Did you know? Lumiere is made possible by the work of talented engineers and technicians behind the scenes.
To celebrate #NationalEngineeringDay (5 November 2025), we caught up with John Atkins, Head of Product Design at leading Durham-based technology company Kromek to find out more about his role, the similarities between art and engineering and what the future holds for engineering.
Technicians working on the installation of KEYFRAMES by Groupe LAPS at Lumiere 2013. Photo by Matthew Andrews
HI, JOHN! CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT A TYPICAL DAY IN YOUR ROLE AS HEAD OF PRODUCT DESIGN AT KROMEK?
As Head of Product Design at Kromek, the team are tasked to solve problems that sit within the constraints of usability, emotional design, engineering and manufacturability. We use tools such as 2D and 3D CAD software, 3D printing and rendering software.
A big part of design is understanding both the users and stakeholders within the market you are designing for. Tools such as Design Readiness levels and Stratagyzer exercises help with this, determining the correct parameters and specification to create a successful product for the market.
Collaboration with engineers, regulatory experts and supply-chain partners ensures compliance and manufacturability. The people who benefit from our work are broad, including civil authorities and communities.
“Art and engineering are deeply connected”
John Atkins
How did you get involved in Lumiere Durham?
In 2023, Kromek got involved in Lumiere by supporting with the development of one of the artworks: Diamond Garden. The project saw 120 young people from six County Durham primary schools work with artist Mick Stephenson to create a sparkling diamond garden powered by solar technology. We supported with everything from the design and creation of the solar lights, to weather-proofing the lights and ensuring that the technology functioned in low winter light levels.
Diamond Garden, Mick Stephenson. Lumiere 2023, produced by Artichoke.
This year, Kromek is an industry partner on the new Lumiere Bright Ideas programme, funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenious scheme. As part of this programme, I gave a talk about my role and the different career pathways available in engineering at local school Durham Academy.
Bright Ideas Career Talk with John Atkins at Durham Academy, June 2025. Photo by Beth King.
The students subsequently worked with artist Hannah Fox to create a new artwork for Lumiere 2025 inspired by railway engineering, which will be on display at Locomotion in Shildon. And, behind-the-scenes, I’m collaborating with Lumiere artists and producers as an advisory expert, consulting on any engineering challenges that arise.
Bright Ideas launch with Year 9s from Durham Academy at Locomotion in Shildon, September 2025. Photo by Michaela Alagbala.
What are the links between art and engineering?
Art and engineering are deeply connected. Both need to understand material properties and capabilities. Art can involve emotion/ideas with inspiration from nature that can inspire engineering challenges leading to innovation. Industrial design is a profession that aims to branch the two, creating both functional and beautiful, meaningful products with a human-centred focus. Whilst engineering can advance artistic possibilities such as 3D printing, art also inspires new forms of engineering such as biomimicry.
What do you imagine your role could look like in 25 years’ time?
I believe that both human and machine interface will be symbiotic within 25 years with emotional design at the forefront of robotics and AI interaction. Designers would not only be looking at shaping objects but shaping interactions. AR/VR interfaces will be the ‘norm’ with a sustainable movement at the core. Products will be more personalised adapting more to the user and their needs and the combination of AI, biotech and nano tech will inevitably allow designers and engineers create more meaningful products and experiences.
National Engineering Day aims to make the UK’s engineers and engineering more visible, and celebrate how they improve everyday lives and shape the world around us.
For more current and future roles, explore the AI-Z of Engineering, a future-focused guide to the amazing breadth of engineering careers.
Find Out More About Bright Ideas
Bright Ideas is a new programme designed to raise awareness of the hidden science and engineering behind Lumiere. Year 9s from Durham Academy worked with artist Hannah Fox to create Iron Horse Junction, an immersive artwork inspired by and celebrating the S&DR Bicentenary at Shildon Locomotion Museum.
Working with Locomotion and our engineering partner Kromek, young people learned about the incredible feats of engineering that went into the development of the railways 200 years ago, and found out how engineering continues to benefit society and shape our future. In partnership with the Durham University Science Engagement team, students also learned about the physics of light and diffraction, inspiring young people to pursue STEM education and careers.
Bright Ideas is supported by:
Thank you to our engineering partner Kromek:
