Women In Lighting Awards 2021
The Women in Lighting Awards were created to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements and the achievements of those who support them within the field of architectural lighting design.
The winners of the inaugural WiL Awards were revealed in an online presentation, held on 10 June.
Video courtesy of Light Collective.
Women in Lighting Award winners announced
(Online) – In an online ceremony held on 10 June, the winners of the inaugural Women in Lighting Awards were announced.
Established to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements, and the achievements of those who support them, the WIL Awards was open to nominations for accomplishments large or small, for people that did something special in 2020, and was broken down into three separate categories – Achievement, Initiatives and Supporters.
Entries opened on 8 March, to coincide with International Women’s Day, and throughout the entry a process, a total of 180 nominations were made, resulting in 141 nominees from across 36 countries.
Each category had a separate judging panel, comprised of Women in Lighting Ambassadors, and two winners were selected from each category.
The Initiative category looked to highlight new ideas and initiatives that sit alongside the lighting industry, celebrate ideas that push the lighting profession forward, or use light to help the wider community. The two winning initiatives were Light for Lebanon and Light Reach, led by Manal Kahale and Nathalie Rozot respectively – both of which are intertwined with each other.
Shortly after the devastating explosion in Beirut in August 2020, Lebanese lighting designer Manal Kahale partnered with the global charitable initiative Light Reach to launch “Light for Lebanon.” Using Light Reach’s three-tiered solar lighting model, the programme supports residents’ everyday lighting needs, whether practical, social or cultural, both indoors (with portable solar lanterns) and outdoors (with solar security lights and solar streetlights for building entrances, streets, historic building façades, playgrounds and public spaces).
To date, Light for Lebanon has raised US$75K and already afforded the purchase of almost 1,500 solar lights. Kahale’s ground team has provided lighting to the Beirut Fire Brigade and distributed solar lanterns to residents plunged in darkness and to address immediate safety and security issues.
Light Reach was set up by Rozot, and is a solar lighting initiative by lighting think-tank PhoScope, designed to leapfrog over utility grids to light work and play, and to boost the wellbeing and economic growth of underserved communities worldwide. As well as supporting Lebanon, they have also worked on projects in Puerto Rico. Light Reach is a WiL partner, and any profit from the sale of WiL T-shirts is forwarded on to help fund its projects.
The Supporter category was intended to shine a spotlight on those who have helped us in our lives – people who enable us to keep moving forward and have mentored us or supported us in some way. The winners of this category were Chiara Carucci, Italian lighting designer based in Sweden; and Lisa Reed, a lighting designer in the USA.
Founder of the IALD Nordic chapter and, together with Giacomo Rossi, founder of the Facebook group "Italian Lighting Design promotion group", which is aimed at spreading the culture of light and promoting lighting design in Italy, Carucci also supports and publishes WiL events on social networks and collaborates with the WiL ambassador in Italy in the organisation of various initiatives.
Lisa Reed has an extensive professional resume of awards and is known for her altruistic character and dedication to helping others. She founded Ladies of Lighting in St. Louis, helped expand WILD across the USA and is a passionate advocate for diversity in lighting. She received the 2014 IES Presidential Award for her work with Emerging Professionals and in 2020, she was named as one of the top 20 women in construction in St Louis. She also co-authored the survey Why Women Leave Design and how to Keep Them and presented the results at IALD Enlighten 2018.
The final category, Achievement, honoured the achievements of two icons in the lighting design industry who have been a massive inspiration to female lighting designers throughout their careers – Barbara Horton and Motoko Ishii.
Barbara Horton retired a few months ago having spent more than 40 years as a lighting designer, rising to CEO of HLB Lighting, and enabling it to become the largest female-owned company in the USA during her tenure. She has mentored many young professionals, is a Past President of IALD and one of the founders of the Women In Lighting Design (WILD) movement.
When WiL was established, she said: “Women in lighting design have somehow broken the glass ceiling in many parts of the world by creating their own destiny, starting their own firms and being recognised for their achievements. With more awareness, communication and mentoring we can continue to educate and support those who still struggle and ensure future generations will continue to succeed in lighting design and other parts of the industry.”
Motoko Ishii was accorded the highest accolade in Tokyo on 1 October 2020, when she was named as a Tokyo Honorary Citizen and commended by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as someone who has contributed to the rise of Japanese social culture. She has had a 52-year career in lighting and has achievements too numerous to mention.
