DarkSky Award honours Chiara Carucci
(Worldwide) - Sustainable lighting design innovator Chiara Carucci has been awarded the first-ever "Wildlife Night Watch" award at the DarkSky Awards.
The awards are run by DarkSky International to recognise dark sky advocates from around the world, who are working to protect the night from light pollution. This new award honours individuals whose work significantly benefits wildlife conservation through responsible lighting practices.
Winners have to be able to demonstrate efforts such as restoring natural nocturnal conditions in protected areas by eliminating unnecessary lighting or implementing smart lighting practices on site.
The announcement was made as part of the virtual DarkSky ‘Under One Sky’ event, held on 9th November. The event coincided with Carucci delivering a talk at the Tartu Observatory at the University of Tartu, focusing on light pollution and ecological lighting principles.
Carucci was nominated by several professionals, including environmental advocate Bianca Gortárez Hernández, who commended Carucci’s “forward-thinking approach” and dedication to conservation. Fellow advocate Katia Kolovea highlighted Chiara’s leadership in the Lighting Police initiative, an effort focused on combating light pollution and educating the public on its impacts.
In nominating her, Hernández says: “Carucci’s forward-thinking approach to conservation is evident in her innovative projects, such as the pilot interventions for sea turtle nesting sites. Her designs prioritise the value of darkness, creating the right light at the right time to protect wildlife.
“Carucci’s contributions not only meet but exceed the award’s criteria, showcasing her as a leader in wildlife conservation and sustainable lighting design.”
Kolovea adds: “Carucci’s leadership extends beyond her projects. She plays a crucial role for the Lighting Police; an initiative devoted to raising awareness about the adverse effects of poor lighting and light pollution. As a member of the advisory board, her guidance has been invaluable in shaping effective strategies and campaigns that have resonated with professionals and the public alike.”
On winning the award, Carucci says: “Being recognised by DarkSky International is a huge accomplishment, at such a fantastic period in my life.
“I am continually grateful for the work of Annika Jägerbrand, Travis Longcore, Dr. Kellie Pendoley and all the others who conduct research on a daily basis. It enables us to be more conscious and informed in our professional activities, as we strive to protect our shared natural heritage.”
Carucci’s recent award follows the launch of her studio, Noctua – Cultural and Natural Heritage Lighting Design, which bridges conservation science with innovative lighting solutions. With this award, she and Noctua aim to deepen its commitment to preserving the natural and cultural beauty of our shared world.
Trilux Group acquires Ansorg
(Germany) - Trilux has expanded its product and service portfolio in the retail sector, with the acquisition of German brand, Ansorg.
Ansorg, based in Mülheim, is a specialist for high-quality retail lighting concepts and has decades of experience in developing and producing custom lighting solutions. By integrating Ansorg, Trilux can expand its expertise, particularly in international growth areas such as automotive and non-food retail, offering its customers more solutions with real added value.
"The acquisition of Ansorg is a key milestone in our 'Retail Growth' strategy," says Hubertus Volmert, CEO of the Trilux Group. "With Ansorg, we are not only gaining a company with excellent expertise and experience, but also broadening our range to include customised lighting solutions. Together, we can tap into new customer segments, strengthen our international presence and actively shape the future of retail lighting."
Franz Heckmanns, Head of Global Sales at Ansorg, adds: "We are delighted to become part of the Trilux family and to contribute our in-depth retail expertise to the development of innovative lighting solutions. This partnership leverages our complementary strengths, allowing us to deliver even more customised, future-proof lighting solutions to our customers. Ansorg brings valuable expertise and creative insights to the Trilux Group, which will further strengthen its innovative power. For Ansorg, the partnership not only means access to greater resources and a global network but also the opportunity to set new standards in the retail sector with Trilux."
Ansorg will collaborate closely with Oktalite another company of the Trilux Group. The focus of the two companies enables them to serve a broader international customer spectrum and jointly realise opportunities in various retail sectors.
Both have promised a smooth transition and have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
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LiGHT 24 one week away
(UK) – There are now just a week to go until LiGHT24 opens its doors for two days of exhibition, events and unique opportunities.
Attendees can meet with exhibitors at their stands, chat over coffee at LiGHT LUNCH, enjoy the LiGHT WORK co-working space, or connect at the on-site café, Jacks. Welcome drinks will be offered on the first night, and the popular LiGHT LUNCH on day two add even more chances for industry professionals to catch up and make new contacts.
