Paul Breedon of Display Lighting Ltd.

Describe yourself in three words
Creative, conscientious, sincere.

When you were at school, what did you want to be and why?
From a very young age I was always encouraged to develop a natural artistic talent, and initially I had aspirations of becoming an illustrator. It was not until I was introduced to other mediums later in school life that I became fascinated with product design and the creative design process.

How did you get to be where you are today?
My career began as a junior product designer, and over the space of 15 years within the lighting industry I worked my way up to become senior design engineer. At the end of 1999 I made the decision to go it alone and formed Display Lighting Ltd. Over the past 13 years the company has grown to become one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of lighting products designed specifically for illuminating jewellery.

Which aspects of your job do you most enjoy and why?
The majority of my time these days is spent talking to new and existing clients, giving advice and identifying the most effective lighting solutions for their particular application. I still enjoy being involved in the creative process of seeing new ideas being transformed from rough sketches into finished products.

What is your proudest achievement?
It is now quite common to be walking down the high street and see Display Lighting products illuminating retail displays, but it was probably the first time that I saw one of my designs illuminating a display in a major department store that gave me the biggest sense of achievement.

What is the best advice you’ve been given in life or work?
Always strive for excellence – never give up and never be content.

What is your next goal in life?
My next main goal is to become recognised internationally for the products and services that we offer.