At Lux et Veritas Design, our dedicated team is led by founder Hilary Wainer. Our team members have diverse educational backgrounds in lighting design, architecture, interior design, theatre and engineering. Our collective skill set allows us to tackle each project to formulate unique solutions through equal amounts of creativity, ingenuity and technical prowess. Our devoted staff members share a passion for lighting and its realization through the architectural form.
Our Team
Hilary Wainer founded Lux et Veritas Design in 2013, after having practiced lighting design for over two decades. Her dedication to developers, architects, and interior designers spans hundreds of projects across the globe, allowing her to bring clients’ creative visions to reality through the use of illumination in the built environment. Hilary’s success stems from her belief in a proactive, collaborative team process and attention to detail. Her success is also shared with others through her exemplary leadership and dedication to mentoring.
Hilary came to architectural lighting through theatre. She was particularly drawn to how light and color are able to transform a space both physically and psychologically, creating an emotional connection with one’s surroundings. She later pivoted to architectural lighting where she could use her talents to illuminate less ephemeral experiences.
Over the course of her career, Hilary has specialized in luxury hospitality, resort, convention center, spa, and restaurant projects with a vast portfolio spanning the globe. Her work also includes a wide variety of other project types, including mixed-use developments, healthcare, museums, corporate campuses, sports venues, themed environments, educational facilities, aviation hubs, aquariums, multi-family, and retail venues. Her professionalism and commitment to the projects and her clients have made Hilary a respected and coveted consultant in the world of architecture. In addition, her creativity, innovative thinking, and dedication to the art of illumination are the foundation of her award-winning success.
Hilary is an Associate Member of both the International Association of Lighting Designers and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. In addition, she completed her LC Certification and LEED Accreditation (LEED AP).
AmyAnn Ehmcke has been working in the architectural lighting design field for over two decades. While earning a BFA in Interior Design at Iowa State University, she realized she was particularly drawn to the information being taught in the lighting classes. She had been seeking a career path that blended both art and science, and the idea of focusing on architectural lighting design became even more appealing during her study abroad in Rome, Italy.
She was fortunate to start learning and working in the field of lighting shortly after graduation and spent the earlier years of her career focused on retail lighting projects at Pavlik Design Team in Florida. These designs ranged from large malls and department stores to specialty, boutique, and jewelry stores with project locations across the United States, Mexico, South America, and South Korea.
Since moving to the Atlanta area, AmyAnn broadened her expertise by collaborating on a wide range of hospitality-type projects while also working on the lighting design for stadiums, airports, healthcare facilities, multi-family developments, and corporate office buildings. She has been with Lux et Veritas Design since 2014 and enjoys the variety of design challenges brought by each project, looking forward to implementing lighting that meets both the technical and aesthetic criteria for a complete design solution.
AmyAnn is currently a Member of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America and a Lighting Certified (LC) Professional.
Gonzalo is a designer with over 13 years of professional experience in the fields of interior architecture and lighting design. Originally from Lima, Peru, he has always had a passion for arts and culture. As a young adult, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Southern Polytechnic State University (now KSU) and a MA in Interior Design from the Savannah College of Art & Design, here in Atlanta, Georgia.
His first job out of college was in lighting, working under Ms. Wainer. This opportunity helped him mature into the designer he is today. He came to appreciate not only the importance of what lighting design can do to make living spaces work but also how lighting can make spaces exciting, beautiful, and, most importantly, memorable.
Gonzalo has been with Lux et Veritas Design on and off since 2013, and he has been fortunate to work on a wide variety of hospitality, entertainment, commercial, and high-end residential projects in North and Central America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Asia. His unique professional experience allows him to understand project-specific architectural conditions from both the client and consultant sides. Gonzalo is a reliable problem solver who cares deeply about the design process.
Mason came to Lux et Veritas Design as a graduate from the University of Florida, where he earned a BFA in theatrical production with an emphasis in lighting design. Mason’s first foray into lighting design dates back to his 4th-grade production of The Jungle Book, and since then, he has dedicated his education to lighting numerous theatrical and dance productions, ranging from Sweeney Todd to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.
Having attended UF in the midst of the pandemic, Mason used this time to broaden his horizons beyond theatre and began working on projects related to film, museum lighting, and, most notably, architectural lighting. From this moment, Mason found a passion for lighting architecture and for sculpting and defining the spaces and experiences we encounter every day.
Upon graduating in the spring of 2022, Mason was brought on to the Lux team, where he has had the opportunity to work alongside a talented team of designers on high-end hospitality, corporate office, and multi-family development projects. Mason is looking forward to continuing to refine his craft and embrace the next big design challenge.
Michelle Pietrzak is a recent graduate of The University of Alabama, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in interior design. During her college career, she also explored her passion for music, art, and art history, developing a well-rounded perspective that informs her creative work. Her experience studying abroad in Italy was a transformative moment, as she immersed herself in the breathtaking architecture and timeless design of cities like Florence and Rome, solidifying her passion for design.
Now, as a Designer at Lux et Veritas, Michelle plays a key role in collaborating with our talented team to develop and implement innovative lighting concepts that elevate architectural spaces. She has been able to work on a variety of projects in hospitality, mixed-use, and other commercial projects. Michelle’s work reflects her commitment to continuous learning and professional growth as she refines her skills in architectural lighting design.