LiGHT LUNCH returns this year and is encouraging visitors to engage with a panel discussion on the “Importance of Women’s Industry Groups” for both men and women and how male colleagues can help change the narrative. Speakers include Carmela Dagnello of Ridge and Women in Lighting, Rachael Davidson of Smiths + Women in Architecture, Lauren Thompson of Women in Office Design and Zoe Brosner of the Women in Furniture Network.
Unibox will be participating in LiGHT's "reuse and recycle" initiative with a special LED Lightbox, previously showcased at the 2024 [d]arc awards party. Attendees can capture selfies in front of the vibrant setup and even enter to win a Limited Edition Mathmos Astro Lava Lamp, created in partnership with designer Sabine Marcelis – perfect for sharing on social media.
The Silhouette Awards will also be holding a special event at LiGHT, bringing together the global lighting community, featuring advice from mentors and mentees within the awards programme and offering sessions that cover mentorship, education, and essential career insights. It’s a chance for attendees to gain inspiration, network with global peers, and enjoy the event’s photo opportunities.
Attendees can also join the [d]arc thoughts talks programme, organised by the [d]arc media editorial team. These sessions will cover sustainable and human-centric design trends, with expert advice and project inspiration.
With LiGHT 24 just days away make sure you register now via https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/2my29bj4rukck
Linea Light Group to open new sensory showroom
(Italy) – Treviso-based lighting brand, Linea Light Group, is set to open a new “Light Hub” showroom in Milan.
Located close to the city centre, the 300sqm space will showcase a combination of aesthetics, technology, and functionality. The hub is said to be a dedicated space to the discovery and experience of Linea Light Group’s Stilnovo products, without direct purposes.
The showroom offers a sensory experience where architecture and design inspire emotions. Created by Studio Giuseppe, Tortato Architetti, it spans three levels, and two staircases anchor the space: a white steel sculpture at the entrance and a second staircase leading to a central area where light can be experienced up close. A red table serves as a gathering spot for designers and clients. Neutral spaces showcase light fixtures in a dynamic and adaptable setting.
Gianni Bolzan, CEO of Linea Light Group, says: “The opening of our first showroom in Milan as Linea Light Group is an important step for our company. Through Light Hub, we want to offer not just an exhibition space, but a genuine innovation centre where design, technology and functionality come together to inspire and shape the lighting of the future. We are proud to do this in a city like Milan, the international design capital, where the Stilnovo brand has long standing connections. It is, at last, returning to a fitting space that truly reflects its identity and history. Our Group can now showcase and demonstrate its vision of contemporary lighting through the Light Hub.”
Linea Light Group to open new sensory showroom
(Italy) – Treviso-based lighting brand, Linea Light Group, is set to open a new “Light Hub” showroom in Milan.
Located close to the city centre, the 300sqm space will showcase a combination of aesthetics, technology, and functionality. The hub is said to be a dedicated space to the discovery and experience of Linea Light Group’s Stilnovo products, without direct purposes.
The showroom offers a sensory experience where architecture and design inspire emotions. Created by Studio Giuseppe, Tortato Architetti, it spans three levels, and two staircases anchor the space: a white steel sculpture at the entrance and a second staircase leading to a central area where light can be experienced up close. A red table serves as a gathering spot for designers and clients. Neutral spaces showcase light fixtures in a dynamic and adaptable setting.
Gianni Bolzan, CEO of Linea Light Group, says: “The opening of our first showroom in Milan as Linea Light Group is an important step for our company. Through Light Hub, we want to offer not just an exhibition space, but a genuine innovation centre where design, technology and functionality come together to inspire and shape the lighting of the future. We are proud to do this in a city like Milan, the international design capital, where the Stilnovo brand has long standing connections. It is, at last, returning to a fitting space that truly reflects its identity and history. Our Group can now showcase and demonstrate its vision of contemporary lighting through the Light Hub.”
Lighting Alliances Join Forces to Standardise Smart Street Lighting Data
(Worldwide) - DALI Alliance (DALI), TALQ Consortium (TALQ), and Zhaga Consortium (Zhaga) have signed a landmark liaison agreement to streamline data and control systems for outdoor lighting.
