About Bill Curry

Bill Curry (1927–1971) trained at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena after serving in the U.S. Navy. He began his career in advertising and aerospace art direction, where he absorbed the energy of space-age innovation before launching his own studio, Design Line Inc., in 1962.

Curry pioneered the “total look” lamp, eliminating the traditional base-plus-shade structure to create a unified, sculptural form. His iconic Stemlite series earned “Best Lamps of the Year” from Industrial Design Magazine and was featured in U.S. cultural exhibitions across the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and Iraq.

During the 1960s, he became known as one of California’s leading designers, celebrated for translating the optimism of the Space Age into “LA space-pop” aesthetics, bold, playful, forward-looking lighting that married technical precision with visual clarity.

GUBI now reissues Curry’s most beloved designs like the Stemlite and Obello series, ensuring that his visionary work continues to illuminate modern interiors with both historic depth and contemporary appeal.