Panos Ferentinos
As he celebrates 20 years in the lighting industry, Panos Ferentinos, Associate at QODA Light, tells arc about his unique route into the industry, and how his background in graphic design shaped his approach to lighting.
Throughout our time as a publication, we’ve interviewed many lighting designers, and have made a point to ask each of them how they arrived in the profession.
Discounting the many that found lighting design “by accident”, there are some very common routes – architecture, theatrical production, interior design, and lighting manufacturing in particular.
However, London-based Greek designer Panos Ferentinos found the world of lighting design through an entirely different path.
“I originally studied Graphic Design, and after I finished a Master’s degree in Art & Graphic Design, I started my career working at magazines, well-known publications, and advertising companies in Athens,” Ferentinos told arc.
It wasn’t until he moved to London 25 years ago that Ferentinos discovered the world of lighting design, although he said he has always had an interest in the effect that lighting has on architecture.
He continued: “When I decided to move to London, I worked for a short time as a graphic designer, until I fell in love with lighting. I was always fascinated with how lighting defined architecture, but I was not aware of the skills that it required to design lighting for spaces.”
With his background in graphic design, Ferentinos got a job with Isometrix as a junior designer, where he “connected more with lighting” through photoshop renderings that he was given to work on for various projects.
“At first, it was very difficult to understand the philosophy and technical part of the lighting design, and the impact that it had on large-scale projects, but this was something that I developed over time,” he said.
“I learned a lot of lighting design on the job. I was exposed to various aspects of the process of architectural lighting design, and later, when I started visiting projects for commissioning, I had the chance to see how a design concept on paper went on to shape into the reality of a constructed project. I also had the chance to travel and work with people around the world, which was another part of the job that really drew me in.”
After more than five years at Isometrix, where he progressed to the level of Assistant Lighting Designer, Ferentinos moved on to a new position at Illuminationworks – a studio where he spent the next 12 years honing his craft and learning more about the lighting design profession.
It was also at Illuminationworks where he met a significant figure in his career – a mentor who would take him under their wing and offer support and guidance. Ferentinos recalled: “I was starting to lose interest in graphic design when I met a key influencer in my career in lighting – Chad Rains, Founding Director at Illuminationworks; my mentor, who brought me into the job.
“Creativity opens the mind, and he was always encouraging me to think outside the box. It was appealing, and the complexity of the projects was very stimulating, so I found the learning process incredibly rewarding, and no day was the same.”
During his time at Illuminationworks, Ferentinos quickly learned the ropes of lighting design, working across a range of projects spanning hospitality, heritage, retail, residential and master planning.
Because of this, he believes that there isn’t one particular are that he specialises in, although his background in graphic design does give him an inside track in the early visualisation stages. “20 years in lighting has brought many types of projects across my desk. While I do not specialise, I find a lot of engagement in the design process, particularly during the early stages of conceptualising and ideation. This is where the graphic designer in me, mixed with my lighting expertise, can really shine.”
When it comes to his own personal style, Ferentinos explained that he often looks to the art world for inspiration, particularly taking to heart the words of the legendary James Turrell.
He explained: “Turrell said ‘we create the reality in which we live’. This resonates with me when I think about my approach to lighting.
“I love creating atmosphere and mood, I often turn to art for inspiration. I enjoy walking around London and observing the latest architecture. Each project is exciting and varied. In my work, I tend to treat each one as a new creative challenge, then I let my instinct guide me on what the possibilities are for a successful project.”
With this in mind, while he has worked on a range of projects across all aspects of lighting design, it is those that have an artistic or cultural component to them that stand out. A particular favourite, he revealed, was from his time with Illuminationworks; ROOM – an experiential work of art commissioned from renowned British sculptor Sir Antony Gormley. Situated at the Beaumont Hotel in London, guests can stay inside the semi-abstract sculpture; a dark, mysterious, cave-like space, ROOM encourages its occupants to enter a different state of consciousness and enjoy a quiet, meditative pause, withdrawing from the busy world outside.
