Our award-winning, creative talent.
Matthew Tirschwell
Founder, Principal Designer
Matthew Tirschwell is the founder of Tirschwell & Co., Inc., established in 1999. With more than 35 years of experience in lighting design, he has contributed to an extensive range of projects worldwide, spanning hospitality, healthcare, retail, residential, and government sectors. His work reflects a philosophy of clean, purposeful design—where the impact of light takes precedence over the visibility of the lighting itself.
Matthew’s portfolio includes significant collaborations such as the Sculpture Center with Maya Lin and David Hotson, the former World Trade Center Plaza, luxury residences with Peter Marino and Philippe Starck, as well as numerous hospitality and restaurant environments. His projects have been featured in Architectural Digest (U.S. and France), Interior Design, Elle Decor, The New York Times, and Architectural Record, among others.
A dedicated educator, Matthew has taught lighting design at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Utah State University, and Parsons School of Design. His foundation in theatrical lighting and scenic design—shaped during his studies at Ithaca College (BFA in Theatrical Production Arts) and Parsons - The New School (Master’s in Architectural Lighting Design)—continues to inform his architectural work with a keen sense of drama, space, and nuance.
His contributions to the field have been recognized with the prestigious Lumen Award from the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, honoring excellence in retail and restaurant lighting design.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Matthew is a committed public servant. He volunteers as an emergency medical technician with Gotham Volunteer Ambulance in Queens, where he also serves as secretary; and as an asst chief and firefighter with the Ocean Bay Park Fire Department. He is the founder of EMSACCESS Inc. (www.emsaccess.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting volunteer ambulance agencies through leadership, management, and operational best practices.
Stephanía Vallejo
Associate Designer
As a Senior Designer at T-LD, Stephanía Vallejo brings creativity, precision, and an open-minded spirit to every project she touches. A valued member of the team for six years, Stephanía thrives on the spontaneity and energy that spark during design charrettes, where fresh ideas flow freely and boundaries are pushed to create truly original work.
For Stephanía, T-LD represents both sophistication and precision—a brand undergoing an exciting period of rediscovery. She sees this evolution not as uncertainty but as an opportunity for thoughtful renewal and growth, and she is eager to help shape the firm’s future identity.
Guided by the qualities of her spirit animal, the bee, Stephanía approaches her craft with focus, collaboration, and a tireless work ethic. Like the bee—an emblem of community, productivity, and purposeful creativity—she brings structure and meaning to every design challenge while contributing to the larger harmony of the team’s vision.
Lindsay Stefans
Senior Designer
Lindsay is both a creative lighting designer and business development manager with over 20 years of experience shaping environments through light. Her background spans lighting design consulting, product development, and project leadership on a wide range of high-end architectural, cultural, and wellness-focused spaces.
Trained in both design and business, She brings a holistic approach that balances creative vision with technical precision. Her work integrates deep knowledge of materials, lighting technologies, and sustainability practices—often collaborating closely with architects, interior designers, and engineers to deliver lighting solutions that are both beautiful and performance-driven.
She has a strong foundation in design tools, and is happiest on job sites or working directly with clients. In addition to lighting design, she has led business development and marketing efforts, often taking projects from initial pitch through to final installation.
Nirali Prajapati
Associate Designer
Nirali Prajapati joined TLD in September 2023.
She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the D.C. Patel School of Architecture in Gujarat, India, in 2017, and went on to work on a range of architectural and interior design projects across varying scales. Driven by a desire to integrate lighting more intentionally into her work, Nirali pursued an advanced degree and earned her Master of Professional Studies in Lighting Design from the New York School of Interior Design in 2023.
During her studies, Nirali’s curiosity about the ways light shapes the built environment deepened, leading her to focus her career exclusively on lighting design. Her graduate work was recognized with both the Chairman’s Award and the IESNY Thesis Award for excellence in design and research.
Outside of work, Nirali loves to travel, believing that new experiences broaden her perspective on life. She also enjoys reading autobiographies and following the tennis Grand Slams.
