After nearly two decades at the helm of her custom lighting business, Visual Comfort approached Julie to be one of their design partners. In early conversations with founder Andy Singer, Neill says she was honest, telling him “My stuff is a little to the side of what you typically do. Are you sure?” His response was the sign she needed: we can take what you do and share it with more people.

Collaborating with Visual Comfort & Co.’s executive vice president, Charles Neal, Julie soon found her collection could be every bit as beautiful as the pieces she produces in her namesake atelier.

“I’m not a cerebral designer, I’m a maker, and Charles took the time to understand. He flew to New Orleans to see how I work and developed our working relationship that has allowed Visual Comfort to fabricate pieces that still feel like my own.”

- JULIE NEILL