“I love ROOM, it was a unique project, and we were able to work closely with Sir Antony Gormley,” Ferentinos recalled. “Another favourite project was the 21c Oklahoma City Museum Hotel, where a former Ford Model T assembly plant was transformed into a hospitality space that combined a hotel with contemporary art galleries, that is accessible 24/7.
“I have also enjoyed all of the Marc Jacobs retail projects that I have worked on in the past, while a very challenging project was the K11 Art Shopping Centre in Wuhan, China, which was completed as the pandemic was affecting the city.”
While Ferentinos has built a strong body of work in lighting design, he said that the initial transition from graphic design was a difficult adjustment. However, he believes that it is through self-belief that he was able to carve out a successful career.
“The most important part of any professional transition is that you must believe in yourself,” he said. “It was certainly tough and unknown, but I was curious, enthusiastic, and eager to learn.”
He added that while there are obvious differences between the fields, his past life in graphic design has brought with it some unique benefits. He added: “Being creative and having a good eye for detail really helped. Graphic design is an important part of visual communication; it is the process of using text, images, and colour to create a visual representation of ideas and messages. It is quite a similar process to the concept phase in lighting design, which is one of my strengths.”
Reflecting on his route into the industry, Ferentinos acknowledged that while people enter into the world of lighting through a broad spectrum of backgrounds, coming from graphic design was relatively unusual. “Lighting is a field that attracts people from several backgrounds, but from graphic design is rare.
“I was willing to learn on the job, and graphic design was a good foundation, but it also gave me an edge. Additionally, my passion for design and ability to communicate and present ideas through the graphic design skills was an asset.
“I was also fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with talented and kind colleagues that have inspired me.”
After 12 years at Illuminationworks, Ferentinos moved to a new position as Associate at QODA Light at the turn of the year, a move that he describes as a “natural part of my progress in the industry”.
“As the adage goes, timing is everything. The opportunities with QODA Light and Illuminationworks both came at the right moments in my life. I like to challenge myself to see how much better I can be, and how much more I can accomplish, so I’m excited to have this opportunity to take what I have learned into my career path and make many more successful years ahead.”
2023 also marks 20 years since Ferentinos first made the jump from graphic design into lighting. Looking back on his career so far, he hopes that his journey can act as an inspiration to young, emerging talent.
“I never imagined that I would be in the industry for 20 years and it is an achievement. I hope I brought passion for lighting, creative ideas, enthusiasm, and good mentoring to the teams I work with, especially to the young designers.
“It is not in my nature to seek the spotlight; however, I am ambitious, and always try to go the extra mile. This is essential for me, otherwise I lose interest. I have achieved a lot of my goals, but learning is never ending in lighting.
“I think that with a willingness to learn, anything is possible. My biggest advice would be stay curious, stay passionate. The creative industry is more collaborative these days and has opened up more opportunities for creatives with diverse skillsets and interests. People are making the leap into lighting design regardless of their backgrounds.”
Looking ahead, Ferentinos is fully focused on his new position at QODA Light. “They are working on some exciting projects, which I cannot wait to get involved in,” he said. “I hope the future holds another 20 years of creativity and collaborations with innovative designers.”
Light'in Agorá: Embrace Equity
The curators and WIL Italy invite you to a panel discussion and gathering of "Women in Lighting". The aim of this evening is to celebrate Italian best practices and facilitate a conversation with the Women in Lighting network, through the Ambassadors representing WIL in other nations.
Starting with a reflection by Italian Ambassador Giorgia Brusemini, who will talk about how her approach to the profession has changed since she took on this role, a panel moderated by Helen Ankers of [d]arc media will follow. Five countries will be represented in the panel: Sabine De Shutter, Ambassador in Germany; Claudia Paz, Ambassador in Perù; Surbhi Jindal, Ambassador in India; Francesca Feltrin, Ambassador in Switzerland; Olga Tuzova, Ambassador in Russia.
The curators Giorgia Brusemini, Chiara Carucci, Martina Frattura and Giacomo Rossi conceived the 'Light'in Agora' project to promote a multidisciplinary design approach by bringing together Italian and international professionals. The organisers are proud and enthusiastic to collaborate with the media partners [d]arc media (arc and darc magazine) and with the supporters Helvar (platinum), formalighting (gold), Valmont Structures and LightLux (silver) for the events and gatherings.
