Every month, we shine a spotlight on the interior designers and trade professionals who inspire us, challenge us, and trust us to bring their creative visions to life. But this month, we’re turning the spotlight on our team and plans for 2026.
Our 2025 Foundation Year
2025 wasn't just another year of growth for our Minneapolis lighting studio—it was a year of intentional preparation. We expanded our team, developed comprehensive CAD libraries for designers, partnered with BIMobject, and standardized our made-to-order lighting production processes to prepare for what’s next.
"We knew it was important to find people who were best at what they do—both our production team and marketing—so we hired experienced people to help us further develop our team and standardize processes." - Thomas Brown, CEO and co-founder
Photo of Dutton Brown lighting selections available on BIMobject.
From our CAD library with 500+ files in Revit, SketchUp, and AutoCAD to improved systems across production, customer service, and quality control, every decision was made to grow our lighting and hardware company to scale without losing the handcrafted quality and attention to detail that define us.
What’s in store for 2026?
Our Minneapolis studio has exciting endeavors in store, from new product launches to enhancing our Trade Program and more:
- Expanded Colorful Hardware Collection: More towel bars, hooks, and racks in our signature powder coat colors, from our best-selling Swift Collection.
- New Recessed Lighting Collection: A brand-new collection featuring vertical silhouettes that deliver statement-making mood lighting for residential and commercial spaces.
- New Powder Coat Color: Our most requested custom lighting color is finally here. Get ready… we PINKy promise you’ll love this one.
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Enhanced Trade Program: We're developing an improved trade portal to make it easier for interior designers and architects to streamline their projects. From enhanced CAD resources to better policies and exclusive offers, we're focused on supporting design professionals.
But here's what matters most: we're still handcrafting custom lighting in Minnesota. Still obsessed with colorful fixtures that bring personality to any design project. Still your reliable partner in bringing joy to residential, hospitality, and commercial spaces.
What Makes Our Customized Lighting Fixtures Different?
In a crowded lighting market, what brings interior designers to Dutton Brown's custom fixtures?
"We'd like to think of ourselves as a designer's secret weapon.” - Thomas Brown
Our brand is different. Our colorful lighting and hardware is designed to help spaces feel energized. We want to help tell our client’s stories through our lighting and hardware.
Why Colorful Lighting Matters
Color has always been central to our lighting approach. We started Dutton Brown because coordinating colors across different lighting products and hardware was nearly impossible. So we created a solution: high-quality powder coat finishes and parts that harmonize across our entire product line, even offering custom color matching for design projects.
One of the biggest challenges with selling colorful lighting online is accurately communicating colors. While physical samples remain the best way to see our powder coat finishes, we've invested in technology like photorealistic CAD models and accurate product rendering to eliminate color variance.
Expression is central to your design story and color is your fast track to making any space come alive.
Customizable, Handcrafted Lighting Made in Minneapolis
When we say our lighting fixtures are "handcrafted" and "customizable," here's what that means:
Every light fixture is assembled by hand from high-quality aluminum, brass, and acrylic components at our Minneapolis studio. Our made-to-order production process includes machining, powder coating, assembly, quality inspection, and shipping all under one roof.
"So if you want to add an extra 10 feet of extension rod for your high ceiling, no problem," - Zach Dutton, CEO and co-founder. "We will be sure your fixtures are wired with the extra cord so they are ready out of the box for installation."
Because we control each step of our custom lighting production, we can truly customize fixtures for your space. We offer 13 standard powder coat colors and 3 finishes (brass, nickel, and black), with flexibility for project-specific modifications.
Reliable Made-to-Order Lighting for Interior Designers
When asked what word they hope designers associate with Dutton Brown custom lighting in 2026, the answer was immediate: Reliable.
"Never over promise and under deliver… We want designers to know Dutton Brown is a reliable custom lighting manufacturer." - Zach Dutton
Trust is earned through action. It's equal parts integrity and consistency in custom lighting production.
Supporting Interior Designers and Trade Professionals
Our trade lighting program goes beyond just supplying customized fixtures. We provide resources that make specification and project execution easier:
- Comprehensive CAD Library: SketchUp, Revit, and AutoCAD files for all customized lighting products
- BIM Objects: Detailed, parametric models for architectural specification available on-site, our 3D Warehouse channel, and a dedicated BIMObject presence
- Photorealistic Rendering: See exactly how our colorful lighting will look in your space before ordering
- Responsive Trade Support: Direct access to our team for custom lighting questions and project troubleshooting
- Trade Pro Spotlight Recognition: We celebrate the incredible work of interior designers through this monthly feature series and social media callouts
When issues arise, whether it's a project timeline shift, shipping coordination, or a custom specification question, our Minneapolis team is prepared with solutions.
Handcrafted Lighting for 2026 and Beyond
As we head into this year, our handcrafted lighting studio is energized and ready. We have even more ways to support interior designers and homeowners—whether through new colorful lighting collections, improved trade resources, or simply being the reliable custom manufacturer you can count on project after project.
But here's what will never change: We started Dutton Brown in 2013 because the lighting market needed more color, personality, and fun. That mission hasn't shifted and it won't. Through every new product launch, every hire, process improvement, we stay true to who we are at our foundation: a team obsessed with bringing joy and individuality to spaces through colorful, handcrafted lighting.
Dutton Brown: Handcrafted, made-to-order lighting. Color-obsessed. Made in Minneapolis.
Ready bring color and personality to your client’s spaces? Join our Trade Program for exclusive discounts on customized lighting, CAD resources, and dedicated support for your design projects.
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