For a touch of pop, California-based lighting studio Gantri, with its tech eco-system and digital expertise, offers the market something it has never seen before. The Louis lamp fashioned like an orb hanging from a triangle block or the Analog envisaged like a Lego brick or a block from Tetris are among some of its quirky pieces.
Started in 2016 by Ian Yang, a software engineer who made the leap into lighting, the firm now bridges the design world and the Bay Area’s tech culture. Also eco-minded, Gantri has become well-known for its use of sustainable materials like its very own 3D-printed plant polymer.
One of the most unique facets of the firm is its digital manufacturing platform. Dubbed Gantri Made, the firm empowers design-forward brands to create new products with minimal risk and cost, all sustainably made inside Gantri’s factory in San Leandro on California’s East Bay.
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WWD talked to Yang on the eve of the opening of The Shop, the brand’s first brick-and-mortar showroom, which was formerly an auto shop and is located in the SoMa (South of Market) district of San Francisco. The space was designed by Mzwakhe ‘Muzi’ Ndlovu and his cutting-edge creative design practice Zomuzi and is adorned with digital-inspired accents like a modern screen made of 3D-printed modules using Gantri Plant Polymers. The site, which opened Thursday, will serve as a hub for the local creative community and collaborative studio for design customization.
WWD: What was behind your decision to finally open a brick-and-mortar space?
Ian Yang: Gantri has always been about inclusion and empowering a community of creators. As we grow, physical spaces feel like a natural extension of that mission — places where design is lived, not just viewed. This space allows us to bring our community together in more immersive and expressive ways, while honoring the creative heritage of SoMa and the history of a building that has long served as our studio. By opening our doors, we’re creating a cultural setting that invites dialogue, sparks experimentation, and reflects how we envision people engaging with Gantri as a platform for design.
WWD: How did you make the leap from software to lighting maker?
I.Y.: I was curious about hardware so I joined the SF TechShop, which was a members-only machine shop, to explore how things are made. This was when I encountered 3D printing for the first time and where I got the idea of Gantri.
WWD: How is your online business performing? And which are your bestsellers?
I.Y.: Our online business is performing exceptionally well, with record-breaking month-over-month growth. We’re seeing strong demand across categories, with bestsellers including the Analog table light, the Pavone floor light, and our Vitra flush mounts, which launched last summer and have quickly become a customer favorite.
WWD: Are you interested in expanding into different markets and if so which ones are a priority and why?
I.Y.: We’re seeing strong and growing interest from international customers and potential partners, which speaks to the global appetite for a more modern approach to lighting design and manufacturing. While our near-term focus remains on scaling thoughtfully within North America, we’re continuing to invest in Gantri Made as a digital manufacturing platform that enables designers around the world to bring lighting products to market more efficiently and sustainably. As the business grows, we see a clear opportunity to expand both geographically and across product categories, building a global ecosystem for contemporary lighting rooted in design, technology and access.
WWD: What global events are you attending this year? Any design week collabs?
I.Y.: ICFF [during NYCxDesign in May] continues to be an important platform for Gantri, particularly as a moment to introduce and launch new products, and this year we’ll have a larger presence alongside a series of co-branded events during New York Design Week. We’ll also be activating Gantri “The Shop” during San Francisco Design Week, hosting events at NeoCon through a partner collaboration, and closing out the year in Miami with a major brand collaboration. Beyond these moments, we’re actively exploring additional global design forums that align with our vision and community.
WWD: You recently launched Gantri Made, a platform that allows the design curious to see their own designs come to fruition. How is that performing?
I.Y.: Gantri Made continues to gain strong momentum, and 2026 will be a breakout year, spanning hospitality projects, designer collaborations, and large-scale commercial applications. As awareness and education around the platform grow, we’re seeing the market increasingly understand — and embrace — the potential of Gantri Made as a new model for bringing lighting products to life. With ongoing development of new design systems and expanded platform capabilities, Gantri Made is well positioned for sustained growth in the years ahead.
WWD: How does your proximity to Silicon Valley benefit your business?
I.Y.: Our proximity to Silicon Valley is a meaningful advantage, placing Gantri at the intersection of design, art and technology and giving us access to world-class engineering and technical talent. At the same time, our growing presence in New York keeps us closely connected to the cultural and design community. Together, this dual footprint reinforces Gantri Made’s foundation as a digital manufacturing platform with global reach.
