Paige Donnell

Paige considers it her mission to prove the value of good lighting design, a practice she believes is often misunderstood and underrated. “Light has the ability to unknowingly move and inspire people,” she says. “As one seemingly small, yet drastically influential piece of the greater whole, it’s the glue that bonds design together.” She offers up her first SmithGroup project, the Wayne State University Mike Illitch School of Business, as an example. “The building’s existence symbolized the school’s undeniable investment in building a brighter future for Detroit,” Paige describes. “Integrating a thoughtful lighting design identity seamlessly into its iconic shape and form further enhanced its outward presence and built a common sense of pride. It connected the community in so many intangible ways, in so many ways.” In her free time, Paige has a passion for ceramics and has studied at Detroit’s renowned Pewabic Pottery studio and school. She’s also rather passionate about “rock climbing, skiing, community engagement, and spending time with her cleverly named dog, Lumen.”