Proper lighting, interior designers say, can change the mood of a space, and create a warm and bright ambiance, as opposed to gloomy and unattractive spaces. Without this, the environment can look dull and uninviting. Lack of lighting affects the ambience and also the perceived size of the room, and Honore Niyigena discovered this while studying electricity in secondary school.
27-year-old Niyigena is an interior designer who specialises in lighting and background setting in Kigali. His dream is to make a mark on the world of interior design, especially lighting. He joined the field four years ago and has since developed a deep attachment to the profession.
Among the many projects he has worked on so far, Niyigena takes on small and big plans, including the lights design at Rwanda Bookmobile office, and even set designs in music videos, among others. He says the work of industrial and residential interior lights is more fulfilling.
"I started off working on small projects like designing living rooms, bedrooms and offices and with time, I improved. Soon I will be working on very big projects such as designing apartments. I have also started working on set designs in movie scenes and music videos,” he says.
Some of his work.
Though he has always been passionate about electricity and installation, in his own words, he has had many dreams before finding his calling.
"Growing up, I used to play with non-electric wires. I used to enjoy watching electricity installations. I had a love for kitchens too, art and fashion, but electricity and design stood out,” he says.
The designer, whose favourite area in interior design is lights and décor, says, "I enjoy curving wood and wires to make beautifully decorated lights. Lights create a significant influence of colour in a space. That’s what inspired me to start interior lighting design. For now, I am more into set designing, especially inside homes and apartments,” he says.
Niyigena also notes that interior design offers relief, and makes him more creative and innovative. "My goal is to create something new, something which gets attention and is unique. That’s what inspired me to start this.
"There are no rules in art, that’s what creation and invention is about. That’s also the part I enjoy most, the process of designing something and it turns out to become a meaningful piece which no one else imagined,” he adds.
Asked about the challenges he encounters, Niyigena says that one of his main tasks is people who still don’t understand the value of what he does. At times some of the materials needed are not available in Rwanda, and even when he gets the chance to access them, they are not affordable, making it expensive for many clients.
However, Niyigena says that he has grown in his career, and has even started receiving orders from abroad.
Regarding advice to aspiring young designers out there, Niyigena says, "My advice to young designers or architects is that they should know that sometimes passion is hyped, instead, we should know how talented we are. Most importantly, endeavour to avoid your own desires and listen to your clients’ wants. Another thing is that we should avoid goals and instead strive for specific outcomes. Aspiring designers should also attempt to be good at a variety of things.”
He further explains that it takes passion, courage and resilience to be better at creating something new, and most importantly, it is okay to take risks when starting. "As an interior designer, it is always good to ensure that your designs create fresh and liveable spaces, as well as a good environment.”
Talking about future plans, Niyigena says that he wants to keep on growing and also looks forward to opening up a big workshop where he can showcase his work. He is also looking for ways to offer job opportunities to other talented and interested people, especially the youth.
Niyigena is currently in second year at Kigali Independent University (ULK) doing electrical engineering.