Debbie Bernstein
Associate Designer/West Coast Operations
Debbie Bernstein brings a thoughtful and grounded approach to her role as Associate Lighting Designer and Head of West Coast Operations at T-LD. Joining the team in December 2024, Debbie draws on a rich and varied background that bridges both lighting design and marketing—an intersection that uniquely positions her to contribute creatively and strategically to each project.
With experience in both large corporate environments and now in the intimate, collaborative setting of T-LD, Debbie deeply values the studio’s small size and diverse team. She appreciates the mutual respect among colleagues and the collective commitment to pushing creative boundaries rather than settling for the predictable. For Debbie, every project is an opportunity to bring fresh perspective, precision, and passion to the craft of lighting design.
At TLD, Debbie lends her talents to both design and business development initiatives. Her enthusiasm for her work reflects her belief that the best results come from exceeding expectations and embracing originality. Inspired by the symbolism of the turtle—her personal spirit animal—Debbie approaches her work with patience, determination, and emotional strength. Her work is grounded amid complexity, bringing serenity and persistence to every challenge, while remaining agile and adaptable in creative problem-solving.
When Debbie isn’t shaping light to transform spaces, she finds joy in slowing down, staying present, and seeking enduring, meaningful solutions—qualities that perfectly align with T-LD’s thoughtful, client-centered philosophy.
Manav Singla
Designer
Manav Singla is a Lighting and Industrial Designer whose work seamlessly blends technical precision with creative artistry. Rooted in a profound understanding of the human experience, Manav’s designs transcend mere functionality to evoke emotion and connection. His background in Industrial Design from the National Institute of Design provides a solid foundation in creating innovative, user-centric solutions, while his advanced studies in Lighting Design at Parsons School of Design enhance his ability to craft environments that are both visually stunning and deeply impactful.
Manav’s projects, ranging from public art installations to intricate architectural lighting, reflect his commitment to sustainability and social impact. His work on the GLOwanus light installation, for instance, uses light to raise awareness about environmental issues, demonstrating his belief in the power of design to foster community engagement and drive change. Whether through the dynamic play of light in a recovery center or the thoughtful integration of natural and artificial light in public spaces, Manav’s designs inspire and uplift, showcasing the transformative potential of thoughtful, well-executed design.
Iván Zamora
Associate Designer
Iván Zamora joined TLD in late 2020 as a Designer.
After earning his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador in 2019, Ivan interned in the university’s robotics department where he contributed to producing special effects for live shows. His undergraduate research — exploring the use of raw EEG signals to control peripheral devices through a Python interface and IoT protocol — was published at the IEEE 2019 CHILECON Conference.
In 2020, Iván earned his Master’s degree in Lighting Design from the New York School of Interior Design, where he was recognized with the IESNYC Thesis Award.
Iván has a deep interest in culture, politics, science, and technology — passions that continue to inform and inspire his work in lighting design.
Minako Koyama
Procurement & Special Project Manager
As Procurement and Special Project Manager at T-LD, Minako Koyama plays a vital role in bridging the creative vision of design with the realities of execution. Minako brings thoughtful precision and care to her work—especially in the procurement process where managing budget, schedule, and design integrity requires balance, foresight, and attention to detail.
Minako values the opportunity to collaborate with a team deeply committed to design integrity and excellence at every stage. For her, T-LD’s brand represents more than just innovative design—it embodies a holistic approach that prioritizes not only what is delivered, but how it’s achieved: through careful planning, genuine teamwork, and a shared commitment to the process.
Guided by the qualities of her spirit animal, the horse, Minako is intuitive, adaptable, and deeply attuned to the environment around her. She thrives when working alongside others who share a common direction and set of values, contributing to projects with energy, responsiveness, and quiet strength.
Eli Anders
Controller
Eli is the Controller at Tirschwell & Co. He joined the team in October 2022.
Eli grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and studied business at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, before moving to New York City.
Eli has worked in New York City's design/build industry as a project manager, accounting manager, business manager and, now, controller.
Eli is an avid gardener, tropical fish keeper, and enjoys traveling to estate sales on the weekends.
