Theo Richardson, Charles Brill and Alexander Williams founded RBW, originally known as Rich Brilliant Willing, in 2007, quickly gaining a reputation for simple, design-driven luminaires.
Growing up, the three designers each shared an interest in taking things apart and learning how to put them back together. It was this fascination with problem solving that sparked an interest in design as their careers.
Richardson, Brill, and Williams met while studying together at the Rhode Island School of Design. In 2007, they made the decision to share a basement studio in the East Village, allowing them the opportunity to work independently on projects.
Rich Brilliant Willing's first office in a basement of Lower East Side, NYC
During a small show at Kiosk in Soho for New York Design Week in the spring of 2008, they launched the first product, the Excel floor lamp. Named for the Microsoft spreadsheet software, with a large drum shade extending from a minimalist metallic arm, Excel was a hit.
Despite lacking a formal business account at the time, the trio received a substantial commission for the luminaire from a major retailer, marking the official genesis of RBW in 2009.
Excel floor lamp designed in 2008
In 2011, RBW pioneered the use of LEDs, leveraging their efficiency to create innovative lighting solutions. By embracing LED technology and forgoing traditional bulb and socket designs, they opened new avenues for lighting products.
In March 2013, RBW relocated to Brooklyn, immersing themselves in the borough's burgeoning design scene.
RBW is the 'new breed' of designer. They have taken their destiny into their own hands and control the design, marketing and sales of their innovative products. Sustainability and efficiency are a starting point, not an afterthought.
— John Edelman, DWR
Palindrome chandelier designed in 2014
(Left to Right) Alex Williams, Charles Brill, Theo Richardson
From inception, collaboration has been central to RBW's ethos. Each member contributes unique perspectives and skills, fostering a dynamic studio environment where ideas flourish.
Today, RBW stands as a testament to their collective vision, embodying a new paradigm in design where innovation, collaboration, and sustainability converge. Paying it forwards, in 2022 they proudly started the Rhode Island School of Design, RBW Endowed Scholarship at their alma mater.
Part start-up, part design firm, RBW prides itself on being a different kind of company; one that builds direct relationships with specifiers and oversees its manufacturing and production details directly. What began as a three-person studio a decade ago has grown into a 50+ person team with a global network of vendors, specifiers, and customers.