From the experience of Erresei, active since 1996 in technical and architectural lighting , Accento was born. A brand of Made in Italy lighting that brings technological research into contemporary design.
Here light is not just performance. It is atmosphere, perception, chromatic quality. It is above all visual comfort , with an intensity control designed to enhance residential interiors and contract projects.
At the center is the philosophy Hu.Li Human Lighting : putting the person and their rhythms at the center of the project.
In this double interview, the CEO Gianluca Raineri and the designer and art director Roberta Bonaiti talk about how engineering and artistic direction meet. And how technology becomes a “right” light, to be experienced over time.
Technical DNA and brand identity
Gianluca Raineri, which elements of the original culture internal processes, engineering precision, attention to detail remain the foundation of Accent today?
All those mentioned are fundamental and present in our daily life. The internal workmanship for the obsessive control in attention to detail , the engineering precision for the search for maximum performance and the attention to detail as a distinctive sign of Made in Italy . All this with the aim of creating and offering unique products to the market in terms of technology and design.
Roberta Bonaiti, from your design point of view, what did you inherit from that spirit and how did you transform it into an aesthetic language?
When Gianluca Raineri called me to follow the artistic direction and design of Accento products, I already knew Erresei, known in the lighting sector for its great technical ability and attention to detail.
Qualities so alive and rooted in the company DNA that it was a natural transition for Accento too. Every new product arises first and foremost from a technical opportunity (a material, a new way of making light, etc.) around which the designer can experiment and express himself. Accent connects the technological language with the symbolic one giving life to objects that want to be understood, enjoyed and loved over time.
Gianluca Raineri, what was the moment when you realized that Accent could change the perception of light in the lighting market?
We know the lighting market in depth thanks to continuous discussions with its protagonists, in particular designers and manufacturing companies. Coupled with this, it must be said that our history in the world of LED lighting begins a long time ago with the first patent registered in 2002. For this reason, years ago we realized that attention was shifting from the quantity of light to the quality of the same, such as high color rendering, management and visual comfort.
It is from this awareness that Accento was born, as a project oriented towards a more conscious light , designed not only to illuminate, but to improve the psychophysical well-being of those who benefit from it.
Roberta Bonaiti, what does it mean to design a lamp like narvisual and sensorial ration, not only as an object?
Creating a narrative for me means thinking about the experience that that object will generate.
Visually I try to create a sign that has its own identity even when turned off and that evokes an imagination.
On a sensorial level, however, I work a lot on the experience of light. A lamp must not be static but must respond to those who use it, which is why I believe that interaction is a very important factor.
I like to think of ever-changing scenarios where light can be shaped not only by design but by those who use it.
Gianluca Raineri, what is the most complex challenge to guarantee visual comfort without technical compromises, in the Hu.Li Human Lighting philosophy?
The most complex challenge to guarantee visual comfort without technical compromises lies in the continuous research of components, materials and solutions taking advantage of the evolution that has taken place in the LED lighting sector in recent years.
As in haute cuisine, another great expression of Italian know-how, what we seek is, in addition to choosing the best “ingredients”, assembling them with the utmost care in the aesthetic search for the result.
Roberta Bonaiti, how is Human Lighting translated into shapes, materials, shadows and intensity?
Translating Human Lighting into my work means putting the human being, with his rhythms and fragilities, back at the center of the project. A concept that materializes in the creative process in gentle and not too invasive forms, materials that interact with light in a soft way and where the shadow has the same dignity as the light.
Ultimately, translating Human Lighting, for me, means treating light as a living material and letting those who use it have the freedom to manage and shape it.
Gianluca Raineri, why has the choice of Nichia LEDs become a strategic pillar of Accent?
Nichia , the Japanese company that invented the white LED , is not only the largest company in the world in the sector and the only one to have internally the 3 essential constituent elements of the LED, namely the case, the die and the phosphors, but it is also the one universally recognized with the absolute highest quality of its products.
For this reason, for Accent there could be no other choice to guarantee the performance and reliability of its lamps.
Roberta Bonaiti, what does this choice allow in terms of color rendering and quality of light, especially in decorative projects?
Using high quality LEDs is a fundamental choice not only in technical terms but also in terms of design because it transforms light from a simple functional element to an element of aesthetic truth.
In terms of color rendering and quality it translates into real advantages in the fidelity of colors in space (just as sunlight would do), in the purity of white light and in the absence of flickering guaranteed by excellent electronics that accompanies it.
