The LIT Lighting Design Awards are widely known for recognizing outstanding achievements and advancements in lighting design. They showcase and celebrate professionals whose work has significantly influenced and shaped the industry, giving them a platform that supports the artists and the lighting design community as a whole. Each year, the Lifetime Achievement Award honors an individual who has made immeasurable contributions to the field over the years with exceptional technical skills and visionary design. In 2024, the award will be given to Allen Lee Hughes, a lighting designer whose work in theatre, opera, and dance has profoundly impacted the lighting design world for over five decades.
Allen Lee Hughes, born in Washington, D.C., developed an early passion for theatre. He discovered his love for lighting and stage design while studying at the Catholic University of America, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree. He later pursued a Master’s in Fine Arts at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, specializing in Design for Stage and Film. Hughes eventually joined the Tisch faculty, where he continues to teach and mentor aspiring designers. His dedication to education was recognized in 2016 when he received the David Payne Carter Award for Teaching Excellence.
Hughes’ professional career began in regional theatres across the U.S. Eventually, it brought him to New York, where he worked at prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center Theater and Playwrights Horizons before making his mark on Broadway. Since 1983, Hughes has designed lighting for twelve Broadway shows, including the original production of Once on This Island in 1990, which earned him a Tony Award nomination. His lighting for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (2012) and A Soldier’s Play (2020) also garnered Tony nominations. Other notable accolades include the Joseph Maharam Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for his work on K2. Hughes’ lighting often combines technical precision with a deep sense of thematic storytelling, as seen in A Soldier’s Play, where his lighting helps convey complex themes of racial identity and conflict without overshadowing the actors’ performances. His Broadway portfolio also includes Home, Our Town, Clybourne Park, Mule Bone, Strange Interlude, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, and Quilters.
Beyond Broadway, Hughes’ lighting designs have graced some of the most respected companies in the world, including the American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and the National Ballet of Canada, as well as the Pilobolus Dance Theatre and Eliot Feld. His work extends to theatres across the U.S., including the McCarter Theatre, Seattle Rep, Long Wharf Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Guthrie Theatre, Hartford Stage, Mark Taper Forum, Steppenwolf Theatre, the Kennedy Center, and the Alliance Theatre.
A Soldier’s Play – Photos by Joan Marcus
In 1990, Zelda Fichandler, founding director of Arena Stage, established the Allen Lee Hughes Fellowship and Internship Program in his honor. This initiative promotes diversity in the theatre industry by offering mentorship and training to underrepresented individuals. Over the years, the fellowship has mentored more than 700 emerging professionals, contributing significantly to a more inclusive industry.
Hughes’ achievements have been recognized by numerous awards, including the USITT Distinguished Achievement Award in Lighting Design (2003), the Michael Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration (1997), and the National Black Theatre Festival’s Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design Award (2015). In 2020, he was honored as the second-ever recipient of the Henry Hewes Ming Cho Lee Award for Lifetime Achievement, joining an exclusive group of lighting design legends.
Allen Lee Hughes
“Thank you so much for this LIT Awards lifetime achievement award. It is great to have recognition for some fifty-six years of professional work. The award means a great deal to me and all of my many collaborators. Over the years, I have attempted to help tell hundreds of stories through my work as a lighting designer. There is a glorious feeling when we are rewarded with an audience that reaps pleasure and knowledge from our work. I appreciate you giving the efforts public attention.”
– Allen Lee Hughes
The LIT Lighting Design Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award is a fitting tribute to Allen Lee Hughes, a designer whose career has been marked by exceptional contributions to the lighting design industry. With four Tony Award nominations, two Helen Hayes Award wins, and a vast body of work spanning theatre, opera, and dance, Hughes has helped shape modern lighting design and created moments of magic that have moved and inspired audiences worldwide. His passion for lighting design and his commitment to the art form make him an iconic figure in the industry. Ensuring such talent receives the recognition it deserves is precisely the mission of the LIT Lighting Design Awards.
On August 15th, the LIT Lighting Design Awards hosted its Brazilian winners’ ceremony as part of the LEDforum.24, held at the Tivoli Mofarrej Conference Hotel in São Paulo, Brazil. This prestigious event celebrated outstanding achievements in lighting design and brought together a wide array of professionals from the industry.
LEDforum is nationally and internationally renowned for its high-caliber lectures and activities, featuring leading figures from the Brazilian and global lighting communities. The forum provided an excellent platform for exchanging knowledge and the latest advancements in lighting technology. Attendees included lighting designers, architects, product designers, urban planners, landscape designers, academics, developers, and lighting solutions providers from various Brazil and Latin America regions.
