Dave Dawson, co-founder of the Urban Electric Company, a Charleston-based custom lighting manufacturer recognized for its high-end fixtures featured in prestigious venues including the Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton hotels, and the White House, died on June 30. He was 53. His wife and business partner, Jennifer Dawson, announced his passing without specifying a cause or location.

In 2001, the Dawsons relocated from Silicon Valley to Charleston, South Carolina, seeking a change from their software startup careers. With no prior experience in manufacturing or lighting, they initially renovated a 19th-century home on Legare Street but struggled to find suitable lighting fixtures. This challenge sparked the idea to develop their own line of lighting products.

Recognizing a gap in American manufacturing, as many lighting companies had moved production overseas or closed, they saw an opportunity rather than a dead market. In 2002, they acquired a small workshop in Charleston from coppersmith John Gantt, known for crafting gas lanterns for historic homes. The pair began producing Gantt’s designs and selling pieces from other firms out of a studio on Upper King Street.

Their first client was interior designer Michael Amato, who joined the company as design director. Urban Electric quickly gained traction, blending traditional 19th-century styles with minimalist, refined details. The square lantern, notably the Chisholm Hall pendant with filament bulbs, became a signature product. The company expanded from a handful of craftspeople to around 350 employees, establishing a factory complex in Charleston’s growing design district.

Urban Electric maintained a business model focused on serving trade professionals, allowing for highly customized orders. They invited designers and architects to tour their historic brick factory, converting a former naval yard building into a creative manufacturing hub.

The company’s reputation caught the attention of national clients. Although a lighting design for the White House Rose Garden was approved but never installed, the fixture remains part of their permanent collection. President Barack Obama commissioned a custom lantern for his private residence, and in 2021, fixtures from Urban Electric were selected for the vice president’s official home by interior designer Sheila Bridges, who praised their commitment to American-made craftsmanship.

Dawson was known for fostering collaboration with leading designers and architects, including Steven Gambrel and Mark Maresca. Gambrel recounted working closely with the craftsmen and how Dawson encouraged innovation even when it complicated production.

Beyond his company, Dawson founded the Makers Alliance, a trade group for manufacturers of objects and textiles, supporting industry networking and knowledge-sharing. He also launched The Current, an annual print design magazine showcasing global artists and designers, defying industry trends favoring digital media.

Born July 1, 1972, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, David Scott Dawson grew up across several states and earned degrees from Liberty University and the College of William & Mary. Before founding Urban Electric with Jennifer, whom he married in 2001, he practiced law and worked in Silicon Valley startups alongside family members.

Dawson is survived by his wife Jennifer, their two sons, Jack and James, his brother Matthew, and his parents. Known for his belief in quality American manufacturing without relying solely on national loyalty as a selling point, he emphasized the importance of creating products that customers genuinely value.