The choice of LED therefore becomes very important if you want to obtain a light that is not only high-performance but also respectful of the materials it illuminates, thus guaranteeing excellent visual comfort.
Gianluca Raineri, what a gambledid the launch of the Accent collections (Pivò, Pivò Plus, Plissé, Oì Circle Shades) have the biggest impact?
More than a risk linked to the individual collection, I would speak of a shared bet that has accompanied Accento since the beginning: we wanted to aim for the creation of luminaires that were unique in terms of performance and quality of light and with Masina Studio we chose to favor a profound design dialogue, in which form and performance balance each other naturally, without compromises.
The bet was therefore on two fronts: on that of the design and creation of the product, I would say this largely won, and on the commercial front where we are gradually gaining the consensus and trust of the market, especially in the medium-high segment and in international markets, where the focus is concentrated exclusively on the value of the product.
Roberta Bonaiti, is there a design background you can tell us (intuition, hidden detail, error transformed into value)?
With Pivò , the first Accent collection , we wanted to create a lamp capable of complete rotation, but we wanted to concentrate all the complex mechanics of the movement in a joint of just 4 centimeters in diameter. In such a small volume, we had to bring together the fluidity of the gesture, the stability of the position and the passage of high-quality LED technology.
We realized that traditional manufacturing methods would never allow us to achieve that level of miniaturization and millimeter precision. This is where the intuition was born: we abandoned the already beaten paths to approach Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing, which over time has become one of Accent’s distinctive qualities.
Gianluca Raineri, how do you manage the balance between production, sustainability, quality and aesthetic direction in the Accent method?
Our method is based, while respecting roles, on close collaboration between company and designer. Accento’s task is to invent and prototype a technical element that is unique on the market in terms of lighting and dimensional performance, which represents the “brick” on which Masina Studio can work to develop a luminaire by seeking the combination of performance, functionality and design.
This is our recipe, in which ESG principles are a concrete and transversal reference: from engineering oriented towards the efficiency and durability of products, to the choice of responsible production processes and suppliers, up to a design that favors modularity, reparability and conscious use of resources. For us, sustainability is not a formal constraint, but a design criterion that guides every technical and aesthetic decision.
Roberta Bonaiti, what is the point at which the poetics of light meets technical needs and becomes Accento?
The dialogue between engineering and design is never a compromise but the beating heart of the Accent method. The exact point at which these two souls meet is that moment in which technical complexity disappears to make room for the emotion of light.
I like to think that whoever turns on an Accent lamp doesn’t think about the technology insidetoo much (and I assure you there is a lot), but immediately feel that that light is ‘right’.
Gianluca Raineri, why does physical prototyping remain fundamental, even in the 3D era?
Despite a long experience behind us and a know-how gained by developing solutions in the most disparate fields, situations that allow the result to be achieved in a shorter time, it is essential to resort to physical prototyping, particularly in the lighting sector.
Although it may seem strange, there are lighting contexts in which not even the most advanced computers and software are able to provide realistic predictions or with acceptable precision what the result will be. For this reason it is essential to invest in research and experimentation by physically testing the prototypes and the behavior of light before reaching the industrialization of the product.
Roberta Bonaiti, what is the moment when you understand that a project “works”?
None of this. I understand that a project ‘works’ when, presenting my sketches to Gianluca, I see that his expression changes and the spark goes off. I recognize in him the great ability to immediately understand the potential and feasibility of a project which, in addition to being very reassuring on a psycho-emotional level, also has practical implications by having a positive impact on the product development process. It is no coincidence that to date, every validated concept has been developed and put on the market.
Gianluca Raineri, how does Accento respond to the needs of hybrid hospitality (hotels, advanced retail, flexible residences)?
Those indicated represent exactly Accento’s target as its collections offer total freedom of orientation, allowing the lighting to be modeled with accuracy, following the architecture and needs of the moment. A gesture is enough to change direction and a touch to adjust the intensity, transforming any environment into a perfect balance between form and perception.
The purpose of Accent lamps is in fact to make light become a living material, capable of enhancing details and shaping surfaces.
Roberta Bonaiti, what changes between a lamp for a domestic living room and one for a boutique hotel?