During the LIT Awards Brazil ceremony, Astrid Hébert of the LIT Lighting Design Awards took the stage to honor the 2023 winners. The awardees included notable names such as Anna Turra Lighting Design, Apollo Iluminação, Archidesign, Stella Lighting Brazil, LightDesign Exporlux, Estudio Hofstadter, and Limarí Lighting Design. These winners were recognized for their exceptional contributions to the field of lighting design.
Additionally, several Honorable Recipients were acknowledged for their notable work. These included NTZ Lighting, Studio Ió, OMStudio, Mingrone Iluminação, Tecnowatt, and Omega. Their recognition underscored their significant impact on the lighting design landscape.
The LIT Lighting Design Awards ceremony not only celebrated past achievements but also highlighted the ongoing innovation and creativity within the industry, setting a high standard for future developments in lighting design.
The LIT Lighting Design Awards Gala, a prestigious event honoring the brightest minds in the lighting industry, took place on the 20th of June at the historic Banking Hall in London. With 180 of the world’s most influential lighting designers in attendance, the elegant evening celebrated the remarkable achievements of the 2022 and 2023 program winners, showcasing their outstanding contributions to architectural, product, and entertainment lighting design.
The ceremony commenced with an introduction by Hossein Farmani and Astrid Hébert, setting the stage for a night of recognition and inspiration. Highlighting the global impact of lighting design, Farmani remarked, “Your presence here is a testament to your commitment to pushing the boundaries of lighting design, showcasing innovative solutions, and embracing sustainability practices with passion.”
The Lifetime Achievement Awards were a highlight of the evening, honoring Patrick Woodroffe for his career andtransformative contributions to the entertainment lighting field, and Roger Narboni, acknowledging his profound impact on today’s urban lighting design, and his pioneering work on the concept of “dark corridors.”
The DarkSky organization received the Spotlight Prize for the organization’s dedication to preserving the natural night sky. Meanwhile, Mark Stanley, the co-founder of The Studio School of Design, was honored for the non-profit’s commitment to promoting inclusive education in lighting design.
The ceremony featured a lineup of distinguished winners, including ERRELUCE for Architectural Lighting Design of the Year 2023 for their work at the IronPlate Restaurant and Hydrel for Lighting Product Design of the Year 2023 with their FLAME Lighting Technique. The event also honored past winners such as L’Observatoire International and Expolight, underscoring their ongoing impact on the industry. Among the celebrated companies were Raiden Studios Ltd, Light in Space Limited, ambience, Chelline Design, FerryGunawanDesigns, Luminum GmbH, Vivalyte BV, CeeKayEllo Limited, Hoare Lea, Lighting Design International, Office for Visual Interaction Inc., IFI architectural lighting works, PAAT STUDIO, Cia. dos Imaginários, Edison Price Lighting, Steensen Varming, Eleftheria Deko & Associates Lighting Design, MARABA STUDIO, Beersnielsen Lighting Designers, Marco Miglioli ArchiLight Studio and more.
The event was graced by influential figures like Randy Reid, a pivotal voice in lighting with decades of industry leadership, Esther Torelló, founder of Lightecture and advocate for creative lighting solutions, Mark Major, renowned for his transformative urban lighting projects, Sally Storey, a leading UK lighting expert known for her pioneering residential and commercial designs, and Katia Kolovea, an advocate for emerging talent and impactful lighting experiences globally. Their presence underscored the awards’ commitment to honoring outstanding achievements and advancing lighting design innovation worldwide.
Astrid Hébert, co-host of the event, expressed gratitude to these esteemed jury members whose expertise and dedication ensured the success of the awards ceremony. “We are truly amazed by the incredible talent and creativity showcased at tonight’s event,” she remarked. “Having so many of the world’s most innovative designers under one roof is truly inspiring. I am thrilled that LIT Lighting Design Awards continues to celebrate excellence and brings the best minds together, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in lighting design.”
The attendees were treated to a sumptuous 3-course dinner reception—a perfect opportunity for professionals and students to connect. As the night concluded, the excitement lingered with great networking opportunities and drinks. The atmosphere was truly festive, ensuring everyone had a delightful time.
The evening’s official media partners were D5Magazine, DesignWanted, and V2com.
For more information and a full list of winners, please visit www.litawards.com.
Conversations about the effects of light on humans and spaces, about the introduction of technology in lighting fixtures, or about the many innovations that we can expect for the future are some of the themes designers can expect to indulge in at these conferences and events. Knowing how exciting this is, D5MAGchose the 10 most important events for the lighting design industry, all happening in 2024. If one has already passed, no problem, save it for next year.
Light + Building (March 3–8, Germany)
Photo credit: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH
The Light + Building event is a key happening for lighting designers all over the world, as it includes over 2,000 exhibitions and more than 150,000 visitors from all over the world. The lighting and building sectors of design are always well represented as industry leaders get together to discuss the industry’s future and the current problems society faces.
