Yuko joins Hartranft Lighting Design after receiving her BFA in lighting design from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. She was first introduced to the world of lighting in high school, and was immediately drawn to the craft and its impact in storytelling.

Prior to joining HLD, her experiences took place mostly in the theatre. Her design credits include plays, opera, dance, and film, as well as lighting shows utilizing automated lighting fixtures.

Yuko’s first exposure to architectural lighting was a concept design she worked on during her senior year. Collaborating with a group of scenic and lighting design students, they designed a sculpture made in steel and light to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

Since entering this new field, she has been passionate about bringing her theatrical approach into architectural works, and is grateful for the opportunity to learn about this different world of lighting design through assisting senior designers at HLD everyday.

Born in Japan and raised in Southeast Asia, Yuko enjoys introducing parts of her multicultural background and knowledge into her work, and looks forward to opportunities to further diversify and expand these experiences in her professional career.