This collaboration promises to simplify investment choices for cities and private operators, enabling seamless communication between interoperable components across outdoor lighting systems.
DALI’s specialty lies in developing digital lighting control specs, with widely recognised certification programmes like DALI-2, D4i, and DALI+, all geared toward ensuring smooth integration of lighting components. TALQ brings a globally accepted protocol that standardises data exchange across diverse smart city applications, from lighting to environmental sensors. Zhaga’s expertise in LED interface specifications has been instrumental in compatibility across LED modules from different manufacturers.
"The D4i certification programme plays a crucial role in enabling the seamless integration of streetlights into smart city applications, enabling interoperability and sustainability, while gathering critical data for asset management, diagnostics and energy monitoring," says Paul Drosihn, General Manager of the DALI Alliance. "By working closely with Zhaga and TALQ, we’re fostering a future-proof ecosystem that enhances supply chain longevity, security, and the right to repair – building resilient infrastructure that supports smart cities for the long term."
“For us, it is a logical step to work together with DALI and Zhaga. Not only do we share the same goals, but the composition of the member companies also has a large overlap. The better the standards in the street lighting environment become, the more sustainable and future-proof the investment decisions of cities and operators will be,” explains Simon Dunkley, Secretary General of the TALQ Consortium.
“We are thrilled to take this step forward together with DALI and TALQ. By combining our efforts and expertise, we are working towards a more interconnected and efficient future for smart lighting. This partnership ensures that we are all moving in the same direction, uniting our ambitions and promoting real-world interoperability," says Heinrich Thye, Secretary General of Zhaga.
LCA and EPD workshop for lighting producers
(UK) - Recolight has announced its first Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) training workshop, scheduled for 27 November in London.
This one-day, in-person session is designed to offer lighting manufacturers practical guidance on LCAs and EPDs. With a roundtable format limited to 12 participants, the workshop will cover essential topics such as product-specific rules, luminaire-focused guidelines (PSR-0014), and LCA case studies, including hands-on demonstrations of the One Click LCA tool.
The session will be led by Recolight’s Environmental Metrics and Training Manager, Dr. Max Robson, with representatives from One Click LCA also on hand to provide support. Recolight CEO Nigel Harvey emphasised the importance of LCAs and EPDs for lighting companies to meet increasing demand for credible, third-party environmental metrics.
Commenting on the news, Recolight CEO, Nigel Harvey says: “This workshop is intended to help lighting companies quickly get up to speed with LCAs and EPDs – to understand how to get started, what data they need to collect, and how to simplify and speed up the process.”
www.recolight.co.uk
IALD Awards winners announced
(UK) – Hundreds of industry professionals gathered in San Diego for the 41st IALD International Lighting Awards, celebrating 28 projects for exceptional lighting design. IALD co-chairs Yah Li Toh and Uno Lai enthusiastically hosted the evenings celebration. “Year over, the calibre of winning projects speaks to the passion and talent of lighting designers everywhere,” says Toh. “We can only imagine where the profession may evolve in years to come.”
The project with the highest score received an IALD Award of Excellence and the highest honour of the ceremony, the IALD Radiance Award for Excellence in Lighting Design. This accolade was given to the New York project ‘Lightfall’, a collaborative lighting design by the firms Loisos + Ubbelodhe and Lumen Architecture.
Elated representatives of the winning teams, including firm principals George Loisos and Susan Ubbelohde, joined the Awards Co-Chairs and IALD president Andrea Hartranft on stage to accept the Radiance trophy.
The following projects received the 2024 IALD Awards of Excellence:
- Battersea Power Station, London, United Kingdom, with lighting design by Speirs Major Light Architecture
- Gallo Azul Tailor Shop, México City, México, with lighting design by Lighteam Gustavo Avilés S.C.
