Zerlina Hughes: Illuminating Spaces with Vision, Emotion, and Innovation

Zerlina Hughes, founder and creative director of Studio ZNA, is a leading figure in contemporary lighting design, celebrated for her award-winning work in museums, galleries, theatres, and cultural institutions. With over two decades of experience, Hughes has built a reputation for human-centric, emotionally resonant, and environmentally conscious lighting that enhances both the aesthetic and narrative qualities of physical spaces. Her collaborative, sustainable approach has redefined how light shapes architecture and visitor experience, making her a true innovator in her field.

Early Life and Education

Zerlina Hughes began her journey into the world of design with a strong foundation in the arts. She studied at Goldsmiths, University of London, known for its avant-garde art scene, and later at the Bartlett School of Architecture at University College London. This educational path laid the groundwork for her hybrid vision—merging architecture, storytelling, and emotional nuance through the medium of light.

Her early exposure to both creative theory and technical precision gave her a unique ability to bridge the gap between design intent and real-world execution. Hughes didn’t start her career in lighting design immediately; she explored theatre, film, and fringe art, sharpening her understanding of narrative and atmosphere. This diverse background would later define her distinctive approach to lighting spaces as experiential narratives.

Career Beginnings and Formation of Studio ZNA

Hughes launched Studio ZNA in 2006, a London-based lighting design practice focused on art, architecture, and exhibition spaces. The firm quickly earned a name for itself due to its pioneering design language—fusing emotion, sustainability, and precision.

Studio ZNA’s early projects involved collaborations with curators, scenographers, and architects across the UK. Hughes’s philosophy was simple but profound: light isn’t just illumination—it’s a storytelling device, a spatial mood-setter, and a conservation-conscious craft. The studio’s rise was marked by high-profile museum installations, which served as immersive journeys rather than static exhibits.

A Philosophy Rooted in Emotion and Experience

At the heart of Hughes’s design philosophy lies a human-centric approach. Rather than treating light as a technical requirement, she views it as a medium to evoke memory, mood, and connection. Her installations often aim to lead visitors on emotional journeys—whether by emulating the warmth of daylight or the intimacy of twilight.

In museum contexts, her lighting guides the viewer’s eye, enhances textures, and supports the narrative of the objects on display. Her goal is to make people feel—not just see. It’s this deep emotional sensitivity that has set Hughes apart from more utilitarian designers.

Signature Projects and Industry Recognition

Among her most celebrated projects is the lighting design for the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto exhibition. The show won the 2024 LIT Lighting Design Award for Architectural Lighting Design of the Year. Hughes and her team used a palette of dynamic white light—ranging from 2700K to 4000K—to mirror different times of day and complement the thematic progression of the exhibit.

Another project, the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Denmark, showcased her ability to integrate lighting with landscape and narrative. Here, lighting became a form of storytelling, moving visitors through chapters of Andersen’s life and works without overt visual cues.

These projects highlight her ability to make lighting both technically exceptional and emotionally impactful. Her recognition includes awards from the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and consistent praise from architectural and design publications.

Sustainable Practices in Lighting

Sustainability plays a central role in Hughes’s projects. Studio ZNA often repurposes existing fixtures, upgrades outdated components, and integrates low-energy technologies. The team carefully considers not just how lighting looks, but how it performs over time—both environmentally and economically.

For example, in the Chanel exhibit, much of the lighting infrastructure was repurposed from previous V&A exhibitions. This saved on materials and carbon footprint while achieving an entirely new visual atmosphere. It’s this combination of aesthetic innovation and environmental awareness that cements Hughes as a forward-thinking designer.

Collaboration at the Core

One of Hughes’s strengths lies in her collaborative mindset. At Studio ZNA, no project is approached in isolation. The firm often partners with curators, architects, set designers, content developers, and even audio-visual teams to ensure lighting supports the broader narrative. Hughes believes that only through cross-disciplinary dialogue can truly immersive environments be created.

She’s known to attend early concept meetings, absorb storyboards, and walk through mock-ups alongside other creatives. This hands-on, immersive engagement ensures that lighting isn’t an afterthought—it’s a driving force in the spatial experience.

Personal Life and Partnership with Jason Merrells

Beyond her professional endeavors, Zerlina Hughes has also drawn attention for her creative relationship with Jason Merrells, a renowned British actor known for his work in television dramas such as Emmerdale, Waterloo Road, and Cutting It. In past interviews, Merrells referred to Hughes as his wife, and the couple shared a passion for creative storytelling across different mediums.

Their relationship was often described as one of mutual inspiration—where Hughes’s visual storytelling intersected with Merrells’s narrative craft. Although public details about their current status are limited, their shared history remains a noteworthy chapter in both of their careers.

Legacy and Ongoing Influence

With more than 25 years in the field, Zerlina Hughes’s legacy is not just in the spaces she’s transformed but in the philosophies she’s helped shape. She continues to influence emerging designers through mentorship, speaking engagements, and leadership in design communities. Her work has helped shift the perception of lighting from functional necessity to a dynamic, emotional, and sustainable design element.

Ongoing projects at Studio ZNA include upcoming galleries at the V&A East, the David Bowie Centre in London, and museum projects in Southeast Asia. Each reflects Hughes’s consistent pursuit of beauty, emotion, and responsibility in design.

Final Thoughts

Zerlina Hughes’s contributions to lighting design go far beyond mere aesthetics. Through Studio ZNA, she has redefined how we think about light in space—turning illumination into storytelling, sustainability into artistry, and collaboration into innovation. Whether it’s a fashion exhibition in London or a literary museum in Denmark, Hughes ensures that every project she touches becomes a journey—visually, emotionally, and intellectually.

In a world increasingly aware of the impact of design, Hughes’s approach offers a compelling model for the future: one where light does more than reveal—it resonates.