Sustainability, Connectivity, and Work+Living are the main themes of this year’s edition. Visitors are invited to reflect on the critical needs of the lighting and building industry, such as energy efficiency, sustainable practices, and the integration of digital technologies.
LEDucation (March 19-20, USA)
Photo credit: LEDucation
LEDucation is the largest LED-only tradeshowand educational forum in the United States, where visitors delve deeper into the power of lighting design and its effect on humans. As a non-profit, the event’s goal is purely to stimulate LED innovation through scholarships and lighting programmes.
Speakers from diverse backgrounds have always been assiduous participants in the event, so expect to meet leading voices from industries such as lighting design, manufacturing, and technology. The event hosts a series of educational conferences that analyse sustainability, trends, health and well-being, and LED technologies. Exhibitions are also held, as manufacturers from all over the US are invited to showcase their projects and products, making this event great for networking and finding future collaborators.
Lightovation (January 10–14 and June 19–21, USA)
Photo credit: Dallas Market Centre, Lightovation
Lightovation is a biannual event in the US recognised as the largest residential lighting trade event in North America. Business, trade, and networking are given centre stage in this event as the venue joins all of the most innovative people and products in residential lighting design.
New lighting collections are known to be presented here first, with interconnectivity and LED technology at heart, making this event a must for professionals in the industry. The Metaverse Lighting TrendHouse is specific to this event, where future trends and technologies in lighting design are shared with the public, who can’t help going back home and dreaming about the magic of the future. showcasing future trends and technologies in lighting.
IES24: The Lighting Conference (August 15–17, USA)
Photo credit: Illuminating Engineering Society
The IES24 Lighting Conference event is held in New York City once a year, a city that has already marked its place among the design community with several other events. The conference is centred around themes all related to lighting design, such as research, design, technology, and brands, making it a must-attend event for those who wish to broaden their knowledge in the industry.
Education is a pillar of this conference, as the calendar is filled with workshops, presentations, talks, and socialising moments where the conversation always surrounds light and technology. The Industry Progress Report is a star of this conference, which, along with exhibits and receptions, gives professionals valuable insight into the industry and opens up networking opportunities. In the end, the Mai event of the conference puts a spotlight on some of the industry’s best. A gala is held where great design and knowledge of the field are awarded: the Illuminations Awards Gala.
ArchLIGHT Summit (September 17-18, USA)
Dallas Market Centred, ArchLIGHT Summit
The ArchLIGHT Summit is a commercial and architectural lighting event where visitors are offered an interactive, inclusive, and collaborative experience. Multidisciplinary at heart, this event strives to show the importance of lighting design in any space, which is why you can expect more than just lighting designers to attend, as interior designers and architects are also part of the party.
Workshops and educational sessions are held while brands and designers showcase their latest products and share their visions, making this the perfect place to experiment, learn, and collaborate. Live-streamed sessions are also held, opening up the event for students from local universities to participate and learn from it.
IALD Enlighten Americas (October 17–19, USA)
Photo credit: International Associations of Lighting Designers
IALD Enlighten Americas takes place in the Californian Rancho Bernardo region, acting as one of the top conferences in the architectural lighting design industry. Education, networking, and innovation share the space, making this a conference no designer wants to miss out on.
The latest trends, technologies, and best methods in architectural lighting design are discussed in detail in the many workshops, lectures, and conferences held at this event. Establishing new relationships among designers is a major goal of this event, so the IALD Enlighten Americas is perfect for either well-established industry professionals or young designers looking for a shot.
Prestigious industry leaders and designers are expected to talk and give presentations, giving both inspiration and guidance to those who wish to make a change in the lighting design world. On the other hand, exhibitions of the latest lighting products, technologies, and solutions give visitors hands-on experience with new products and the invaluable chance to give their feedback to manufacturers.
NAILD Annual Convention (August 19–21, USA)
Photo credit: National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors
The NAILD Annual Convention gathers professionals from the lighting distribution industry under the same roof, providing the perfect platform for networking, education, and innovation in lighting technology and distribution.
Expect keynote presentations from industry leaders, networking events to create connections, and interesting conversations where collaboration and light are the main topics. In the end, the highlight of the event is the President’s Dinner, which creates an extra relaxed setting for networking and socialising.
Light-Tech Expo (May 9–11, Poland)
Photo credit: Ptak Warsaw Expo
The Light-Tech Expo is an international lighting trade fair where companies get the chance to showcase their innovative technologies and products, as well as create new business relationships in the field of lighting.
Over 7,000 visitors are expected, as well as more than 110 exhibitors. Because of this, the Light-Tech Expo is more than a conference, it is a comprehensive get-together of industry leaders and lighting innovation. Visitors will be able to meet industry professionals, designers, and manufacturers, as well as explore the many products that shed light on the future of lighting design.