- Lightfall, New York, NY, United States, with lighting design by Loisos + Ubbelodhe and Lumen Architecture
- Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC), New York, NY, United States, with lighting design by Tillotson Design Associates
The following projects earned the 2024 IALD Awards of Merit:
- Anyuan Bridge Lighting, Shanghai, China, with lighting design by RDesign International Lighting
- Casals Forum, Music Quarter, Kronberg im Taunus, Hesse, Germany, with lighting design by Licht Kunst Licht AG
- The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States, with lighting design by Reed Burkett Lighting Design
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport Terminal 5, Chicago, IL, United States, with lighting design by HOK & Schuler Shook
- The Cross of Heroes, Vyshgorod, Ukraine, with lighting design by Expolight
- The Dark Line, Sandiaoling-Mudan, Taiwan, with lighting design by Artec Studio
- Eslöv Square, Eslöv, Sweden, with lighting design by Light Bureau
- Korean War Veterans' Memorial, Washington D.C., United States, with
lighting design by Flux Studio
- The Luminarium, Omaha, NE, United States, with lighting design by HDR
- Lungshan Temple Lighting Renovation, Taipei City, Taiwan, with lighting design by Originator Lighting Design Consultants, Inc.
- Matsu Beigan Power Plant, Beigan, Matsu, Taiwan, with lighting design by
YI.ng Lighting Design Consultants
- MUFG Park + Library, Yagisawa, Nishitokyo, Tokyo, Japan, with lighting designby Lumimedia Lab Inc.
- Red Box Cinema, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, with lighting design by
Brandston Partnership Inc.
- Safeco Plaza, Seattle, WA, United States, with lighting design by Fisher Marantz Stone
- Saint Mark's Church, Philadelphia, PA, United States, with lighting design by BEAM, Ltd.
- Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church & National Shrine, New York, NY, United States, with lighting design by DLR Group
- Sanxingdui Museum New Hall, Guanghan, Sichuan, China, with lighting design by Puri Lighting Design
- SIMOSE Art Museum, Harumi, Otake, Hiroshima, Japan, with lighting design by Lumimedia Lab Inc.
- SKP Chengdu, Chengdu, China, with lighting design by Speirs Major Light Architecture
- Sky Light Gallery, Mentougou District, Beijing, China, with lighting design by School of Architecture, Tsinghua University & One Lighting Associates (Beijing)
- Touro University Flagship Campus Lobby at 3 Times Square, New York, NY, United States, with lighting design by Anita Jorgensen Lighting Design
- Yanzi Academy, Shanghai, China, with lighting design by Guangzhou Yuanse Lighting Design Co., Ltd.
- YOYOGI SANGUBASHI TERRACE, Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan, with lighting design by Sirius Lighting Office Inc.
The following project was granted a 2024 IALD Special Citation for Integration of Light into the Architectural Fabric:
- Grace PARTY K Flagship Store, Kunming, Yunnan, China, with lighting designby Hong Kong Fei Shang Entertainment Design Ltd.
Awards Co-chair Uno Lai spoke highly of the variety of projects honoured for 2024:
“The domain-based rubric used by our judges allowed them to score each entry onits demonstration of aesthetic and technical excellence. It results in an array of winners that show how exceptional lighting transcends the built space.”
The collected audience joined the IALD in thanking the 2024 IALD Awards panel of seven volunteer judges. Five professional lighting designers serve on this year’s panel: Maria Dautant; Fang Fang; Clementine Fletcher-Smith; Chayot Kiranantawat; Andreas Schulz. The esteemed panel also includes interior designer Masako Fukuoka and architect David Greenbaum.
Studio N appoints New Design Director
(UAE) - Lighting design consultancy studio, Studio N, has appointed Josephine Dimalibot as Design Director.
Formally trained as an architect, Dimalibot has worked as a lighting designer for more than two decades and brings a wealth of experience from working in projects in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
For 16 years she worked as director for Singapore’s leading lighting design practices and delivered lighting schemes for major projects such as the Four Seasons Hotel in Jakarkta, the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangalore, LinkedIn’s HQ in Singapore, and Terminal 1 at Changi International Airport.
In her new position, Dimalibot will oversee the studio’s work and set new benchmarks from creativity and innovation. The role comes at a pivotal time for the studio’s venture into new markets as it gains industry recognition for projects such as The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Tourism and Opso Dubai in The Dubai Mall.
Lama Arouri, Managing Director at Studio N, says: “Josephine’s appointment is a defining step for Studio N, as we continue to shake up the lighting design industry and attract world-class design talent. Driving creativity to new heights is ingrained in our DNA, so we want to have a visionary designer at the helm, as we look to nurture our team and build on the studio’s achievements over the past six years.”