Obviously in these very different contexts the relationship between individual and space changes a lot but for me, in both cases, the objective remains the same: whether it is a hotel room in Bern or the living room of a house in Milan, the lamp must make the guest or owner feel at the center of an atmosphere designed especially for him. It’s what I call the ‘ comfort of light ‘.
Gianluca Raineri, how do you guide a coherent and recognizable direction, but open to innovation?
With Masina Studio it was easy to find this compromise as technique and innovation are in the DNA of Accent and Roberta was able to grasp this identity soul and shape it both in the development of the lamps, but also in the communication of the brand, where everyone also recognizes the coherence that has distinguished us up to now, as it will also be for the future.
The “fil rouge” of the brand and products is divided into 3 elementswhich are: the essentiality and simplicity of the shapes, the visual comfort and finally the technological soul that allows smart and intuitive management of the light.
Roberta Bonaiti, what is the greatest freedom and greatest responsibility in being an Art Director?
In my work as Art Director I feel first of all that I have a great sense of responsibility towards the company and the people who work there, even before ideas.
When Gianluca called me to collaborate, the most precious freedom was being able to start from a blank sheet of paper: being able to define a coherent aesthetic, being able to transform an intuition into a distinctive brand and give life to objects that embody it.
With my work I have the possibility of building an entire imagination around the brand. I have the freedom to decide what emotion a catalog should arouse, what pace a video should have or what ‘tone of voice’ the brand should use to speak to the world.
In a world saturated with visual stimuli, however, the responsibility I feel most is the need to protect the integrity of Accent: every image, every stand, every graphic choice must reflect its identity. If the narrative betrays the reality of the product, or if the image is disconnected from the technical quality, the brand loses credibility. Being an Art Director therefore means being the guarantor of this balance: the visual promise we make must always correspond to the product offered.
Gianluca Raineri, if you had to choose an iconic product: which one embodies your vision of invisible technology and everyday comfort?
It is difficult for me to identify a single product, but, trying to get to the core of Accento’s identity, it would be natural for me to talk about two creations that embody our vision, despite having had a different path: Pivò , in particular the table and floor versions, and Plissé .
The first for its absolute essentiality and adjustability and the second for its unique aesthetic among table lamps, so much so that a design at European level was even registered. Furthermore, both were winners of the Archiproducts Design Award , confirming their value.
Roberta Bonaiti, can you share a sketch or formal research that tells how an Accent lamp is born?
Plissè , the latest lamp developed for Accent, was born from the desire to create a lamp where the light source was our starting point: a light that is there but cannot be seen. I immediately thought of Le Corbusier’s Ronchamp Chapel, the folds of a kirigami and the play of light and shadow that arises from it. The result: a form suspended between tradition and technique, a performing and poetic light.
Gianluca Raineri, where is the demand for contemporary Made in Italy lighting growing today?
Since its origins, Accent has attracted a lot of interest, especially abroad, both in Europe and in other continents. At present, the greatest feedback as far as we are concerned comes from neighboring countries such as Switzerland and Austria, as well as from Northern and Eastern Europe.
We have also recently undertaken projects in the particularly afflicted United Arab Emiratesfascinated by Made in Italy and in which significant development is expected.
Roberta Bonaiti, what cultural differences do you perceive in the way of experiencing light?
The way of experiencing light is certainly a cultural fact, which concerns people and their habits.
My challenge is to create a language that is as respectful as possible of these differences. Whether for a Swedish cottage or a penthouse in Dubai, my goal is for light to adapt to different cultural rituals, always carrying with it the Accent identity.
Gianluca Raineri, looking to 2035: what will remain indispensable in Accent’s DNA?
The advantage of Accent is a long experience poured into a new and fresh vision of the world of light not conditioned by past identity legacies. This has meant that since its inception there has been an orientation towards what are, and will be, future trends in the world of lighting linked not only to design, but also to personal well-being and home automation interaction.
For this reason I am sure that Accento will be able to grasp all the innovations that await us while maintaining these characterizing aspects unchanged.
Roberta Bonaiti, what revolution would you like to bring to the world of lighting?
Whatever revolution it is, I just want to think that it can be quiet and gentle .
Leave a commentPerhaps the real revolution today is not a light that imposes itself: it is a light that listens. A precise but not intrusive presence, capable of respecting the rhythms, restoring truth to the materials, and leaving room for the shadow – as part of the grammar itself. If Accent has a recognizable “future”, it is here: in a technology that knows how to be silent, and in a design that does not ask for attention, but deserves it over time.
