Playing with Light
Published in EH&I, February 2008
In February 2008, Dutch design magazine EH&I featured designer Mireille Meijs and her graduation project Light Facet, a room divider that explored new ways of shaping sunlight within interior spaces.
At the time, the project was still in its early stages, years before Facet would become an internationally recognised room divider and the foundation of Bloomming’s success.
The Origin of Light Facet
According to Mireille Meijs, sunlight can transform a room, but traditional solutions such as curtains and blinds often create a static result.
When closed, these systems block light and can make a space feel darker. Light Facet was conceived as an alternative approach: a room divider that allows users to actively shape the flow of light through a space.
The design consists of individually rotatable geometric modules. By adjusting the position of the modules, users can create changing patterns of light and shadow while simultaneously controlling privacy and openness.
As Mireille explained:
“To create changing patterns of light and shadow, the surfaces of Light Facet can be rotated independently. This allows any desired area to be opened or closed.”
The resulting pattern resembles an abstract field of flowers and creates a playful interaction between sunlight and interior space.
Design Academy Eindhoven
Light Facet was developed while studying at Design Academy Eindhoven.
When asked why she chose Eindhoven, Mireille emphasised the importance of strong ideas and thorough research:
“A good idea is the foundation of a good product. By exploring all possible angles of a problem, you discover new solutions.”
This design philosophy would later become a defining characteristic of Bloomming’s products: combining visual elegance with a clear functional purpose.
Building a Design Practice
At the time of the interview, Mireille had already started her own design studio and was actively developing the Light Facet concept further.
She expressed a clear ambition for the future:
“I think it would be fantastic to one day see Light Facet hanging in people’s homes all over the world.”
Looking back, this statement proved remarkably prophetic. What began as a graduation project eventually evolved into Facet, a room divider now used in homes, offices, restaurants, hotels and public spaces around the world.
Inspiration and Learning
Mireille credited the designers at Feiz Design Studio, who supervised her graduation project, as important sources of inspiration.
She admired their ability to take simple everyday themes and develop them into refined and intelligent design solutions.
When asked what frustrated her most, her answer was concise:
“Arrogant designers.”
Future Plans
At the time of publication, Mireille’s goal was to further develop her ideas, bring products to market and inspire people through design.
She also shared a broader ambition:
“I would like to work in a developing country for a period of time in order to help people there.”
A Design That Endured
What makes this article particularly significant is that it documents one of the earliest public appearances of Light Facet, the project that would later become Facet.
The core concept described in the article remains unchanged today: a room divider composed of individually rotatable modules that allow users to shape light, privacy and transparency according to their needs.
More than fifteen years later, Facet continues to embody the same idea that inspired its creation: transforming light into an interactive part of interior design.
Publication Details
Publication: EH&I
Issue: February 2008
Featured designer: Mireille Meijs
Project: Light Facet
Institution: Design Academy Eindhoven
Topics: Room dividers, light and shadow, interior design, Dutch design, product design
