The light that guides our streets is not just a technical matter; it’s also an opportunity to create well-being.
When you work in lighting long enough, you realize that illuminating goes far beyond what a lightmeter says, beyond achieving high efficacy or having optics with excellent transmittance.
Of course, all of that matters. But in the end, what truly matters is thinking about people—how they feel when walking under that light, and the well-being that good lighting can create.
Lighting the streets is also about creating well-being. It’s about helping someone feel safe on their way home, enjoy a quiet walk through their neighborhood, or simply feel a little more at ease in the dark.
Designing optics isn’t just about improving numbers; it’s about bringing more light into the lives of those out there.
Gabriel Sosa
Optical Design for Street LuminairesStreluma is an engineering studio formed by a team of specialists in optics and lighting engineering for Streetlighting.
We focus on contributing to Street lighting through innovation, technical precision, and visual comfort—developing optical solutions that enhance both performance and the human experience of light in outdoor spaces.
The story behind Streluma is deeply personal. I graduated as a Control Systems Engineer in Mexico City, where I developed a strong fascination with lighting and its role in shaping outdoor lighting. I began my career as a lighting engineer in an outdoor lighting company. Not long after, I came across the book Optical Design of Reflectors by W. Elmer—a discovery that inspired me to dive into the world of optical design for luminaires.
At that time, the industry was still focused on high-pressure sodium and metal halide technologies. Wanting to learn more, I enrolled in an optical design course at Breault Research Organization in Singapore. That experience became the foundation of my path: years of self-driven research, study, and experimentation—especially at a time when few resources existed for luminaire optics.
Over the years, I’ve specialized in the development of custom optics for lighting, with a particular focus on streetlighting. I’ve supported companies in Mexico and collaborated remotely with international teams as an external optical designer.
My work spans from general lighting and streetlighting systems to specialized solutions designed to reduce light pollution in sensitive environments, such as astronomical observatories. While I’ve contributed to other areas, including automotive headlamp development, streetlighting remains at the core of my focus, It brings together technical complexity and meaningful impact.
Over time, I came to a clear realization—designing optics for streetlighting isn’t just about meeting technical standards. Many projects I encountered overlooked the value of precise design in creating lighting that truly feels comfortable and human. I saw the need to go beyond theory, to collaborate directly with luminaire manufacturers and understand the real-world needs of the market.
That’s what inspired me to create Streluma (Street Luminaire Art), an optical engineering studio built on both technical precision and human-centered design – to support the development of optical systems for street luminaires that not only illuminate efficiently and safely, but also enhance the everyday experience of those who walk beneath them — helping create streetlighting environments where people feel safe, guided, and seen.