IALD Enlighten Europe (June 21–22, UK)
Photo credit: International Associations of Lighting Designers
The IALD Enlighten Europe is a conference that focuses on the lighting design industry, its future and wonders, and how technology and designers can help transform it. To accomplish this, the event hosts presentations, and workshops, and offers visitors invaluable networking opportunities.
This is the perfect event to learn from industry leaders and engage in discussions about the latest trends and technologies in lighting design. Interactive in nature, the event opens up the space for industry professionals to connect with one another, such as designers, architects, engineers, manufacturers, and suppliers.
Some of the highlights of this event are its keynote speeches, lighting cross-talk sessions, exhibitor demonstrations, and social gatherings. On the other hand, the conference also shed light on students and educators, who are recognised by the IALD Education Trust, which acts as a little push for the next generation of lighting designers.
Guzhen International Lighting Fair (October 22–26, China)
Photo credit: Guzhen International Lighting Fair
The Guzhen International Lighting Fair, held at the Guzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre in Zhongshan, China, is an important event in the lighting industry. Not only does it showcase the latest in lighting technologies, products, and innovations from around the world, but it also connects Western and Eastern professionals through their love of design.
The fair will be introducing new elements this year, such as smart lighting experiences, new energy applications, and crossover home goods, making it a specialised, market-oriented, and international industry event. Its impressive exhibition area spans a whopping 1.5 million square metres and hosts around 3,300 lighting exhibitions.
Such a massive and comprehensive setting gives visitors the perfect chance to network, increasing, in the end, their phone book with several international names that can come in handy when wanting to expand a business. Known for its organisation and high quality, this fair is a must-attend for lighting designers—or any designer and manufacturer, really—from all over the world.
Text: Leonor Gomes
The countdown is on with only a few days to go before the doors open on the world’s leading trade fair for lighting and building-services technology in Frankfurt am Main. And this major event for the sector is already proving to be very popular. More than 2,000 national and international exhibitors have registered to present their innovations to a wide audience of trade visitors. They include numerous market leaders who will be showing their latest products for the fields of lighting, electrical engineering, home and building automation and networked safety and security technology.
The next Light + Building will be held from 3 to 8 March 2024, and after Germany, the best-represented nations to date include Italy, Turkey, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Greece and China. “There is a high level of interest in taking part again in 2024, on both the lighting and building sides. We are delighted about the many loyal customers who took part in the last edition of the fair, as well as about a whole series of returning exhibitors. They all ensure that Light + Building is the unrivalled, international highlight for the lighting and building-technology sectors”, says Johannes Möller, Head of Light + Building Brand Management. Expanding on this, he adds: “There have been some changes at the Exhibition Centre, which have opened up new planning options for us.”
Experts for lighting with a new structure
Covering the spectrum from offices and educational facilities to the industry, retail trade and hotel business, Light + Building brings together experts for intelligent lighting solutions at the Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre. Altogether, this theme occupies around 64 percent of total exhibition space. New in this connection is the layout of the product segments, which has been made possible by the inclusion of the new Hall 5 with two modern floors that are open to Light + Building exhibitors for the first time. This creates a new circular route in the eastern section of the Exhibition Centre, which runs from Halls 5 and 6, via the Forum and Hall 3, to Hall 4, and is made effortless by the Via Mobile system of moving walkways.
What can visitors expect in which halls?
The market leaders from the ‘technical lighting’ segment are to be found in Halls 3.0, 5 and the Forum. The exhibitors showing their latest products include Bega, Brumberg, Glamox, iGuzzini, Leds C4, Ledvance, Lichtwerk, Molto Luce, Normagrup, Regiolux, Ridi, RZB, Simes, Thorn, Tridonic, Trilux, XAL and Zumtobel.
Hall 3.1 focuses on decorative and technical, design-oriented lighting with presentations being made, for example, by Artemide, Delta Light, 3F Filippi, Linea Light, Marinelli Luce, Prolicht and Targetti.
Urban lighting for streets and public places will be shown by many companies including AEC Illuminazione, Benito Urban, Carandini, Eclatec, Fonroche, Leipziger Leuchten, Metalogalva, Ragni and Valmont in Hall 4.0. A floor higher, in Hall 4.1, visitors will find not only lighting for industry and special applications but also shop and theatre lighting, as well as emergency and safety lighting. Among the exhibitors taking part there will be Barthelme, Deko Light, Eaton, Inotec, Nobilé, Opple, Robus, Rutec, Radium, RP Group and SG Armaturen.
The complete spectrum of decorative lighting is located in Hall 6 where the exhibitors include Authentage, Elstead Lighting, Fan Europe, Konstsmide, Lucide and Nordlux, plus the companies taking part in the Turkish pavilion.