Light'in Agorá: Find Your Light
The importance of creating opportunities for lighting professionals is undeniable. It all starts with education; not just for those who have chosen lighting as a career path, but for all. Education needs to begin much earlier, creating an awareness of the importance of light, and the industry that supports it.
Join this LIRC member meeting and Panel discussion featuring Andrea Hartranft, FIALD, President-Elect, USA; Dean Skira, IALD, Croatia; Paul Ehlert, IALD, Switzerland; Surbhi Jindal, Associate IALD, India; moderated by Martina Frattura, Jr. IALD, and Chiara Carucci, IALD Associate, LIRC Steering Committee.
The curators Giorgia Brusemini, Chiara Carucci, Martina Frattura and Giacomo Rossi conceived the 'Light'in Agora' project to promote a multidisciplinary design approach by bringing together Italian and international professionals. The organisers are proud and enthusiastic to collaborate with the media partners [d]arc media (arc and darc magazine) and with the supporters Helvar (platinum), formalighting (gold), Valmont Structures and LightLux (silver) for the events and gatherings.
Casambi Summit announces talks programme
(Finland) – Casambi has announced the keynotes and final agenda for its third annual Casambi Summit. The one-day, free-to-attend virtual event will take place on 27 April.
“The Casambi Summit is about showcasing the latest in lighting technology as the industry continues its transition from wired to wireless control,” said Joonas Rinne, Casambi Marketing VP. “It’s about celebrating the people, their products and projects that are embracing change, engaging creativity, and encouraging us to live and light more responsibly.”
This year’s event will focus heavily on the emerging trends and applications driving an increasing need for smart lighting – such as the EU Fluorescent ban, new incoming green building codes, and greater mainstream awareness of Human Centric Lighting. Casambi will offer luminaire and component manufacturers, electrical engineers and architectural lighting designers the insight needed to build and successfully deploy Casambi-ready products.
The company has put together a 12-hour programme, with guest speakers offering different vantage points, varied experiences and products that provide smarter alternatives to traditional methods.
This year’s keynotes include:
The opportunity and impact of wireless lighting control
Welcome remarks and a brief business update by Casambi CEO, Kari Mettälä.
Creative control at all stages of the development process
Casambi Founder, Timo Pakkala will present how Casambi provides total freedom to innovate and differentiate lighting products.
Space Tech: Circadian lighting for astronauts
SAGA Space Architects co-founder, Sebastian Aristotelis will introduce the Circadian Light Panel, a product NASA will test onboard the International Space Station.
How creativity is essential in an increasingly onerous world
Clementine Fletcher-Smith, Partner at Speirs Major, will discuss the critical role that light plays in shaping the way we perceive and experience the world around us.
Singapore: Social movements to support design
Tung Ching Yew, President of the Society of Interior Designers Singapore (SIDS) on the community initiatives supporting and elevating the standards of Interior Design practice in Singapore.
Modern lighting infrastructure as a business booster
Joachim Geiger, CSO & CMO at Trilux Group will present how LED upgrades open the doors to customisable, energy-efficient and sustainable lighting solutions, which in turn transform lighting infrastructure into powerful business assets.
Breaking Free: Art X Lights X Heritage
Hilmi Juma’at, Assistant Director (Audio, Visual, Lighting) at the National Gallery Singapore, will present the game-changing benefits of Bluetooth-controlled lighting for museums and heritage spaces.
How light affects the taste of our food
Johan Röklander from the School of Engineering at Jönköping University will give a talk on the influence of light over taste and other senses.
Bluetooth Low Energy: A North American lighting representative’s perspective
Devon Galloway, Controls Specialist at SDA Lighting & Controls will discuss the importance of BLE-based lighting solutions, and the value a Casambi X Spec Rep relationship brings to those looking to implement them.
The Summit will also include a virtual partner expo featuring 30 global brands, will offer 1-2-1 virtual meeting opportunities, and technical breakout sessions where subject matter experts will be on hand to answer any questions.
