Interview with R-X Studio founder and CEO

I sat with Arek Kruszewski, Founder and CEO of R-X Studio, one of London’s newest Lighting Design Studios. R-X Studio is a short walk from the centre of Twickenham and the River Thames. 

Arek, it’s great to have the chance to sit with you and discuss your new business venture. Tell me about your journey to get to the point where you own your own lighting design company.

“It all started for me in November 2007. I applied for a job via one of those online job search websites. Out of the blue, I received a call late one evening offering me an interview at 11 a.m. the following day. I already had another interview booked, so we arranged for me to attend later in the afternoon.

“I remember that feeling I had when I walked out of the interview for a position in one of the notable lighting and furniture supply companies in Chelsea, with a showroom on Lots Roads. I knew then that this was the career path I wanted to take. “

So, what was the feeling, and had you ever felt like that before?

“I was excited by the job's possibilities; I could see myself working with beautiful objects, learning new skills and developing my interest in design. Not many other jobs had excited me like that or offered those possibilities in the past.

So, the new job had lots of potential for you to develop; how did it start?

“I started as a Warehouse manager, but the job included gilding, painting, and finishing products. I learnt to apply finishes and processes to age brass and steel. This included applying a gunmetal finish to steel and bronzing on brass.

“Further opportunities arose in electrifying new fittings, running wires and fitting plugs and lamp-holders.

How long did you stay at Richard Taylor Designs, and what was your next step?

“I was inspired to concentrate more on electrification work, so after five and a half years, I moved on to Jamb, where I was tasked, together with the workshop manager, to organise a new workshop from scratch. This post enabled me to enhance my skill levels, reaching new peaks of expertise. My focus was to maximise my knowledge in electrification and engineering. This position also gave me experience working at a more intense production level. 

That sounds like a solid body of work to enhance your skills. When did you decide you wanted to branch out on your own?

“I stayed for two and a half years, then took the leap of working for myself at my current workshop based in Twickenham, from 2015. 

“Over the last few years, I have been designing my own light fittings with the intention of launching a range of custom-made and bespoke lights that would be made out of only the best quality materials and would have the perfect blend of artistry and functionality. 

“I wanted to introduce my design ideas and help my customers enhance their homes, knowing that my lights are not only beautiful but well-built.

It sounds like you have high production values. Who were you supplying, and what audience are you seeking to sell to?

“I started with two main clients, Richard Taylor Designs and Ochre, plus several smaller clients. This continued until 2022, when I decided to reorganise the business and design a range of my own lights to satisfy the demands of discerning customers who demand the very best in lighting design. 

“I have found it important to work with industry-renowned designers and companies, such as Richard Taylor Designs, Ochre, Jamb, and Tobias and Angel, to name just a few. Working with some of the best in the lighting and design sectors keeps me abreast of current trends and standards.

When did you formally launch R-X Studio, and how has it gone so far?

“So I bought out the previous owner of the workshop and set up R-X Studio. The process took about a year, and in November 2023, we formally launched a new business to supply high-quality, beautiful, and fully bespoke light fittings to discerning customers across London and beyond.

“We have recently launched our new website and social media streams to show our products. We’re hopeful these will show our values to anyone searching for our new, unique lighting designs.

Many companies claim their green and sustainability credentials; what are your views on these criteria?

“We aim to source all our components from the UK or Europe; sometimes, we have to source outside our local area to get the highest-quality components, which is key to everything we make. We try to reduce our impact on the climate, which, I believe, makes our products more sustainable. You wouldn’t believe the amount of cardboard we currently reuse!

You are clearly passionate about the lighting industry; what are the key points you offer your clients?

“I have an eye for detail and think quality control is vital. My products are bespoke and unique. No one wants an inferior product, so I always aim to produce stunning products. I also insist on excellent customer service so that each client is satisfied with our light fittings.

“I want each client to have fittings they will love for years to come, be they bronzed or gilded. Much of the work in a product goes unseen by the client, including the design, engineering, electrification, and manufacture. The client will see the finished product, which may have gone through several prototypes. We put that effort into getting our clients the light fittings they deserve.

“Finally, Arek, what are your future aspirations for yourself and R-X Studios?

“I want to establish myself as a leading provider of beautiful, creative, high-quality, custom-made light fittings. 

“This is where I am, fulfilling my dream of running my own business and providing new, bespoke lighting designs that will grace the loveliest houses.”

An hour was too little time to interview Arek. Here is a man passionate about his light fittings and the quality of his product. He clearly has demanding standards and wants each fitting to beautifully enhance the properties of his clients. This is a man with ambition, and R-X Studio is a lighting design company to watch in the future.