The lighting sector also occupies part of the western section of the Exhibition Centre and, for the first time, takes up the whole of Hall 8. With the focus there on lighting components, sources of light and lighting control systems, the exhibitors presenting their latest products include Bender + Wirth, BJB, Nichia, Osram, Seoul Semiconductor, TCI, Vossloh-Schwabe and Wago.
Hall 10.1 and 10.2 are devoted to Asian lighting manufacturers in the Asia Selection segment.
The Light + Building 2024 hall plan shows the various product segments at a glance. (Source: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH)
Looking ahead with intelligent building-services technology
Based on the electrotechnical infrastructure, tomorrow’s sustainable houses and buildings will use renewable sources of energy, have efficient and economical energy management, and, at the same time, offer a high degree of comfort, safety and security. The electrotechnical infrastructure is the prerequisite for home and building automation, energy storage and management, the connection of photovoltaic systems and charging stations and electricity-based heating systems. The latest products, technologies and trends for electrical engineering and home and building automation will be the focus of attention in Halls 9, 11 and 12.
Many of the sector’s key players have already confirmed their participation in the fair. In Hall 12.0, they include ABB, ABL, Bals, Bosch Thermotechnik, Busch-Jaeger, Dehn SE, Kaiser, Niedax, SMA, Stiebel Eltron, Theben, Viessmann and Warema. A floor higher, in Hall 12.1, the exhibitors will include Doepke, Fränkische Rohrwerke, Hager, Mennekes, Hensel, OBO Bettermann and PCE.
The extensive range of electrotechnical and home and building-automation products continues in Hall 11.0 with exhibitors such as Beckhoff, Phoenix Contact, Rittal, Siemens, Wago and Weidmüller. In Hall 11.1 the companies taking part include Gira, Jung, Legrand, MDT, Schneider Electric and Siedle.
The safety and security technology segment has also been expanded under the heading ‘Intersec Building’ and can be found in Hall 9.0. Among the exhibitors there showing solutions for connected safety and security technology will be Abus, BKS, Dom, Gretsch Unitas, Grothe and Winkhaus. In addition, the range of products and services for electrical engineering, house and building technology continues in Hall 9.0. Here, Bacnet, EnOcean, frogblue, Loytec, Megger, Thermokon and Woertz show their innovative products.
Light is such an important part of our lives that more and more people are looking to further their understanding of it, either through self-education or by seeking the guidance of experts. There’s so much to get from a lighting design degree: colour theory, the influence of light in our circadian rhythms, how light diffusion works, the materials and the perfect light for them, and much more.
Read on to discover some of the best lighting design schools, courses and universities.
Ryerson University’s School of Interior Design pushes students to engage in experimentation and academic research, combining both approaches to help them grow and discover themselves in design. Recognized by many as one of the top international design schools, RSID aims to prepare the leaders of tomorrow in each design field.
Their Lighting Specialization program is fully online and intended for those who already have some background in other areas of design, such as interior design and architecture. This specialization is meant to acclimate designers to new legislations that limit energy budgets, which are probable to get more serious as time goes on. This environmentally conscious approach to education is supported by the possibility of getting in touch with professional lighting designers through a final project that will not only enrich the students’ curriculums but also give them hands-on experience.
The Parsons School of Design is widely considered the best design school in the United States and one of the best worldwide, having always sought inspiration from the transformative potential of design. With groundbreaking academic programs that take on an interdisciplinary approach complemented by the cultural and artistic richness of New York City.
Parson’s Lighting Design program was the first of its kind ever to be created in the world, more than 45 years ago. Such a long and pivotal history means that some of the leaders in the lighting design field have come directly from here – who knows, maybe your favourite designers studied here! The foundation of the program is the intellectual, aesthetic, and technical qualities of light, which are complemented by the social impact, human experience, and sustainability of lighting design. If New York, rich artistic history, and a comprehensive study of light are what you are looking for, then Parson’s must be calling out for you: our advice is to follow since you’re sure to get everything you need (and more) to be able to leave your mark in the lighting design world.
POLI.design is the design school founded by the Politecnico di Milano, right in the middle of one of the capitals of design. The allure is obvious: Italy, one of the very best schools of design, and an electric combination of art and culture. Apart from this, the design programs are widely known as part of the world elite in the field, all due to the incredible faculty, comprehensive teaching methods, and the array of opportunities that open up for the students.
Poli Design’s Master in Lighting Design and Technology strives to train professionals able to follow the design procedures of lighting, making sure that their students are well acclimated with the various methodologies of conception, organization, and implementation. This Master understands how impactful light can be in our well-being, in how we communicate with others, and in how we view the world. If your passion is the influence of light on humans and how it can affect businesses, relations, and any human activity sectors, plus if you would love to spend your study sessions in an Italian library with a cappuccino, then we invite you to further check this one out.
