by Kathleen Ameera Rivero, Brand Manager – MEIA & ASEAN, Tridonic Middle East FZE
I am writing this to you all from Dubai, where I’ve spent the last decade-plus immersed in the world of lighting. I recently woke up to the incredible news that my concept was selected as the winner of the first-ever WILD T shirt design competition. Honestly, it was the perfect reprieve and a much-needed dose of positive energy amidst the heavy news cycles we’ve all been seeing lately.
My journey in this industry began over 13 years ago. I started in sales for the Middle East branch of Mackwell, an emergency lighting manufacturer based in the UK while at the same time, working for Archilum, a lighting specialist based in Dubai. I was hired directly from the Philippines. I then continued my career as the Marketing Communications Specialist for MEIAT (Middle East, India, Africa, and Turkey) for Tridonic and have grown alongside the brand, eventually moving into Brand Management for the MEIA-ASEAN regions. From conceptualizing marketing campaigns from start to finish and to managing regional budgets, my career has always sat at the intersection of technical lighting and creative storytelling.
Recently, I’ve been able to apply that technical rigor to a prestigious global recognition in the industry. I am proud to have been instrumental for Tridonic’s last five DALI Lighting Awards wins dating back to 2022 — maintaining a 100% hit rate, with two of those five prestigious awards secured just this year in the DALI Awards 2026.
The Inspiration for the design: Classy, Eclectic, and Purposeful
When I sat down to conceptualize this design for WILD, I wanted to step away from the “dated” aesthetics often found in corporate apparel and move toward something classy, eclectic, and purposeful all at the same time.
The design is rooted in the theme of International Women’s Day, whose main colors is a palette of purple, green, and white.
Purple signifies justice and dignity, and being loyal to the cause.
Green symbolizes hope.
White represents purity, albeit a controversial concept. Yet, the wearing of white is a symbol of sisterhood and solidarity, respecting and representing the progress made by those who have fought for women’s suffrage.
To deepen the narrative of this piece, I incorporated the powerful symbol of The Lotus Flower: A symbol of growth and beauty blooming from murky waters. For me, it represents beauty, absolute purity, honesty, rebirth, self-regeneration, and enlightenment — a reminder that even in heavy times, we can create something vibrant and purposeful.
The graphic elements — the stylized spotlights and circuit lines and tools — reflect our daily technical reality. It’s a tribute to the “WILD” spirit we all share: the courage to be different, the drive to innovate, and the commitment to lighting up the world in our own way.
I am so honored to officially join the WILD community as a member and to see this design worn by such a talented group of women. Thank you for this opportunity! I look forward to growing more in this industry with all of you.