Josephine Dimalibot Schneider comments: “I am excited to be working with Studio N’s young and highly driven team, and hope to foster a collaborative environment where our designers can thrive, be inspired and push design boundaries. It also gives me the opportunity to join forces with Managing Director Lama Arouri, who has incredible knowledge of the region’s ‘light culture’. Together, we will ensure that every lighting design project reflects our shared passion and creativity, while delivering streamlined and on target solutions that remain true to our motto – simply light.”
Fiona Cousins appointed as Honorary Fellow of Trinity Hall
(UK) - CIBSE President Fiona Cousins has been appointed an Honorary Fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge.
The promotion recognises Cousins’ outstanding contributions to the engineering industry and the built environment. Cousins, who graduated from Trinity Hall in 1989 with a degree in Engineering Science, currently serves as Arup Americas Region Chair and is a member of the Arup Group Board. Her portfolio includes prominent projects such as the US Embassy in London and Fulton Street Station in New York.
Cousins expresses her delight at receiving this honour, saying: “I am delighted to have been made an Honorary Fellow. I loved my time at College – studying, growing, and becoming myself – and have enjoyed alumni events too. It’s a great pleasure to be renewing the connection and I look forward to engaging more.”
As CIBSE’s President for 2024-2025, Cousins continues to inspire engineers globally while her recognition underscores the collective efforts of CIBSE members in advancing the field.
Noctines: Contemporary Nocturnal Stories
Nicolas Houel, Founder of French studio L’Observatoire de la Nuit, shares his new research project, Noctines, dedicated to examining our “night time narratives”.
L’Observatoire de la Nuit recognises that preserving natural darkness and the health of all living things requires a deeper understanding of their intricate connections. By embracing this understanding, we can foster the creation of sustainable, high-quality nighttime environments, whether softly illuminated or left in their natural state.
Noctines is dedicated to enriching the global conversation about the balance between darkness and artificial light in daily life. Through gathering personal stories – both real-life experiences and imagined aspirations – Noctines seeks to uncover how people shape their cultural perceptions of night and light.
Field action-research project
The term “Noctines” is a French neologism, combining “comptines” (lullabies) and “nocturnes” (nighttime), invoking the cultural stories shared at dusk across generations. Created by L’Observatoire de la Nuit, Noctines is committed to guiding individuals through the cultural transition to a renewed experience of the night. This project is inspired by my 2020 PhD thesis, “Pedagogy of Light Sobriety.”
Noctines’ ambition is to delve into personal nighttime narratives to better understand the cultural relationships people have with the night. By taking a research-action approach, Noctines not only contributes to scientific exploration in psychogeography and sensory mapping, but also offers valuable insights for urban planners, consultants, and designers. The ultimate aim is to enhance the quality of nightlife in various regions and to tailor nighttime environments to how people truly live and experience them.
Since 2021, Noctines has been mobilised during the following events:
• Grenoble (FR) Darkness experience workshop, 2024 (coming event)
• Montpellier (FR), LUCI AGM, 2024
• Beynes (FR), Darkness experience workshop, 2024
• La Roche-Sur-Yon (FR) lighting masterplan, 2024
• Mulhouse (FR) lighting masterplan, 2024
• São Paulo (BR), LEDForum, Darkness experience workshop, 2023
• Aydat (FR), Darkness experience workshop (Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Park), 2023
• Lisbonne (PR), IV edition of the International Conference on Night Studies, 2023
• Lum’Acte Game (national serious game in 12 regions of France), 2023
• Nantes (FR) night city council, 2023
• La Haye-Fouassière (FR) lighting masterplan, 2022
• Nantes (FR), Darkness experience workshop, 2021
These steps led to the collection of nearly 400 individual testimonials from a diverse group of contributors, including local residents and street lighting experts. The insights gathered took various forms, ranging from key words to full narratives and short stories. Initial analysis reveals that people’s relationships with nightlife centre around eight key themes:
• Social interaction
• Innovation
• Nature
• Introspection
• Safety
• Night sky
• Wonder
• Perception and soothing effects
These eight themes serve as a foundation for further exploration by the L’Observatoire de la Nuit team. While not exhaustive, they mark the beginning of a proposed framework to understand the emotions, sensations, and perceptions that shape both our collective cultural views and individual imaginations about the night. As more contributions are gathered, this analysis will evolve, aiming to provide a comprehensive view of the cultural factors that have shaped – and continue to shape – nightlife worldwide.
