From the silver screen to some of the most coveted homes in Los Angeles, Mandy Cheng has built a career on creating spaces with both character and intention. The AD100 designer, known for her ability to blend effortless California elegance with a cinematic sense of drama, has worked across film, television, and interiors—designing for the likes of Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” and the homes of Emmy Raver-Lampman, Daveed Diggs, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Justin Mikita.
Now, Cheng is turning her eye toward lighting with a new collection for Mitzi, infusing each fixture with the same thoughtful approach that has made her one of the most sought-after designers in the industry.
More than just a series of beautiful objects, the collection is a personal reflection of the people and places that have shaped her career. Here, she shares the inspirations behind the collection, her design philosophy, and how her background in set design has influenced her approach to designing a lighting collection.
DNN: You’ve described this collection as an “ode to the moments, people, and places” that have shaped your design journey. Could you share one or two specific stories or individuals that directly influenced a particular fixture?
MC: The Abbie is named after my oldest childhood friend, and while the pairing of her name with the fixture was coincidental, I was so excited when I saw the name-to fixture pairing. The Abbie family, and especially the pendant, has a unique design. The pendant is a bold, statement fixture with its oversized globe and wrapped rods, while still being understated and classy.
It’s such a great representation of my dear friend, how she carries herself, and how she inspires me to be. She has always been such a supportive friend and great cheerleader in my career path. When I thought about how to photograph the light for the launch, I knew that that shot had to be daring and confident. I love the way everything came together!
The Niya family is named after my Mandy Cheng Design team! I wanted to find a name that honored all of them, but had no idea what name that could be. I wrote down everyone’s full names and started to pull out the most frequently used letters, which ended up being N-I-Y-A. The success of my studio is very much a reflection of my team, and I’m incredibly grateful for each one of them.
This is another coincidental name-to-fixture pairing that’s super fun because the Niya family’s design is funky, whimsical, and contains different design elements that each person is drawn to. It’s a great representation of my team.
DNN: Nature plays a strong role in your design ethos, from textures to color palettes. How did you translate those inspirations into your lighting collection?
MC: The shapes and textures in all of my lights are very intentional and meant to scratch that visual itch you have when you’re looking for a light that gives a space a little more depth. Nature does this effortlessly – you walk through a grouping of trees and plants and you can’t help but touch the leaves, the branches and the feather grasses, and you can’t help but notice the shapes, shadows and textures.
It’s part of what makes nature so soothing. For me, designing a space has a lot to do with creating an environment that feels the way you feel in nature – at peace and in awe. My lighting collection is meant to take part in creating this type of environment.
DNN: The collection includes details like tassels, wood accents and pillowy silhouettes. How did you decide which materials and shapes best reflected your design vision?
MC: It’s always a process with design – you start with something and study it for a bit to decide what’s missing, what’s out of place, or if we’re good as-is. This process applied when designing my lighting collection as well. I wanted the collection to feel like a complete set, while also offering versatility amongst the families so it would appeal to a variety of design preferences. These little details give each lighting family its versatility.
DNN: Having designed homes and commercial spaces across the country, what lighting needs have you consistently encountered that this collection aims to address? What gap in the market is your collection filling?
MC: My lighting collection is a great balance of a design-forward fixture and an accessible price point. These lights aren’t meant to blend into the background, nor are they meant to be the belle of the ball. I like to think of this lighting collection as jewelry, pulling the entire space together and adding that elevated touch that only a light source can do.
Sometimes, fixtures can be overly simplified or too understated, and I worked hard to ensure my fixtures didn’t feel that way. The little details – tassels, wood accents and unique shapes – are my way of dressing up the fixtures so they can stand alone as their own little piece of art.
Design for the camera
DNN: How has your experience in both the entertainment and interior design industries shaped your understanding of what makes a lighting fixture not just functional, but photogenic? How has your understanding of how lighting works on camera influenced your approach to designing fixtures for everyday spaces?
MC: I’m always intrigued by how a light illuminates the space – whether it’s subtle and very localized, or bold and throws light to every corner of the room. The materials surrounding the light bulb decide much of this so when I designed these lights, I considered where they would go, how most people would use them, and then selected the materials accordingly.
The chandeliers and pendants won’t spotlight you, and the wall sconces offer light without blinding you. The table lamps are large enough to illuminate the desk without forcing you to hover under the shade, and the floor lamp throws enough light to make it a perfect piece to gather under with friends in a seated setting. Functionality is always at the core of my designs, and creating these lights was no exception.
DNN: Talk to me about your career path – from graphic design to set design to interior design and now product design. What insights from this journey would you share with other designers looking to expand their creative horizons? What are some of the lessons learned along the way?
MC: To detail out the things I’ve learned from when I first started in design to now would take a book! I’ve learned so much, sometimes from kind people who were willing to teach me a thing or two, but most of the time the learning came from making mistakes.
I don’t have any magical insight to offer, but I will say that working as hard as you can, not shying away from challenging opportunities, and having confidence in your abilities will go a long way. I’ve also learned that the collective talents of my team are invaluable. Surround yourself with the right people, and welcome their talents – don’t be intimidated by them.
The through line
DNN: What elements would you say define your signature style that carries throughout your work while still feeling fresh, distinct, and in the case of the lighting line, commercially viable?
MC: There will always be a through line of California aesthetic, and maybe a little bit of an edge. After all, this is Hollywood.
DNN: If you had to choose one piece from the collection that feels most personal to you, which would it be and why? And are there any you are excited to feature in your own home?
MC: The Reyn family might be the most personal to me because it’s named after my husband and is a great blend of our individual design aesthetics. The Reyn, Demille, Lauz, Niya, Abbie and January table lamp will all be featured in my home, and I couldn’t be more excited!
DNN: Looking ahead, what other product categories or creative ventures would you love to explore next?
MC: Because my studio specializes in ground up builds and full renovations, I’m partial to architectural elements and fixtures. Furnishings and decor pull the space together and really solidify the design, but the architectural elements and fixtures – paint, wallcoverings, lighting, plumbing, built-ins and hardware – they lay the foundation for the entire space.
Another round of lights, perhaps in a different category, would be incredibly fun, but the idea of creating anything that gets attached to a space is such an exciting thought for me. We’ll see what comes next! | To shop the collection visit Mitzi online. Portraits of Mandy Cheng by Madeline Tolle.
