After graduating from Pratt University’s Master in Environmental Design program, Davis joined with a number of prestigious lighting firms where he worked on such prominent projects as I.M. Pei’s Louvre Museum and the Getty Center in Los Angeles. He would later become a teacher of lighting design at the New York School of Interior Design. During this time his freelance work caught the attention of residential architects and art collectors throughout New York City, and in 1996 he formed DMA Lighting to devote his full time to his own work. He became known among major collectors and art galleries by word-of-mouth and was soon designing projects throughout the U.S.

Davis’s interest and education in fine art and art history lends him a keen eye towards the illumination of important collections. He also understands how this lighting must seamlessly integrate into residential environments. Now over two decades in business he continues to offer his hands-on approach so that each and every project receives his personal attention.

Russ Burns graduated from Penn State’s Architectural Engineering program in 1995. A love of music inspired a study of architectural acoustics, which naturally led to an interest in optics and the ways in which light waves reveal and shape space. Throughout his time in New York City he’s involved himself in various theatrical projects on both sides of the curtain. He’s worked for a number of designers on a variety of projects ranging from large scale interior and exterior public spaces, galleries, and church renovations, to hands-on installations at art galleries and intimate public events. He joined DMA Lighting in 2005 and has been focused on the challenges of artfully illuminating residential spaces ever since.

Russ brings a unique set of problem-solving tools to every project, and believes that a skillful lighting design is most successful when the hand of the designer is completely unnoticed.