A Simple, Interactive Participation Protocol
Noctines’ approach unfolds in three steps:
1. Contributor Profile: Three questions establish an anonymous profile of the participant, covering gender, age, and their relationship with the night.
2. Location and Content: Contributors plot their stories on a dynamic map, allowing them to share the geographical context of their experience, followed by a freeform narrative of their story.
3. Story Classification: Participants indicate whether their story reflects real life or an imagined desire and link it to one of the eight pre-defined themes. There’s also room for them to introduce a new theme if needed.
This simple, didactic process invites broad participation and deepens the understanding of how people around the world connect with the night.
Noctines’ Framework
L’Observatoire de la Nuit seeks to balance the technical and sensory elements that shape nighttime environments. Often evaluated through performance, regulatory standards, and environmental considerations, the quality of life at night can sometimes feel reduced to issues like energy management, biodiversity protection, and compliance with norms. Through the Noctines project, however, L’Observatoire de la Nuit shifts the focus to personal narratives – whether real or imagined – to guide technical and technological decisions. In essence, it seeks to return lighting to its rightful place: at the heart of human experience.
The vision of the Noctines project unfolds in three stages:
Short Term: Develop a methodology for designing low-impact, shared, and sustainable nighttime cities, placing the experiences of living beings at the centre.
Mid Term: Explore the scale of societal representations of the night, moving from global to local, and from collective to individual perspectives.
Long Term: Investigate the “night-individual” system to understand both the tangible and intangible interactions that occur, and how these affect individuals and society at large.
A Free Platform for Everyone
L’Observatoire de la Nuit is committed to raising awareness, providing information, and experimenting with nighttime environments and artificial lighting. Our platform is open to all, believing that personal stories, whether real, imagined, positive, or negative, play a crucial role in shaping how each individual connects with the night. This anthropological perspective aims to shed light on various cultural aspects, including gender, accessibility, and safety in nighttime public spaces.
Utilising Noctines for Your Projects Noctines is a free platform designed to support projects focused on creating and sharing stories about night time experiences. Accessible on both PC and mobile devices, it integrates seamlessly into events and nighttime consultations. We offer occasional data extractions upon request and are open to developing customised solutions, such as tailored questionnaires, geographic targeting, and direct data access.
Feel free to reach out to us at
contact@lobservatoiredelanuit.fr and contribute your stories to the platform!
Why Contribute and Consult Noctines?
Noctines offers a unique opportunity to connect with others who share your experiences at the places you love to visit at night. By using the platform, you can explore a vast array of nighttime locations around the world, discovering new spots to enjoy after dark.
Noctines also provides a valuable resource for comparing and contrasting different perspectives on nightlife. It reveals the wide range of opinions, preconceptions, and cultural practices associated with nighttime activities globally. This insight allows you to appreciate the diverse ways in which people around the world experience and perceive the night.
Moreover, your personal stories and experiences play a crucial role in shaping the world’s first qualitative map of nocturnal experiences. By contributing to this map, you help create a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of nighttime environments, enriching our collective knowledge and fostering a deeper appreciation of the night.
Commision: Are you Breaking the Law?
Marcus Steffen broaches the issue of commission, providing some clarity on the process, and how to ensure that what you are doing is both ethical and legal.
How money is made and who is profiting is almost seen as a dark art within construction. There are always stories floating around about extra money made, people getting a cut and who is making what. With this article I want to try and demystify how this works, so that we can all achieve the ultimate goal: having a project delivered on time, on budget, that the client is happy with.
Our industry is young and growing fast, so it is essential we do not allow bad practices to mire our industry in controversy.
I have always believed that it is best to make things as clear as possible and allow clients to make an informed choice with expert advice. Within lighting, lighting designers, architects, and interior designers are often the ones who are providing that expert advice. As we all know, lighting is extremely complex and projects benefit immensely from having an expert coordinate it from the very start. Clients need to be able to trust that the advice they’re getting is in their best interests. This is where the issue of commissions often pops up and can cause significant issues, and even constitute breaking the law.
For full disclosure, I run two companies: MS Lighting Design, which I started 10 years ago; and Ember Lighting, which I started with a business partner approximately seven years ago. MS Lighting Design provides only lighting design services, whereas Ember provides specification and supply services. This, along with 20 years in the industry, means I have seen many sides of the supply chain and how it functions.
What is commission?
