Dean Skira Unveils New Designs for Deltalight at Euroluce 2025
During my visit to Euroluce 2025, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with renowned lighting designer—and good personal friend—Dean Skira at the Deltalight party. Known for his bold concepts and refined product design, Dean introduced me to his latest creation for Deltalight—the Polesano bollard.
A Name Rooted in History
“It’s spelled P-O-L-E-S-A-N-O,” Dean clarified with a grin. The name is a personal nod to his hometown, Pula, which was called Pola in Roman times. A person from Pula would be called a Polesano. “So yes, I named it,” he said proudly.The Polesano offers a leap forward in performance. “It can be spaced 10 meters apart instead of eight,” Dean explained, highlighting its enhanced light distribution. Perhaps the most intriguing feature is its automatic red shift during certain nighttime hours. “At a certain time of night, it turns red automatically,” he said.
The product is available in Europe, though not yet introduced to the U.S. market. “I don’t think so,” Dean said when I asked about U.S. availability. That may change soon, given the product’s potential.
NIME Reimagined as a Wall Washer
Dean also walked me through updates to the NIME line, traditionally a downlight, which is now available as a wall washer. “This has always been a downlight,” he noted, “but now it’s also a wall washer.” The fixture casts a wide, uniform beam of light across surfaces and is dimmable down to 1%, possibly even 0%. “It does dim very smoothly,” he noted.
Subtle Lighting, Clear Intent
Standing near the lit installation, I noted how even and consistent the wall illumination appeared. “That is a lot of light,” I commented. “And it seems very uniform.” Dean agreed, adding that it’s not just about brightness, but also about where the viewer typically stands. “Most people aren’t standing against the wall, right? So you want that uniform wash from where people actually view it.”
Designers as Product Creators
Our conversation shifted to the broader topic of designers creating fixtures. With new IALD guidelines, designers are more openly developing luminaires without raising ethical flags. “Europeans have always been more active in designing fixtures,” I noted. “More than Americans.” Dean pointed out that this is evolving. Dean has long been a designer who enhances the profession of lighting design with strong product designs.
Looking Ahead: Dubai and Beyond
As we wrapped up our tour, Dean mentioned an upcoming launch in Dubai. “We’re officially presenting all the versions of the TRIA in Dubai in a few weeks,” he said, referring to the series of unique poles he designed for FILIX Lighting. He stated, “There as so many options on this landscape or urban lighting system that is very flexible and easy to install.”
Storytelling Through Light
What makes Dean Skira’s work compelling is the way he blends narrative with form. Whether he’s naming a product after his hometown or designing bollards that shift color for visual comfort and safety, his work always tells a story. As the Polesano and updated NIME prepare to expand their reach, we can expect Dean’s influence to glow a little brighter across the global lighting landscape.
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