With a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil, and a master’s in the same field from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, IN, Barbara had her first contact with lighting design while working as an electrical engineer for a MEP consulting company. She became attracted by the field that could blend her natural inclination to engineering with her admiration for architectural and interior design.

Barbara has worked on multiple higher education, health care and commercial building projects and her interest to better understand lighting and its influence in one’s perception of the environment has led her to pursue an architectural lighting design masters’ degree at Hochschule Wismar, Germany.

Barbara joined Cooley Monato Studio in 2021 as a full-time lighting designer. She brings to the team her years of experience working as an electrical engineer as well as her passion and curiosity to further explore lighting design.