Panda Roja Design

Derek leads the Panda Roja team with unending creative energy and technical prowess. His experience as a college professor and his passionate attention to detail have positioned Derek as an instrumental manager and mentor. He directs his team to focus on Creativity, Communication, and Collaboration for every project.

Derek grew up in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and moved to DC for almost a decade. After stints in Indiana and Maine, Derek moved to LA to pursue architectural lighting. Since then, he has enjoyed it so much that he has set up roots in LA while still traveling across the country to complete projects. His favorite hobby is traveling the world to ride roller coasters.

Derek received both a BA in Theatre and BS in Physics from The George Washington University and his MFA in Lighting Design from Indiana University.