The new collaboration between design and manufacturing studio Venzon and designer JJ Acuña rethinks how modern spaces are transformed through light.

Venzon has been creating bespoke lighting and objets d’art since 2013. Prior to becoming a design studio, founders Cris and Jackie Venzon were key players in the export industry, filing container upon container with proudly Philippine made lighting and furniture. Over the years, the brand has forged countless collaborations with like-minded artists, engineers, designers, and artisans, and architects in creating customized or commissioned pieces.

The studio’s most recent pairing with Hong Kong and Manila-based designer, creative director and JJ Acuna / Bespoke Studio founder JJ Acuńa rethinks the transformation of modern spaces through easy, versatile lighting. Out of this meeting of the minds, a joyful collection of wall, floor, table, and pendant lamps that follow the shape of a flower was born: Luz de Flores.

*Ramo Especial by JJ Acuña and Venzon Studio | Photos by Renzo Navarro*

“Luz de Flores marks a new chapter of world-building that expands beyond the scale and context that people usually associate with the brand,” says Venzon’s Brand Director Alexis Venzon, referring to the company’s long history of creating bold, conversational design objects. “Venzon has been known for large-scale bespoke chandeliers and bespoke pieces, which naturally require a kind of space and investment. Luz de Flores became our way of opening the world of Venzon to people who deeply appreciate local design and craftsmanship, but may live in smaller spaces or simply want something more approachable and flexible for everyday life.’

The collection is also significant in that it represents a new era of Venzon as its founder Cris Venzon transitions into retirement, handing over the business to the women of the company, Jackie and Alexis.

A light bulb idea

The earliest versions of the Luz de Flores lamps were initially made for a clinic in Singapore. JJ remembers, “We wanted to create timeless wall accents that were iconic statement pieces, but made the space softer and more relaxed. Clinics can be a serious space, so we wanted to make sure we designed lamps that added easy and whimsy into the room.”

As soon as the final pieces were installed into the project site, JJ reached out to Venzon’s mother-daughter duo, Jackie and Alexis Venzon, with the idea of bringing the lamps to market. “The collaboration came naturally after seeing versions of the lamps up on the wall at the clinic in Singapore. I took a photo and sent it to Alexis and I told her: ‘We gotta bring a version of this to market!’ She got to it right away and made it her own personal project!”

The vision was clear: to create lighting fixtures–wall sconces, pendants, table and floor lamps–that were multi-functional, versatile, and above all playful. JJ shares, “I feel like in general, the world needs more wall sconces and fun floor lamps. Some iconic and decorative lightings can feel too masculine or streamlined, and extravagant. For me, I just felt the market needed well-crafted pieces that are urban, whimsical, and easy.”

Alexis adds, “The intention really came from JJ from the very beginning. He challenged us to think about how Venzon could translate its design language into pieces that were playful, collectible, and easier to live with — pieces that could move in and out of condos, studios, or smaller homes while still carrying the same emotional presence as our larger works.”

Every piece from Luz de Flores was designed and crafted as a tactile, experienced celebration of playfulness, craftsmanship, collaboration, and experimentation. “I want Luz de Flores to be a point of beauty, inspiration, focus. Think of it like an art piece or piece of jewelry in a space. It is the last and final touch in your space.”

Craft, creation, transformation

Admittedly, even for an established studio like Venzon, executing the designs demanded time, patience and an openness for recalibration. Alexis intimates: “Developing smaller scale products like table and floor lamps has honestly taken time. It required confidence, resources, and a willingness to rethink how we design and manufacture. But this collaboration also gave us the opportunity to push ourselves in a new direction while staying true to our DNA.”

The studio has also built a reputation for generously supporting designers in bringing ideas to life. Venzon’s expertise in metal laser cutting, welding and finishing by hand brings layers of craft and technology to the Luz de Flores collection. “My dad spent years refining our capabilities in metal fabrication, and we were among the earlier local manufacturers to really explore how technology and craftsmanship could coexist,” Alexis expounds, adding that “A huge part of our process is experimenting with shapes, materials, and construction techniques to push what locally made lighting can look like.”

The Chrome 26 finish, for instance, proved to be the most challenging of the colorways. “JJ proposed it because it felt fresh and exciting… Chrome plating is extremely unforgiving. Every imperfection becomes visible once the finish is applied so it demands a different level of precision from our team.” The team explored various iterations while tapping into their network of artisans who’ve had experience working with the finish.

The creation process did not just involve countless trial and error. It also demanded an unrelenting, uncompromising pursuit for craft. “The process pushed us to expand our capabilities as a workshop, and we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved.”

Always in bloom

The Luz de Flores collection by JJ Acuna for Venzon is made up of three wall lamps that double as pendant lights. They are named FLOR S, FLOR M, and FLOR L, reflecting their progression in scale from small to large.

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It also features two types of floor lamps and a table lamp. The floor lamps are called Ramo M and Ramo Especial, while the table lamp is Ramo S. With ease, movement, and mobility in mind, Luz de Flores is made distinct by fully portable and rechargeable lighting features–a first for Venzon. They are also fitted with a touch switch that allows for intuitive control, which includes dimming. There are four colorways to choose from: Pommy, Toma, Forrest and Chrome 26.

Flor S, Flor M, and Ramo S come with a 1W USB-C charger, dimmable bulbs, and batteries that last more than 36 hours on a full charge. Flor L, the largest wall lamp, is designed to be hardwired. Similarly Ramo M and Ramo Especial are built as plug-in floor lamps.

The collections, wall lamps are fitted with keyhole mounts. This makes it easy for users to hang them using a single screw. It also offers the option for using the pieces as portable table top lighting objects.

JJ expounds, “We always felt that the pieces should relate to the lotus flower in bloom, which only lasts a day or a few days at most. We wanted it to be inspired by a moment. With the colorways we drew from the natural world–pomegranates, tomatoes, trees. Although they are shaped like flowers, we didn’t want the colors to be too on the nose. We wanted to be remixed, intersectional, and maybe even a bit more on the edge of pop.”

Luz de Flores is a statement piece as it is testament to the brilliance of Filipino talent. For JJ, there was something exciting about the prospect of two global Philippine brands coming together. “Part of what excites me about working with Venzon is that the studio is half Filipino but also half Mexican. The brand and the Venzon family are both local and global. It’s the same as JJ Acuna / Bespoke Studio. I grew up in Texas, our studio launched in Hong Kong, and now we have presence in Manila.”

Alexis concludes, “What makes these pieces truly Filipino are the hands that make them. Every piece is laser cut, welded, hand-finished, assembled, and painted in our workshop in Pampanga by a team of craftsmen who have been with Venzon for years. These are people who have spent decades creating technically demanding bespoke pieces with extraordinary care and precision.”

The Luz de Flores Collection by JJ Acuña for Venzon is available upon order with a lead time of four to six weeks. For more details please email Venzon at sales@venzon.ph or visit www.venzon.ph.

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