Every Goodnight Light creation begins with a spark—sometimes playful, sometimes profound—and evolves into a whimsical yet refined object that lights up lives around the world. In this behind-the-scenes conversation, co-founder and designer Marke Newton walks us through the stages of their creative journey, from sudden inspiration to local craftsmanship, and finally to the moment a lamp takes its place in the world. It’s a process grounded in intuition, artistic integrity, and collaboration—where beauty leads function, and design becomes storytelling in three dimensions.
Where does the creative process begin — what sparks the initial idea for the light?
The initial idea usually arises out of the blue; it’s often a surprise situation, whilst playing or acting or during a joke, or in a museum or a meditative moment, where concepts emerge. I often get inspired whilst traveling, like a bird, my mind frees up in the air. It might also be on a city street or in the bath when the “Eureka!” moment hits. Those bursts of inspiration often come when one least expects them. The universal mind can’t be forced.
How is the idea translated into a visual or functional concept — through sketches, mood boards, or models?
Usually, I get a very concrete and ideal visual in my mind’s eye. I have a kind of inner workshop where I can visualize, turn, study, and sculpt. The ideas and images that are persistent, that are very sticky, I sketch them down with crayons, with their name and date written next to them. I usually tag the drawings with my signature, too.
What steps are taken to refine the design — including material choices, scale, and function?
Form comes before function, whether we are using clay or polystyrene, or CAD, I begin by drawing a perfect, beautiful, idealized sculpture. The aim is to get as close as possible to the very first sketch made, a kind of strengthening of the lines, which captures as much of the original spontaneity and creative energy as possible. I try to refine as little as possible. The iterations are multiple, but I try to iterate as little as possible.
How is the final design brought to life through local production and craftsmanship?
It’s so important to collaborate with specialists. In every step of the process, we work with the finest local craftspeople; without them, our dreams would not become a reality. This involves a lot of trust and the ability to lose some control over the outcome. This involves close and regular communication in person or online to remain present and supportive. It's an education for me, I’ve learnt so much from listening to experts who have more experience and knowledge of materials and manufacturing than I do.
“Each [person] must perform the function for which [they are] naturally best suited, and not meddle in the affairs of others.”
— Plato, Republic, Book II, 370c
When the light is complete, how is it evaluated and prepared for the world — and what defines it as 'finished'?
I feel like these works are finished at the first visualization, a perfect form appears in my mind, and then the rest of the process is about getting as close as possible to that original form. A couple of years after the first model exits the mould and it’s established in the market, then I can say that it exists and that it has a life of its own, it’s arrived in the world. I don’t think a product is truly finished; it's like a part of a path along which our creative journey evolves. We are making a family of products that perhaps requires only one missing part to be fulfilled/finished, an owner.
