John Rocha at Waterford Crystal
Lighting Collaboration with Marcus Notley
Working as a designer for Waterford Crystal Marcus Notley had the opportunity to collaborate with international fashion designer John Rocha to design and develop Waterford Crystal's first contemporary lighting range. It had no cutting and for many this was a revolutionary statement. What makes crystal is not the cuts but the small addition of lead in the glass mixture which gives it its weight and sparkle. The collection went on to be the overall winner at the UK Decorative Lighting Awards during its product launch.
Seal Clear, Seal Opaque, and Seal Paper. Designed in the mid 1990's. the lighting collection was heavily influenced by the 'Minimalist' style of the time. Seal Clear and Opaque, a flared Clear crystal centrepiece, mounted on a brushed nickel base with either Clear or Opaque shades. Seal Paper, a flared Clear crystal centrepiece, mounted on a hand-turned wenge wood base with a hand-made Paper shade.
Marcus Notley and John Rocha lighting collaboration.
'Shard' was the couture piece in the lighting collection. Freeformed, handmade - with only a limited edition of 6 ever made. Fifteen individually formed shards stem from a hand turned wenge wood base. The light source in the base plays through the crystal, radiating at the end of each shard.
Marcus Notley and John Rocha lighting collaboration.
Luge Clear crystal light pendant.
Marcus Notley and John Rocha lighting collaboration.
Poise Clear and Poise Opaque crystal table lamps. To design a product that is so pure in form is always much more difficult than it looks. The devil is in the detail - like the antique cotton braided cable with old replica bakelite switches.
Marcus Notley and John Rocha lighting collaboration.
Weave Clear and Weave Opaque crystal table lamp uplighters. Hand-turned wenge wood base, with nostalgic black bakelite inline switch and twisted cotton braided electrical cable in dark brown.
Marcus Notley and John Rocha lighting collaboration.
Ad image for the launch of the 'John Rocha at Waterford Lighting' collection featuring the Seal Clear crystal table lamp.
Luge Clear and Luge Geo crystal lighting pendants. Two crystal shades Clear or geo cut suspended from a brushed nickel fitting.
Marcus Notley and John Rocha lighting collaboration.
Seal Clear crystal table lamp.
Marcus Notley and John Rocha lighting collaboration.
Poise Clear crystal table lamp. A brushed nickel stem and elliptical base, support either Clear or Opaque crystal shades.
Marcus Notley and John Rocha lighting collaboration.
The lighting collection was the overall Winner at the UK Decorative Lighting Awards – UK Lighting and Furniture Showcase at the NEC Birmingham. This is the UK's largest lighting and furniture trade trade. This was also the first time Waterford Crystal had received a national award for the design of their products.
As a Waterford Crystal lighting designer Marcus Notley was responsible for developing everything for the John Rocha Lighting Collection from the product designs, to the packaging, to the way they would be displayed in the retail environment.
Some of the lamps designed for the ‘John Rocha at Waterford Crystal’ collection featured in the set of the 'Lara Croft Tomb Raider' movie.
Marcus Notley and John Rocha lighting collaboration.
Not long after completing the lighting design project, I was at the movies watching Lara Croft Tomb Raider. To great surprise, I suddenly saw the lamps that I had worked on up on the big screen as part of Lara Croft's home in the movie. You never quite know where the designs you create will turn up!!
