.

ICFF: When you were a kid, what did you dream of becoming? Did any of those childhood ambitions lead you to where you are today?

Aoife O’Leary: I remember visiting Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao the year it opened, I think I was eight, that was the first time I thought of being an Architect. It was such a strange otherworldly building with a huge colorful planted dog (Jeff Koons) outside – it left a big impression on me. As I grew older, I was always very interested in travel, art and a career in design seemed to allow for that.

Which designers do you love following on social media? What draws you to their work or perspective?

I love to follow our collaborators and contemporaries, tracking the trajectories and successes of friends. There’s something really wonderful about seeing people you respect find their voice and their own particular niche.  I’m from Ireland and I also love to connect with the work that my former classmates are doing there.

How would you describe your design philosophy? Has it evolved over time, and if so, how?

Every project, whether architecture or lighting, feels like a complete thought, with a clear continuity between spaces and experiences. There is always a strong narrative, a story. Starting to work with my now partners, (Alex Miller and Jeff Taylor) has really helped bring a rigor and relentless to my design work in terms of broadening my understanding of material, form and fabrication.

Tell us a bit about where you live: How long have you been there, and how does your environment shape your creative process?

I live in Brooklyn, and I’ve moved around quite a bit within the borough since arriving in the U.S. 12 years ago. Living in a rich urban environment and a smaller space has taught me to think creatively about storage, prioritize meaningful spatial moments and maintain a minimal approach to belongings. On a wider level, it makes me value connecting with my community and find “home” outside the four walls of my apartment.  That mindset often filters into my work.

Was there a specific turning point or experience when you realized that design was your true calling?

Starting to work with TM a decade ago was an important moment. There was a certain dynamism and exuberance in that collaboration.  The fact that it was an atypical design studio made it feel unique and like it had momentum and direction.

 Which of your projects or products are you most proud of, and what makes them stand out for you?

On the architecture side of things, some of our smallest projects have been the most enjoyable and also the most difficult.

-Joya Studio- a candle and fragrance showroom floating in the middle of a factory

-Carroll St townhouse- a project which pushed us in terms of finding the right language for a materially heavy 1890’s townhouse

-For lighting projects, I value working with great collaborators. In lighting design, working with great collaborators has been especially meaningful. We’ve done several projects with Marlon Blackwell Architects, where we were able to deeply integrate lighting into the architectural concept, so that it becomes intrinsic to the experience of space and material in the project.

In your opinion, what is the most significant challenge facing the design world today? How do you think designers should respond to it?

More than ever, we need to show the value of design; making visible what it means for something to have been touched by a human hand, whether physically or conceptually.

What are you currently working on? Are you exploring any new materials, techniques, or ideas that you’re excited about?

One of the most exciting things about our studio is that, despite being small, we’re constantly juggling projects of different scales and typologies. That constant shifting — zooming in and out between the detail and the big picture keeps things dynamic and makes every day different.

What’s on the horizon for you? Any upcoming projects, events, or goals you’re particularly looking forward to?

We’re starting construction on a jewel of a project in Greenwich Village, which I’m very excited about. It is small but very special. We’re also growing the business, and we like to approach that challenge as a design problem and project in itself.

What’s a favorite movie, band, or song that has inspired or shaped your creative mind?

The most recent movie that has stuck in my mind is The Third Man, a noir set in post-war Vienna. It is haunting-visually incredible in terms of architecture, context, light and shadow.

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