The Casambi Summit will be held virtually and is free of charge. Learn more and register to attend on the Casambi Summit event page.
IALD Enlighten Europe 2023 opens for registration
(Germany) - Returning for the first time since 2018, the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) has opened registration for the Enlighten Europe conference taking place in Berlin, Germany.
From 30 June through 1 July, attendees from across the spectrum of the lighting design industry and around the world are invited to Café Moskau in Berlin to take part in a schedule of events that includes educational sessions, collaborative roundtable discussions, social receptions, and much more.
The conference agenda includes dozens of informative and inspirational speaking sessions from a wide array of designers, design firm principals, academic researchers, and other industry leaders, as well as a keynote address from world-renowned light artist and designer, Berlin’s own Christopher Bauder.
Throughout the schedule of events, networking opportunities are interwoven to maintain the vibrant engagement and collaboration that are at the centre of the IALD’s global initiative.
IALD President Mônica Luz Lobo is eager to see the festivities commence, and to bring the energy of these Enlighten conferences back to the European continent. She said: “The passion and enthusiasm that is so evident in the lighting design community benefits immensely from these opportunities for professional development and peer networking. The IALD is a worldwide gathering of incredible talents and innovative minds, and Enlighten is the stage where that collective brilliance is on full display.”
All interested parties can learn more about the IALD Enlighten Europe 2023 conference, its complete schedule of events, its roster of speakers and sponsors, and more at https://iald.me/ee23. Lowered “early bird” registration pricing will remain available through 30 April, and conference registration will remain open to the public up to and through the 1 July final day of events.
LEDFlex continues Middle East expansion with Saudi Arabia office
(Saudi Arabia) – As part of its continued expansion in the Middle East, LEDFlex has opened a new office in Saudi Arabia, the company has announced.
The move comes as a sign of commitment from the company to support the growing demand of linear light fittings with local sales representatives.
In line with the expansion, LEDFlex has appointed Dory El Fakhry as Country Manager for the region. Based in Saudi Arabia, El Fakhry will work closely with the global sales teams to ensure that LEDFlex products and services are tailored to meet the specific needs of the Saudi Arabian market.
“I am excited to take this new role, continuing to build on the success that LEDFlex has achieved in the region,” said El Fakhry. “I look forward to working with our talented team and valued clients to drive growth and deliver innovative lighting solutions that not only meet their needs, but exceed them.”
The new Saudi Arabia office bolsters the already founded sales office in Dubai, UAE, which nurtures the needs of the lighting industry in the Gulf region.
Andrew Bunker, Managing Director for the Middle East, added: “We are open and ready for business. This development is a tribute to the efforts that LEDFlex has invested into our product range and the relationships with designers and specifiers. The market demands quality and service driven solutions to cope with the experiences our end users want to deliver.”
Tryka opens Saudi Arabia office
(Saudi Arabia) – Tryka has announced the expansion of its operations in the Middle East, with the opening of new offices in Saudi Arabia.
This expansion comes at an exciting time for Tryka, as the company celebrates 20 years in the lighting industry. The opening of the Saudi Arabia offices will allow for the growth of the company’s existing Middle East presence, as an addition to its UAE office. The new location will create further support for Tryka’s international clients, who are specifying and supplying projects in the region.
Mohammed Saleh, Country Manager - KSA, will be the main point of contact in the region, leading on local operations. Commenting on the expansion, he said: “It’s an incredible opportunity for Tryka to enhance its presence in the area. I am delighted to be part of this new venture, using my familiarity of the region to ensure we are offering support to local lighting agents and distributors, as well as consultants and developers during planning and development.
“As the brand grows in reputation, we have seen more project demands in the Middle East. Our increased presence and support infrastructure allows us to meet greater client needs, offering on-hand project management and site support during project construction.”
Chris Rolph, Founder of Tryka, added: “As we have reached our 20th year in the industry, we are thrilled at how our reputation and recognition has grown internationally. We are so proud of our success, acting as trailblazers in architectural lighting and becoming the go-to LED lighting brand for designers and specifiers globally. We have completed projects in every sector, covering every corner of the globe, and the opening of our new Middle East offices demonstrates our continued development and ability to cater to an international client base.”
