Designer Spotlight: Cam Barrett Smith

From blockbuster films to fine art, 3D and VFX, Cam Barrett Smith has spent over 16 years shaping visual experience. Now, he’s turning his creative energy toward sustainable design, crafting sculptural lamps from recycled bioplastic that explore the interplay between light, texture, and movement.

 

Inspired by nature and driven by curiosity, his work blends digital experimentation with hands-on making, blending concept and texture into quietly expressive pieces.

 

In this edition of Designer Spotlight, we take a closer look at his design philosophy, his use of recycled bioplastics, and how curiosity drives the creation of tactile, light-responsive forms.

Can you share a brief introduction about yourself?

 

I’m a 3D and VFX Artist, and I’ve been working in the Film, TV, and advertising industries for around 16 years. My career has taken me from big-budget films to intimate fine art projects. Recently, I’ve started a new venture that brings together my passion for design and sustainability, creating table and floor lamps using recycled bioplastic. These pieces are inspired by organic forms and designed to diffuse light in interesting ways.

 

 

How would you characterise your design style?

 

I like to think that my style is shaped by play and experimentation. I generally like to keep things fun and fluid, and I’m often inspired by organic forms—things you’d find in nature. I enjoy exploring how light interacts with shape and texture, and that curiosity really drives the look and feel of my designs, inviting people to think differently about light, form, and sustainability.

How do you experiment with different materials and techniques?

 

I’m a strong believer in using what’s on hand and being kind to the environment wherever possible. My lamps are made from recycled PLA—a bioplastic derived from cornstarch and sugarcane, which means they’re not made from fossil fuels and can break down under the right conditions. I source my filament from a local company that repurposes post-industrial waste from food packaging.

 

On the creative side, I use my VFX tools to simulate real-world elements like wind, water, fire, and smoke. These simulations help me explore movement and disturbance, which I then translate into physical forms. I like to contrast strong silhouettes with interesting disturbances and textures that catch the light in unexpected ways.

 

 

How significant is material innovation in shaping your design concepts and projects?

 

Material innovation is central to what I do. I’ve been working with a company based in Tokoroa that goes to great lengths to collect used bioplastics both locally and overseas. They take this waste and turn it into high-quality PLA filament that I can use in my 3D printer. I’m a big fan of the three Rs, Recycle, Reuse, and Refuse and I try to embody that in every part of the process

 

For example, the steel legs I use in my larger floor lamp designs are repurposed from old fencing left on our property by the previous owner. I cut them to size with an angle grinder, giving new life to materials that would otherwise go to waste.

 

 

What are your goals over the next 12 – 18 months?

 

I’m starting to explore the idea of showcasing my lamps in a gallery space or maybe a small pop-up store where people can experience them in person. Right now, I have five small-sized lamps available on a simple e-commerce site, Cam Barrett, with my larger designs still in the prototype phase, but I’m keen to finalise them soon.