Meet Cuceu Carina: From Philosophy to Sculptural Lighting Design

Who founded Nexus Luminaires?

Nexus Luminaires was founded by Cuceu Carina, a designer based in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. She leads design and production for every piece in the collection from the studio.

What is Carina's background?

Carina graduated with a philosophy degree from Cluj-Napoca before going on to study architecture. Her interest in how people perceive space and reality led her to want to build the ideas she'd been questioning academically, which is what drew her toward architecture and, eventually, lighting design.

What led her to lighting design specifically?

The turning point came during an architectural design course focused on interior and exterior lighting. Studying how light behaves within a space, and the design of lighting fixtures themselves, reshaped her perspective: a luminaire isn't just a functional accessory, it's the element that sets the atmosphere and emotional weight of a room.

What does that philosophy background bring to the work?

It shows up in how each lamp is approached — less as a product spec and more as a spatial study, exploring the boundary between a solid architectural form and the light it radiates. Materials are chosen as deliberately as forms: jesmonite for its mineral weight, faux fur and bouclé for tactile contrast, 3D-printed cores for structural precision.

Where is Nexus Luminaires based today?

The studio is based in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, where every piece is designed and made to order. Read more on our Meet the Designer page.