The Tryka product range has all required third party safety and performance certificates by accredited, independent laboratories, thus enabling straightforward SASO certification and import certification to Saudi Arabia. This thereby ensures that every product exported to the country will comply with all local regulations and standards.
Mohan Kumar, Managing Director of Tryka Middle East, added: “For many years we have met the demands of the Saudi Arabian market, delivering impressive lighting schemes across the region, including a number of façade lighting packages within the King Abdullah Financial District and Tamkeen Tower in Riyadh, now shining beacons of the ever-changing Saudi landscape.
“Working closely with international specifiers, our ability to offer tailor-made solutions has been tantamount to our success and the added value of having a local office will prove invaluable in delivering future lighting schemes, particularly as Saudi Arabia enters this new era of modern development.”
DALI Alliance reveals winners of DALI Lighting Awards 2022
(USA) - The DALI Alliance (DiiA), the global industry organisation for DALI lighting control, has revealed the winners of the DALI Lighting Awards 2022.
The standard of entries within each of the eight categories was exceptionally high, and the awards recognise the best use of DALI lighting control applications and solutions around the globe. The international judging panel of lighting designers, lighting magazine editors, and representatives from global lighting organisations picked eight projects as well-deserved winners.
The winner in the Architectural & Entertainment category was Tridonic Middle East, for its work on the Expo 2020 entry portals in Dubai, UAE. The lighting system used dynamic colour mixing to provide the desired effects in the vast portals, which are 21-metres tall, 30-metres long, and 10.5-metres wide. DALI was used due to its advanced dimming and daylight sensing features, interoperability, and its ability to reduce maintenance costs.
The Healthcare & Education award went to Delmatic, for its work at University College London (UCL) Hospital in London, UK. DALI lighting management systems extend throughout the hospital’s 34,500sqm building, which comprises six floors above ground and five below. The energy-efficient DALI system manages and monitors around 17,500 DALI assets, and incorporates comprehensive DALI emergency light testing and monitoring.
Synapse Wireless triumphed in the Industrial category for its work on the Uline Store C6 project in Ontario, California. Lighting for the 1 million square foot warehouse is all controlled from a single lighting dashboard, with lights responding to commands in less than a second. DALI was chosen due to the rich features of the D4i LED drivers, which provide asset management and power monitoring. In turn this allows the customer to achieve energy rebates and meet strict energy codes.
Delmatic also won the Infrastructure category for its work on the Elizabeth Line, a new 118km high-speed rail network in London, UK. This is Europe’s largest infrastructure project, and uses more than 35,000 DALI assets to illuminate the stations. DALI optimises efficiency, safety, and aesthetics, while providing the flexibility and versatility needed to meet the stringent and complex lighting requirements of the project.
The winner of the Outdoor category is Signify for its street lighting renewal project in Algeciras, Spain. A total of 5,600 light points have been updated throughout the city, and technicians can now remotely control Zhaga-D4i luminaires from multiple manufacturers with a single control system. The new LED lighting system has enabled the city to cut its energy usage by more than 50%, a reduction of 1261 tons of CO2 per year and a saving of almost half a million Euros.
Sunricher won the Residential category for its work on the Taiziwan High-end Building in Shenzhen, China. The building has 33 floors and a total of 158 households, and uses a DALI lighting scheme connected with a KNX bus control system for intelligent building control. DALI can individually control or flexibly group different lighting units on the DALI bus. DALI was chosen for its easy management, straightforward installation, and accurate, stable and smooth dimming control.
Delmatic completed its triple success with the Retail & Hospitality award, for a project at Battersea Power Station in London, UK. Delmatic’s DALI-2 lighting system integrates control of normal, specialist and emergency lighting across the project. Lighting scenarios can be configured to precisely suit the individual requirements within the various spaces. DALI was chosen due to its flexibility, energy efficiency, emergency lighting capabilities, and dimming and colour control.