The Wismar University planted its roots in Germany in 1908 and has since been growing its majors and influence. The original design school was set on Germany’s seaside, which was surely beautiful, but when it was transferred to the Wismar campus it truly began to bloom. The international environment and interdisciplinary possibilities allowed the Hochschule Wismar to grow into what is now one of the best in the world.
Their Master in Lighting Design is fully taught in English and promises a wide range of nationalities, so your peers will be of great influence to your learning and great collaborations are to be expected. The teaching is divided into theoretical and practical courses, and students are presented with the various impacts and possibilities of both artificial and natural light in architecture and social spaces. Apart from this, the effects of light in humans are thoroughly studied, so that students are given all the information they need to make the best lighting designs possible. Knowing this, if you are someone who loves diversity, socializing with people from other countries, and having a collaborative and comprehensive education, our tip is to go for this one!
The KTH is one of the largest institutions in Sweden for technical education and research, attracting students and professionals from all over the world. Their technical focus makes them one of the most important contributors to the innovation of design fields. This prestigious position is sure to be maintained as KTH focuses more on sustainability and ecological challenges.
KTH Royal Institute of Technology offers a Master’s in Architectural Lighting Design, one of the best out there. The program researches the influence of light on the human body and psyche, trying to find the best ways to enhance how we benefit from light. This Master’s is meant for those who already have an understanding of light planning and how to work a project so that students can truly grow their understanding of this almost magical element.
The University of Technology Sydney has been sharing its knowledge and producing leaders in the many fields society depends on (such as design, obviously) for more than 170 years, making it a proud member of the top 20 universities in the world.
Their Master in Architectural Science (Illumination Design) mixes strong technical subjects with human perception, creating a long curriculum where technology, lighting qualities, and sustainability are the stars. If you decide to apply and end up enrolling, you can expect to gain a newfound respect for the many ways light shapes our experience of both the world and the built environment.
Are you familiar with CalTech? Well, let us introduce you to CalArts, or in its most formal self the California Institute of the Arts, which has been educating professional artists since 1970. Known as one of the best arts schools in the United States, CalArts strives to foster creative excellence, critical reflection, and the development of new forms and expressions in their students.
Their MFA in Lighting Design curriculum centres on developing critical and practical skills in immersive lighting design, lighting technology and platforms, and strategies for live performance across a wide variety of creative arenas. Students are taught how to understand the physiological and psychological effects of light in addition to other scientific principles of phenomenology. Everyone is pushed into finding their voice and aesthetic, ending their time in CalArts with a lot of experience in production work and a vast portfolio.
Aalborg University is known in the lighting design realm as one of the best universities to study light and how to channel it to our benefit. The university’s core objective is to discover which are the greatest challenges society and the various academic fields it teaches face, striving to provide sustainable solutions consistently.
They offer an MSc in Lighting Design which covers both artificial and natural light, intersecting it with architecture, media technology, and engineering – quite interdisciplinary. What makes this specific Master unique is its base in Danish and Nordic traditions for light perception, which means they not only focus on the technical qualities of light but also on the aesthetics and comforts it provides.
The University of the Arts London is ranked second in the world for Art and Design, as per the 2022 QS World University Rankings. It offers a wide variety of courses ranging from design, fashion, communication, performing arts, and many others, so it’s no surprise that its MA in Interior and Spatial Design covers many of these artistic fields.
Their MA in Interior and Spatial Design explores how design can challenge world issues and drive positive social change, empowering their students with real-world experiences through their global and regional partners. Light is studied here concerning space and interior design, being completely dissected in the way it interacts with a room and how it affects us. This MA can, in the end, make you rethink your entire approach to design and light, as it covers so many fields and interconnects them with each other.
The UCL was founded in 1826 in the heart of London and is considered the most multidisciplinary and international university in the country. Here, progressive approaches, leading experts as professors, and a diversity of peers are sure to give you a boost of creativity and make you see design in a whole new light.
Their MSc in Light and Lighting mixes the human experience with the technical and creative sides of lighting design. It was created in 1987 and has produced some of the world’s leading lighting engineers and designers. From indoor comfort to outdoor safety, light is used to find a solution to society’s issues, making UCL’s students some of the most prepared to tackle any challenges that might appear in the future.
The LIT Design Awards catalog showcases the best of 2023 Lighting Designs and Lighting Product Designs! The brochure features exclusive interviews with Ryan Salim from ERRELUCE, winner of the “Architectural Lighting Design of the Year” with the IronPlate Restaurant; Eleftheria Deko of Eleftheria Deko & Associates, winner of the “EntertainmentLighting Design of the Year” for the “Persephone Reconsiders Her Fate” and Chris Sorensen, the Senior Director of Engineering at Hydrel, winner of the “Lighting Product Design of the Year.”
