Sixtysix Interviews Product and Lighting Designer Peter Bristol

Is there a project that keeps you up at night?

It seems like it is everything added together that keeps me up at night. Which project specifically probably depends on the day. My work at Oculus is pretty consuming, and I am always thinking about new ideas for Juniper and Visual Comfort. I also tend to continually add to the ever-growing backlog of personal projects I’ll likely never get to.

How does your interest in design and function intersect with your work on tech gear?

I guess I am interested in almost every type of problem? I feel like they might inform each other a bit. Lighting design is often driven only by the designer, and the lights become artistic statements, while complex consumer electronics can often look like a literal illustration of constraints and requirements. In contrast to these outcomes, the simple and modular nature of the Juniper THIN line is more like a toolkit for architects and designers to use for their vision, while details like the stretch fabric canopy on the interior of the Oculus Rift bring a level of unexpected delight.