Finally, the Workspaces category was won by Bluebottle, for its work on the 83 Pirie Street offices in Adelaide, Australia. This involved around 9,000 DALI devices in the 22-level office tower, with DALI used for the control of all light fittings. DALI was selected due to its flexibility and ease of wiring; bringing all assets onto the DALI bus greatly reduced the wiring complexity, and offered cost savings over traditional bus systems.
Find out more about the winners by visiting our website at www.dali-alliance.org/awards2022, and watch for the launch of the DALI Lighting Awards 2023 later this year.
[d]arc awards 2022 winners announced!
(UK) – Last night, the design community once again came out in force to support the [d]arc awards – the only peer-to-peer lighting design awards in the world!
Celebrating in style at fabric London with light art installations, an open bar, vegetarian street food, a photo booth, and UV face paint, the party carried on until the early hours!
More than 17,000 votes were cast, while 312 project entries and 100 product entries were submitted. The 2022 entries came from all over the world, with 40 countries represented.
Awarded the coveted [d]arc awards ‘Best of the Best’ for 2022, was Plas Y Brenin, UK by Dark Source, which won the Spaces – Low Budget category. This award is given to the project that received the most amount of votes out of all the project category winners. Congratulations to Dark Source again for this amazing achievement.
Look out for the full [d]arc awards coverage in our dedicated magazine, which will be sent out digitally in the upcoming weeks. Once again, a massive thank you to all of our design team partners, sponsors and supporters – particularly Light Collective, who we couldn’t do the awards without!
Full List of Winners
[d]arc awards ‘Best of the Best’: Plas Y Brenin, UK by Dark Source
Places – High Budget: Basilica Cistern Yerebatan Sarnici, Turkey by Studioillumina
Places – Low Budget: Kindai University BLD, Japan E by Sirius Lighting Office + NTT Facilities
Spaces – High: Exchange Square, UK by Speirs Major
Spaces – Low: Plas Y Brenin, UK by Dark Source
Structures – High: Ice Cube, China by Pro Lighting Consultant
Structures – Low: Espenes Rest Stop, Norway by Light Bureau
Art – High: Cloud 9, Australia by Jan Flook Lighting
Art – Low: Chiang Mai Private Gallery, Thailand by Infusion
Art – Bespoke: Battersea Power Station Washtower, UK by Speirs Major & Jonathan Coles Studio
Event: Lights in Alingsas 2022, Sweden by Alingsås Energi
Kit – Architectural Interior: Occular Axis by Phos
Kit – Architectural Exterior: Water Effect In-ground RAD 180 WE System by Radiant Architectural Lighting
Kit – Decorative: Wave Collection by Curiousa
Kit – Technology: Control Switches by Focus SB
www.darcawards.com
Lights in Alingsås announce workshop heads for 2023
(Sweden) – The workshop heads for the 2023 edition of Lights in Alingsås have been announced.
After receiving an overwhelming amount of interest, seven lighting designers from around the world were selected to lead the workshops for the 24th edition of the festival, which will take place from September.
The lighting designers for Lights in Alingsås 2023 are: Lina Färje, Sweden; David Ghatan, USA; Nick Dankers, Netherlands; Linus Lopez, India; Martina Frattura, Portugal; Iris Molendijk, Sweden; and Sara Altelind, Sweden.
David Ghatan, Past President of the IALD, has expressed his enthusiasm for working with students in a free and positive way to explore the creative possibilities of light. He was thrilled to finally be a part of the collaborative design process and create a new story with his colleagues in a new place.
Similarly, Linus Lopez shared his passion for light in all its forms and his admiration for the dialogues of learning and interaction generated by the Lights in Alingsås workshops.
At the end of March, the designers met in Alingsås and walked along the lighting trail for the first time to select the locations to illuminate this autumn.
Read full profiles on the workshop heads on the Lights in Alingsås website here.
LEDucation 2023 celebrates record-breaking attendance
(USA) – LEDucation Trade Show and Conference celebrated its 17th year at the New York Hilton Midtown on 7-8 with a record-breaking year in terms of attendance figures; more than 8,000 attendees from all aspects of the lighting industry visited the show over the two days.