Takatoku Nishi, a student of the Tokyo University of The Arts, won the “Emerging Lighting Designer of the Year” title with “Ripple”, and speaks with us about his love for design and inspiration for Ripple. Arash Abbaszadeh, a student at the Hochschule Wismar in Germany and winner of the “Emerging Lighting Designer of the Year” prize, shares his enthusiasm and future professional aspirations.
The annual catalog includes an introduction of the recipients of the 2023 “Lifetime Achievement” Award, Roger Narboni, Pioneer in Urban Lighting Design. Last, an insightful article on darksky, the “Spotlight” 2023 recipient, on their Harmonious Approach to Sustainable Lighting.
The catalog is available to purchase on Amazon and can be downloaded on the LIT Awards website.
TheLIT Lighting Design Awards is officially open for submissions, inviting the world’s brightest minds in lighting design to join its annual celebration of excellence. This distinguished event, renowned for honoring the pinnacle of creativity and innovation, boasts an expansive array of categories, comprising 31 in Architectural Lighting Design, 15 in Entertainment Lighting Design, and an impressive 44 in Lighting Product Design.
In 2023, the program attracted over 800 submissions from 58 countries, showcasing an extraordinary spectrum of work. Notable recognitions included the Architectural Lighting Design of the Year 2023 awarded to ERRELUCE for their remarkable work on IronPlate Restaurant, and the Lighting Product Design of the Year 2023 claimed by Hydrel for their FLAME Lighting Technique. The introduction of the Entertainment Lighting Design of the Year category saw Eleftheria Deko & Associates triumph for their work on “Persephone Reconsiders Her Fate.” Introduced in 2018, the Lifetime Achievement Award celebrated Roger Narboni for his outstanding contributions spanning landscape, urban, heritage, and architectural lighting over 35 years. DarkSky received the prestigious Spotlight Prize for their unwavering commitment to preserving the darkness of the sky.
“At the LIT Lighting Design Awards, we invite you to join us in celebrating the amazing potential of light and its ability to transform the world around us. Our program goes beyond recognizing great designs; it’s about appreciating the positive impact of lighting solutions. We take pride in providing a stage where creative minds come together to showcase their talents while being mindful of the long-term effects on our environment. The LIT Design Awards values the importance of sustainability in lighting design, encouraging designers to share their approaches and contribute to a more environmentally friendly future for our planet,” shared Program Director,Astrid Hébert.
The 2024 jury, composed of 35 experienced designers, lighting experts, academics and media representatives will select the winners in each category in November 2024. Past jurors have included Sooner Routhier, CEO of The Playground, Roland Greil from Roland Greil & The Black Project, Emmy Award Winner Peter Morse; Randy Reid, Editor at designing lighting (dl), Sally Storey, Creative Director at John Cullen Lighting and Founding Director at Lighting Design International, Thiago Gaya, Publisher of L+D Magazine and Founder of the LEDforum, amongst others.
To ensure winners receive the recognition they deserve, LIT Lighting Design Awards have joined forces with notable media partners such as V2com, D5mag.com, Silhouette Awards, World Design Organization, and DesignWanted, guaranteeing extensive global publicity for the awarded projects. Additionally, winners work will be featured in the annual Book of Design distributed worldwide and presented with the coveted LIT Lighting Design Awards certificate and badge of achievement, along with a year-round profile in the LIT Awards Online Directory. Participating in the awards process offers a valuable learning experience, allowing companies to benchmark their work against industry peers and gain insights into areas for improvement.
To encourage early submissions, a 10% Early Bird discount is available until April 28th, 2024. For detailed information and to submit entries, please visit litawards.com. Illuminate your brilliance – be part of the LIT Lighting Design Awards 2024!
The much-anticipatedLIT Lighting Design Awards Gala is set to captivate on the 20th of June, promising an evening of brilliance, innovation, and design excellence in the heart of London. The ceremony will take place at the iconic Banking Hall, an Art Deco landmark that stands as a testament to the city’s design culture and architectural brilliance. Overlooking the prestigious Bank of England, this venue provides a stunning backdrop for an evening that will undoubtedly be the highlight of the lighting design world.
The ceremony will feature prestigious winners from 2022 and 2023, including 2023 winners ERRELUCE for Architectural Lighting Design of the Year of the IronPlate Restaurant and Hydrel for Lighting Product Design of the Year, FLAME Lighting Technique. In 2022, L’Observatoire International received Lighting Design of the Year for Hermès’ collections, and Expolight won Lighting Product Design of the Year for the B14 UNIT Chandelier.