Commission for lighting designers can fall into two general areas: commission paid to people recommending you/your company for a project or to a client, and charging commission from suppliers that you/your company has specified on a project. To be clear, the payment of commission is not illegal in itself, as long as the client is aware that this relationship is present. Commissions might take the form of a lump sum or a percentage.
In other industries, this is how businesses might normally function. For example, mortgage brokers charge a commission, and when you have your mortgage agreed with the provider, it will show on there the commission paid to the mortgage broker.
UK Bribery Act 2010
I am discussing the UK in this article, though similar legislation is likely to exist in other countries. I would also say that I am not a legal expert, and am not able to provide legal advice, so you should seek this yourself. The Bribery Act 2010 covers what is relevant here. This is a simple summary:
“[It is] …an offence for a person to offer, promise or give a financial or other advantage to another person….where [that person] knows or believes that the acceptance of the advantage offered, promised or given in itself constitutes the improper performance of a relevant function or activity… ‘Improper performance’ …means performance which amounts to a breach of an expectation that a person will act in good faith, impartially, or in accordance with a position of trust.”
The key point here is if a person is providing advice with an expectation of impartiality, but they are receiving or giving payments to other parties.
Relevance to lighting design
In the lighting design industry, we could be either party. We could be a supplier, providing our design services on the recommendation of a project manager or interior designer, while they are asking for a commission from us to be recommended. We could also be the expert providing advice to the client, while receiving commission from the suppliers. In some cases, commission could be viewed not as a monetary payment, but other benefits, such as gifts and entertainment.
Different legal business approaches
In some cases, commission is just greed, with parties wanting to make more money from a project. Often though, there may be legitimate work and expense being carried out by the expert, for which they feel they are entitled to some sort of restitution. There are a number of legal ways of ensuring this work is covered without resorting to kickbacks:
Agreed percentage based on the entire value of the project: This is often the method used by architects for pricing their projects. This will involve having a set budget for the overall size of the project, and then portions of this are allocated to each design and construction phase. This could form part of an overall lighting design fee, or it could be used just for the construction element of the project. This can vary depending on the sector the project is in and the size, but is a way to cover expanding scope within a project. This fee can then cover the work involved in managing the supply of items or coordinating other parties.
Supply management fee: This is a common method used by interior designers who have clients who want to purchase directly from suppliers. They would charge their interior design fees, but when it comes to supply, they seek quotes from the suppliers, these are checked, given to the client to pay, and the interior designer charges a flat percentage on top. This fee is often in the range of 10-20%, and negotiated with the interior designer as part of their contract. They will take on some responsibility for errors in the supply since they are checking the quotes before the client purchases the items.
Hourly rate: An hourly rate could be agreed with the client to cover work involved in the organisation of the supply of products. This is dependent on the client and can be challenging since costs are not known before the project starts, making clients wary. It might be the only way to provide services on a bespoke, custom project though.
Unforseen commission - declaration: in some cases a supplier offers some sort of commission to a designer. In these cases, it could be declared to the client that this offer has been made, and then ask what they would like to do with it. Most clients would take the extra saving, but in some cases they may be happy to leave it with the designer.
Full supply: Some lighting designers provide both lighting design and supply services under one roof. In this case, it should be declared to clients before hand if it is not possible for the client to then source the goods themselves (i.e. manufacturer specification is not being provided as part of the design service or quotes are locked to the designer).
Gifts and entertainment
The issue of gifts and entertainment is a bit of a grey area. A lot of suppliers might offer a lunch alongside explaining products, or a trip to the factory to see how they are made. They might offer free samples to a specifier. But these can form an essential part of expanding expert knowledge and design skills. Seeing how products are made can give designers greater understanding of how they work, and learning about the unique benefits of products can benefit clients.
How this is approached and ensuring that they do not breach the bribery act is important. They should not be tied to any sort of performance target or expectation for specifying products on projects. A designer could also make it visible to clients via social media and discussions that they have participated in a trip with a supplier. For this, it requires common sense and a good sense of ethics to navigate. It is also important to put in place policies with staff explaining what activities are and are not ok to engage in.
The focus should be on the client’s outcomes
All of this is leading to one result: ensuring the client has a good outcome on their project, and they have full confidence in their experts. It is important that we as an industry encourage and enforce good practice, and we do not engage in these terrible practices that have plagued construction for many years.
