From art curator to creative director to interior designer, Tonia Trotter Price has done it all. Now, she represents Sesco Lighting, uniting her skills and passions in commercial and public projects you’ve likely seen – or will soon. We caught up with her to learn more about her sources of inspiration and what she has in store.
Have you always been interested in interior design?
I’ve been obsessed with design — interiors and fashion — since I was a little girl. I used to pore over magazines and books about interior style and rearrange the furniture in my home. My parents would take me to antique auctions and estate sales (not the typical childhood hobby, but I loved it), and I would advise them on which pieces to go for or use my babysitting and odd-job money to purchase pieces to refinish.
How did you find your way to your current role with Sesco?
My pipeline to working in lighting wasn’t a straight shot. My background is in communications and art. I started my career as a curator and gallery director in Nashville in my early twenties and thought I would ultimately work toward a career in museum administration. When the recession hit in 2007, I had to shift. I started working with interior designers as an art advisor for their clients and financial institutions to curate rotating and permanent collections to help keep my artists afloat.
I consulted with custom furniture designers trying to market themselves at the intersection of art and industrial design, and that led to opportunities where I was asked to consult on interior projects.
I took some time off when my kids were very young to lean into motherhood and readjust to moving back to Birmingham. From there, I worked as a stylist and creative director on campaigns ranging from fashion and home goods to retail, food, and sporting events before becoming the Director of Communications for Create Birmingham. I had opportunities to dive back into interiors and ultimately decided to start my own business as a design consultant. Just as that was happening, my name was floated to Sesco Lighting by a friend. Because most of my projects were residential, I wasn’t familiar with Sesco, but I was certainly interested.
I jumped at the chance to learn more about this niche area of design and told myself that if I didn’t like it after a year, I’d leave and go back to residential interiors with some added experience and contacts. That was nearly four years ago. Needless to say, I love what I do!
Has it been a challenge to learn about lighting?
Taking the leap into lighting has come with a steep learning curve; it’s not just about picking out pretty fixtures! I am consistently studying and then teaching others about new technology, energy codes, and strategies for dark sky compliance, well-building standards, trauma-informed design, and ways to make cities or campuses “smarter” with controls to track potential threats or conserve energy.
Keeping up with the constant advancements is exciting but definitely challenging — especially when trying to work within conservative budgets. I’ve got to articulate why these design elements are paramount to shaping the future of our communities. The most rewarding moments always center around the relationships I’ve built. I get excited when I can play a part in my clients’ visions. Knowing that I was part of something they are proud of makes me proud, too, and I have been fortunate to count many of those clients as close friends.
Do you have advice for women about confidently pursuing new career paths?
My husband jokingly calls me “The Highlander,” referring to the many hats I’ve worn throughout my career. I feel like I’ve always learned the most by “doing,” so each role was an education by immersion in a specific field, where I gained transferrable skills that led me to my next step. While I’ve done a lot of different things, I think my interests have always centered around the intersection of art, design, and relationships.
There was a time when I was insecure about jumping from role to role. Someone once referred to me as a “dabbler,” and it hurt my feelings because the tone insinuated I wasn’t focused or serious about my work. I remember telling my husband that when we were first dating. He changed my perspective, saying it was a gift to be good at a lot of different things, and that should be a point of pride, not insecurity.
Are there any projects you are particularly proud of?
I’ve loved collaborating with architecture firms and designers on local projects like Frothy Monkey in Edgewood, and the new El Barrio, Paramount, and Corbeau Wine Bar locations in West Homewood are fun spots I consulted on. I’ve worked on some community centers recently that give me a lot of pride because people are able to come together to use those spaces with their families, and that work feels valuable. I am also super excited to watch the new Cheaha State Park Lodge be built because I really got to play and be creative with their design team on that one!
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I like to stay active, whether at the gym or just out for a walk. I love spending time with family and friends — entertaining at home or out for dinner and drinks. With four kids, my husband and I stay busy with their extracurriculars. I travel a good bit for work, but I love getting away for a personal vacation whenever I can.
Who or what is inspiring you right now?
I still look to art for inspiration — visual art, film, and music. I have this monthly exercise I’ve done for years: I curate a list or mood board of what is floating around my brain or intellectually feeding me at the start of each month. I keep them all and occasionally reference back to remind myself to stay open and playful.
What is your best piece of advice?
Surround yourself with people you admire and can learn from, but trust your own voice.
Aside from faith, family, and friends, name three things you can’t live without.
Eight hours of sleep, exercise, and laughter.
Lightning Round!
Last delicious local meal: La Fete is my go-to. The beet salad is a favorite.
Favorite place to vacation: NYC or Rome. I’m still a museum girlie at heart and love a city with culture and history.
Your go-to gift to give: Candles. They’re the original lighting, and I love how scent affects our mood.
Favorite recent TV show binge: I am late to the game, but I am currently binging The White Lotus and am obsessed with the style and surroundings — maybe even more than the storyline.
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Birmingham women are doing inspiring work. Meet more of them over at our FACES archives!
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