From Surf Break to Studio: How Cerno Channels Laguna Beach Into Lighting

Locus is a favorite fixture of the company founders. 

Childhood friends Nick Sheridan, Bret Englander, and Dan Wacholder don’t just create lighting fixtures and programs. With Cerno, they’ve built a studio that captures the soul of their hometown of Laguna Beach, California.

True to form, they dreamt up lighting brand Cerno on a slow surf day. The lack of waves pushed them to aim for pieces that embody the landscape of their playground—the beach—and ensure each is designed and manufactured in the same place: their Aliso Viejo workshop, where they employ dozens of makers from the community and around the world. Rumor has it the company’s potlucks are pretty incredible.

Covering all the bases (Nick is director of design; Dan is director of engineering and operations; Bret is director of sales and marketing), they’ve managed to create a one-stop shop. Here’s more on how they got there and why their design approach seems to hit just like a slow-rolling ocean wave.

Childhood friends Dan, Bret, and Nick now, and Nick, Dan, and Bret back in the day

How does your history together play into your design process?

Nick: As best friends and as collaborators, the connection and understanding we have can border on telepathy. During product development, we’re able to mine each other for guidance and feedback. It’s so rewarding to work so hard together with so much shared passion and commitment to a common goal.

How does having design and manufacturing under one roof lead to more cohesive, intentional products?

Dan: The best design decisions are made by people who have a deep understanding of the materials, tools, and processes that they are working with. That’s hard to come by when you’re isolated from the manufacturing. Constant immersion in the manufacturing process leads to serendipitous design ideas and allows for continuous improvement, which is one of Cerno’s core values.

The talented artisans at Cerno's Aliso Viejo workshop 

What role do you think lighting plays in commercial interiors?

Nick: In architecture school, I was taught that many of the great early architects approached their work as much as the cultivation of natural light as the sculpting of space. That’s telling about the role light plays. An intentional, well-lit space creates a sense of well-being and health.

What’s a favorite piece Cerno has created over the past year?

Dan: The Locus was challenging and fun to create. The final design is simple, but—as is usually the case—simple designs take the most creativity and effort to develop.

Hiding the fixture’s wiring inside the wood and figuring out the deceptively simple joinery work were large challenges that might not be immediately apparent, but have a dramatic impact on the design.

I also enjoy how this piece celebrates our team’s glassblowing and woodworking skills.

Cerno's Gaviota (left) and  Amicus (right) fixtures

What’s the “glue” for Cerno?

Bret: What unites us all is the shared passion for artistry, which is ingrained in SoCal’s culture. It resonates with every team member who touches each one of our fixtures.

—AnnMarie Martin