In early October, five designers from dpa’s Oxfordshire studio took part in the Ready, Steady Light 2025 competition. Their installation, titled “Shelter,” explored the primal relationship between light and refuge.

From ancient times, humans have gathered around fire for warmth and protection beneath the open sky, our first natural source of nighttime light. Drawing inspiration from this elemental connection, the team utilised battery-operated, colour-changing LED projectors to recreate the night sky in one of its most awe-inspiring phenomena: the aurora borealis.

At the heart of the scene, a fire pit glowed gently, lit by a single narrow-beam spotlight discreetly nestled within the natural landscape.

The design evoked a sense of wonder and sanctuary, blending narrative and atmosphere to celebrate light as both a guide and a comfort.”