Catherine Pérez Vega
(Panama, Panama City, 1990).
At the intersection of design, ecology, and communication, Catherine brings a sustainability-driven perspective that blends creative vision with scientific rigour, advocating for thoughtful urban lighting and deeper connections to nature.
Since 2017, she has been working at the interface of ecology and lighting design, integrating creativity and transdisciplinarity to mitigate the knowledge gaps between the research and practice of lighting. She considers we are in urgent need of igniting an interest in science via the use of design to raise awareness on night-time ecology and to aid reduce light pollution to preserve the night.
In the past 7 years, light pollution and its environmental impact have become her main focus of research. She develops strategic solutions to communicate the need for ecological knowledge creatively into the lighting practice and industry. She believes that we need a closer connection with nature to plan lighting projects for outdoor illumination and to provide an environmental impact assessment of light pollution.
Not limited to a specific medium, she combines science and design to engage with the narrative of spaces after dusk. Overview of CV below.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Freelance Sustainable Lighting Designer and Researcher, Nov. 2025 – Present
Catherine Pérez Vega
Environmental Consultancy and Sustainable Lighting Design
Berlin, Germany and Remote
Working at the intersection of ecology, architectural lighting design, and communication. Through my work, I help cities create lighting designs that serve both people and that preserve night ecology.
Expertise:
Environmental Assessment of Light Pollution
Sustainable Lighting Design & Technical Specification
Policy Analysis & Strategic Framework Development
Transdisciplinary Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
Science Communication & Knowledge Transfer
Doctoral Researcher, Aug. 2021 – Apr. 2023
Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries
Berlin, Germany
Designer, Nov. 2017 – June 2018
Conifera Oscura
Panama City, Panama and Berlin, Germany
Assistant Lighting Designer, Sept. 2016 – Apr. 2017
WONDERFULIGHT
Bordeaux, France
Designer, Oct. 2014 – Aug. 2015
Conifera Oscura
Panama City, Panama
Assistant Lighting Designer, March 2014 – Aug. 2014
Beau&Bien
Paris, France
Assistant to the Art Director, 2013
Carré Basset
Paris, France
EDUCATION
Doctor of Natural Sciences, Dr. rer. nat., 2018 – 2024
Freie Universität Berlin and Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB). Research Group: Light Pollution and Ecophysiology
Berlin, Germany
Master of Arts in Architectural Lighting Design, M.A., 2015 – 2017
Hochschule Wismar, University of Applied Sciences, Technology, Business, and Design
Wismar, Germany
Bachelor of Arts in Product Design, B.A., 2011 – 2014
L’École Supérieure de Design de Troyes.
Troyes, France
Full description on LinkedIn and Xing
Catherine Pérez Vega 