About
Kate Cullen
president
IALD + IES
Kate Cullen is an award-winning architectural lighting designer based in Boulder, Colorado. With a multidisciplinary design background and seasoned lighting expertise, she brings a unique perspective to her work—emphasizing how architecture and interior design can be seamlessly woven together through light. Her design philosophy centers on creating lighting that enhances a space rather than dominating it, striking a balance between aesthetics and functionality.
A graduate of Texas Christian University, Kate went on to earn her MFA in Architectural Lighting Design from the prestigious Parsons New School for Design in New York City in 2009. She relocated to Boulder in 2011, where she launched Cullen Lighting Studio. Since then, her work has taken her to Aspen for a $48 million residential remodel and as far as St. Lucia for international projects.
Cullen Lighting Studio has collaborated with a wide range of architects, interior designers, curators, and private clients. Known for her ability to listen closely and translate client visions into something beyond expectation, Kate transforms both interior and exterior environments with light. Her design approach allows lighting to dovetail effortlessly with architecture, elevating each project’s atmosphere and character.