Our Story
Leo Scarff Design is about to celebrate 21 years in production of it’s ‘Lightweave’ Lighting collection this June and the range continues to be one of the studio’s main products. Leo began experimenting with veneer for a materials research project back in 1993 testing the flexibility and light filtering properties of different wood types. Many mock up’s and prototypes later he produced a table and floor light. He asked Gerry O’Hagan of O’Hagan Design on Capel Street in Dublin to view the pieces. Gerry was impressed and bought both pieces for the shop. Little did Leo know that all these years later they would still be in production and being commissioned by designers like Clodagh in New York for projects across America or used in high profile hotels like Galgorm Manor in Northern Ireland.
Over the years we have designed and made dozens of different forms, sizes and functional types of fitting as well as using several veneer types including stained finishes. Architects and interior designers have commissioned them for projects across America, Europe and the UK and for commercial spaces around Ireland. In 1999, the Lightweave collection had already been critically well received having been used in Dublin’s famed Shelbourne Hotel and announced by the Director of Ireland’s Beyond the Hall Door TV show as an “Irish Design Classic”
We feel that maybe one of the reasons the Lightweave light fittings are an enduring success is the nature of the light they produce. Filtering light through Maple or Cherry veneer gives a warm glow to a space and the radial openings in the woven veneer produce an atmosphere that’s difficult to match.

Production
In the beginning all the components were cut by hand however these days we use CNC and Guillotine machines to cut the veneer and plywood components. These are then assembled by hand using traditional weaving techniques in a mixture of ancient and high tech processes. This is intriguing for us and demonstrates how both can be combined to create beautiful contemporary products. In celebration of 21 years in production we will be launching new designs in the ‘Lightweave’ collection over the coming months. For more information please contact the studio. E:leo@leoscarffdesign.com

Our studio
Leo Scarff Design is a product design studio located in Manorhamilton, county Leitrim. Leo has also been facilitator on the recent Harnessing Creativity and Livecraft programs, is a director of the Leitrim Sculpture Centre and is currently involved in setting up a Fablab in Manorhamilton, launching in June this year.