Multidisciplinary designer Ilan El was born in Israel, trained and practised as an architect before moving to Australia in 2005 to join RMIT's Industrial Design Masters program. In 2010 he established ILANEL Design Studio, a product design practice located in Melbourne, specialising in designing and producing bespoke luminaires and large-scale light-based installations. Interested in the experiential quality of light and its potential for positive psychological and emotional effects, Ilan explores the colours of the visible spectrum to develop works with playful, interactive and automated elements.

His installations and work have been presented at the Melbourne Design Fair (2023), Melbourne Design Week (2017 - Departures, 2018 - Decoding Design, 2020 - Light+Life, 2021 - Wisdom of Objects, 2022 - Reflections, 2023 - Fragile); Globelight, Melbourne (2013 – 2016). His large-scale commissions include an interactive light sculpture, ORA, for the National Gallery of Victoria's Triennial (2020); An interactive lighting installation, 39 STEPS, for the Justin Art House Museum, Melbourne (2019); A backdrop lighting installation, SHIMMERING LIGHTS, for Save the Children Gala, New York (2016); A 13m multi-tiered light installation, DECO GRANDEUR for the Royal Bank Chambers, Melbourne (2015); as well as a variety of bespoke luminaires for high-end hotels and private residences across the globe.