Spotlight Prize winners feature DarkSky in 2023 for outstanding commitment to preserving the darkness of the sky, and The Studio School of Design (SSD) in 2022 for remarkable work towards education accessibility, diversity, and inclusivity. Esteemed Lifetime Achievement Awardees include Roger Narboni in 2023 and Patrick Woodroffe, Dave Kavanagh in 2022, recognizing their significant contributions to the lighting industry.
Reserved exclusively for the winners of the LIT Lighting Design Awards from 2022 and 2023, alongside their specially invited guests, esteemed jury board members, and a select group of partners, this upcoming event presents an exceptional opportunity for brands to claim the spotlight at the forefront of the lighting design world. Each honoree will step into the well-deserved spotlight, not only to receive accolades but also to capture the attention of influential media figures and industry leaders. The event is expected to attract significant press coverage and the participation of renowned media names, ensuring widespread recognition and valuable networking opportunities for all involved.
“This event is more than a celebration; it’s a recognition of the innovators who have shaped the landscape of lighting design,” said Astrid Hebert, Program Director of the LIT Lighting Design Awards. “Limited partnership spots are available, offering brands a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of the lighting design world.”
Limited partnership spots will allow chosen brands to gain visibility and recognition within one of the most extensive platforms for excellence in Architectural Lighting Design, Entertainment Lighting Design, and Lighting Product Design. Partners will be able to showcase their brand, engage with industry professionals, and support emerging talents in the dynamic field of lighting design. For those eager to secure one of the limited partnership spots, kindly visit litawards.com to get in touch.
Welcome to an exclusive interview with Chris Sorensen, the Senior Director of Engineering at Hydrel, a leading brand in outdoor architectural and landscape lighting. Hydrel recently won the LIT Lighting Design Award for the Lighting Product Design of the Year with their innovation, FLAME.
FLAMEcombines a patent-pending optical engine construction with engineering excellence to create a new play on RGBW. It’s a unique lighting technique with two beams in one luminaire – a central beam and an outer beam that blends harmoniously.
Currently available within the SAF7, SAF14, and SAF28 Architectural Family, FLAME offers three distinct distributions, each designed to create stunning accent gradient effects in a single fixture. From the NARROW FLAME, with its 30° outer beam and 10° central beam, highlighting vertical forms, to the WIDE FLAME‘s 70° outer beam and 30° central beam for playful blended textured surfaces, and finally, the LOTUS FLAME, delivering a dramatic lighting effect with a 70° outer beam and 10° central beam.
Join us as we explore the inspiration behind FLAME and gain valuable insights into the vision and expertise that have positioned Hydrel as a premier brand in outdoor lighting.
Chris Sorensen, Senior Director of Engineering // FLAME Lighting Technique. Hydrel
What was the vision or inspiration behind the dual beam design (or should we say designs) of FLAME?
We are very inspired by some incredible projection art installations while simultaneously feeling tired of saturated RGB color chases and challenged ourselves to build a new tool with which to paint the night in a new way.
How was the patent-pending optical engine developed and what makes stand out from others?
Leveraging our learnings from the SAF architectural floodlight family, we built, studied, and learned from countless mock-ups and prototypes until we got the best-performing gradients and eliminated distracting artifacts on near and far away surfaces.
Can you tell us about the different designs available – Narrow FLAME, Wide FLAME, and Lotus FLAME? How do you envision each being used?
Narrow and Wide FLAME Distributions are all about the geometry of the architecture from landscape to columns, facades, and bridges, narrow and wide can be applied like traditional projectors however with the gradient color and in washing or grazing positions they will magically transform the appearance of surfaces and objects. We were so captivated when we pointed them at trees that we knew we needed to do something specific. That’s where the Lotus FLAME came from, the desire to distinctly light the trunk with one color and the leaves and branches another with a smooth but quick gradient between the two.
Challenges are part of life, and, therefore, of design. Can you share with us some of the technical challenges you’ve faced during the development of FLAME? What did you learn from them?
Near-field beam artifacts take a highly specialized eye and perseverance to solve. The human eyes and brain can start to play some very interesting games when staring at beams of different saturated colors for hours criticizing gradients, intensity, cutoff, and artifacting.
FLAME Lighting Technique. Hydrel
Can you tell us about any project you’re working on at the moment or about any future enhancements for FLAME?
Stay tuned, FLAME is just the start. We have a very exciting follow-up product in development right now!
Congratulations on winning the LIT Awards! What does winning this award mean to you and what are the next steps for Hydrel?
We’re incredibly honored to win this award. We will continue to make the ordinary evening extraordinary and transform the way our world is LIT!
Do you have any advice for people who would like to follow in your footsteps?
Be curious, be brave. It’s never too early to try out your wild idea. Even if it is just in Photoshop. The first FLAME mock-up was done with a Photoshop file where we set up a visual of two beams on top of each other so that we could independently control the color and blending of the beams much like the FLAME visualizer on our website. From that very first file, we knew we had something special!