LEDucation Co-Chairperson Caroline Rinker said: “We are pleased to see how this show is growing. The explosive energy and enthusiasm of attendees only confirmed that the lighting industry is still going strong.”
Noting an increase in the number of attendees and exhibitors from outside of the US, Co-Chairperson Burt Grant added: “The show is noticeably gaining more recognition internationally. Attendance at our virtual educational sessions have proved there is worldwide interest and these sessions have contributed to the expansion of the LEDucation name. In addition, interested European companies have recognised closer access to top lighting design firms here in New York City. Their projects can be seen around the globe. We are exploring ways to better serve not only the local and national industry, but the international lighting market as well.”
Alongside the tradeshow, 36 LEDucation seminars explored a variety of topics, and both utilitarian and more thought-provoking seminars were all well attended. The LEDucation Presentation Committee, comprising Wendy Kaplan, Craig Fox, and Shaun Fillion, acknowledged the presenters for sharing their knowledge at the educational seminars: “Your collective information reached well over 3,800 attendees via virtual and in-person sessions. We look forward to our slate of speakers for 2024 LEDucation presentations.”
The LEDucation Conference is known for engaging a large cross-section of the lighting industry and those in related fields. Also a seminar panellist, Fillion added: “We began our panel discussion on the topic of glare with a survey of the attendees. Of the 150+ attendees, we had representation from designers, manufacturers, and reps, but also architects, contractors, distributors, educators, and facility managers.”
After such a successful event, plans are already underway for LEDucation 2024, with more than 325 exhibitors already reserving their booth space for next year’s event, which will take place at the New York Hilton Midtown on 19-20 March.
Nuckolls Fund distributes $140,000 in Grants and Awards for 2023
(USA) – Four grants of $30,000 each and four awards of $5,000 have been distributed by the Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education for 2023, totalling $140,000. This year’s grants and awards brought the Fund’s total distribution to more than $1.85million.
Founded in 1988 to recognise the achievements of the late lighting designer and educator James L. Nuckolls, the Nuckolls Fund supports the development of innovative college-level lighting programmes for the technology and aesthetics of lighting design with grants, and assists deserving students with awards to further their lighting design education. Submittals by educators for grants and nominations for student recognition are judged annually by the Fund’s Board of Directors.
Nuckolls Fund President Lee Waldron, in announcing this year’s award and grant recipients, recognised the breadth of the proposals for lighting-related instruction, from incorporating Building Information Modelling across inter-department programmes to techniques for integrating daylighting into interior spaces. “Each grant principal investigator emphasised the importance of their revised curricula to the students who would be taking the knowledge gained with them into the lighting industry, which will ultimately benefit the end-user,” he said.
Recipients of the $30,000 Nuckolls Grants to Expand Lighting Curriculum were Texas Christian University, and Oregon State University. At Texas Christian University, Alyssa Humphries Steward, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Lighting Education was recognised for the programme “Integration of CAD to BIM: the Design Process and Technology Paradigm Shift in Architectural Lighting Design Education & Practice”, which will extend throughout the existing lighting curricula.
At Oregon State University, Clotilde Pierson, Assistant Professor of Architectural Engineering received a grant to improve learning modules with its “Daylighting Design through Experiential Learning Pedagogy”.
The $30,000 Lesley Wheel Grants to Develop and Deliver New Courses were awarded to Lauren Dandridge, Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Architecture at the University of Southern California, who received a grant for “Exploring Exterior Lighting Design and its Effect on Health, Community, and Nature”. Robert Davis, Affiliate Faculty, Civil, and Architectural Engineering Department at Tennessee State University was also recognised with a grant for “Expanding Lighting Education: A step towards a more diverse academic pipeline into the lighting professions”.
The Nuckolls Fund also distributed four $5,000 Awards to students across the United States. The Jonas Bellovin Scholar Achievement Award when to S M Ashik Rahman, University of Colorado; The Jules Horton International Student Achievement Award was given to Nayoun Ryu, Parsons School of Design; and Bentley Tonniges, University of Nebraska, and Aaron Zimmerman, Pennsylvania State Univeristy, were both recognised with the Designers Lighting Forum of New York Student Achievement Award.