Ishii also supplied a quote for the WiL website when it launched: “I am very glad to say to all the people who are engaging in lighting business that the highest position of Japanese mythology is a Goddess called Amaterasu. She is the Goddess of Light and her power is falling all over the world. Please read Japanese mythology and recognise women’s power.”
The full awards presentation is available to view online here.
LIA issues response to UK Government’s proposed lighting regulations
(UK) – The UK Government this week issued a press release outlining the impact of upcoming new lighting regulations that, it claims, would see the sale of halogen light sources banned from September, with fluorescent lights to follow.
The ban is part of a move to boost energy savings, and it is estimated that it will cut 1.26 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year, the release stated.
Under EU-wide rules, the UK began phasing out the sale of higher-energy halogen lamps in 2018, and it is thought that the plan will help continue the shift towards lower-energy LED sources, which currently account for around two-thirds of lights now sold. Officials said that it is expected that LEDs will account for 85% of all sources sold in the UK by 2030.
However, the news has been met with confusion among suppliers and consumers alike, with the Lighting Industry Association (LIA) claiming that the official release contains “a number of errors”.
In an attempt to clarify the situation, the LIA released the following statement:
“The UK legislation, due for publication in the summer, mirrors that also applying in the EU and relates to the “placing on the market” of products, this allows products in stock at manufacturers, retailers, etc. to continue to be sold until stocks are exhausted. It is not an instant sales ban. There is a legal definition of “placing on the market” which may mean that certain goods in suppliers’ warehouses are already considered as such.
“The proposed UK legislation, which applies from 1 September, is expected to have a one-month transition allowance.
The following lamps cannot be placed on the market after 1st October 2021:
- Self-ballasted Compact Fluorescent retrofit lamps (caps B22, E27 etc)
- Linear Halogen R7s lamps over 2,700 lumens
- 12V Halogen reflectors lamps (MR11/GU4, MR16/GU5.3 etc)
- Lower performing LED lamps
The following lamps cannot be placed on the market after 1st September 2023:
- Linear fluorescent lamps T8 2 foot, 4 foot, 5 foot
- Mains voltage Halogen capsules with G9 cap
- 12V Halogen capsules with G4/GY6.35 cap
“Lighting fixtures/fittings (luminaires) with non-replaceable/fixed lamps are not banned but this type of design is being discouraged in the future with a technical justification being required for these designs.”
The LIA has highlighted the following errors within the Government’s official release, which it believes is leading to the confusion:
Halogen light bulbs to be banned from this September – with fluorescent light bulbs to follow suit
“This suggests that all halogen lamps are banned from this September – this is not the case, some will continue until 2023. Those lamps that are banned from 1 September may still be available for sale if they were first placed on the market before that date,” the LIA state.
Legislation being brought forward this month will also include the removal of fluorescent lights from shelves from September 2023.
“This is also not the case, only some lengths of T8 fluorescent lamps will be banned from September 2023, other types of fluorescent lamps will still be available.”
The new legislation would mean retailers will no longer be able to sell the majority of halogen bulbs for general household use in the UK from 1 September.
The LIA responded: “This is incorrect, retailers will be able to sell through existing stocks and any products placed on the market before 1 September may also be sold. Some types will continue to be allowed after 1 September (as above).”
The plans also include a ban from September on the sale of lighting fixtures with fixed bulbs that can’t be replaced – meaning the fixtures have to be thrown away.
“This is misleading – new measures have been introduced which encourage the design of light fittings which can be repaired, or the light source and control gear replaced. There is not a blanket ban on lighting products where these components cannot be replaced if the manufacturer provides a technical justification for this case such as safety, water ingress or other reason.”
The LIA has communicated these errors to the Government department responsible for the press release.
LED Linear: The Ultima Family
The Ultima family focuses on efficient design that uses as little material as possible. LED Linear addressed the core issue designers and architects face when selecting a luminaire: smaller products mean less light, while robust products compromise on resources and design but are more efficient. The company's drive was to combine the best of both worlds and develop the smallest and most efficient luminaire for the market.
With a high degree of variability and minimalist compactness, the Ultima family allows new design freedom in architectural lighting. By using innovative nano-optics, the luminaire size could be reduced to a cross-section of 10x13mm while improving lighting effects. From spotlight to batwing, a total of seven precise light distributions with maximum colour consistency are available. The glare control (up to UGR < 13) means that the light source remains hidden.
ULTIMA-S (Stand-alone)
Ideal for integration on grid ceilings or as surface mounting, but also for furniture integration, showcase or display lighting.
ULTIMA-T (Track)
The luminaire system is ideal for offices, galleries, museums and generally for rooms where different types of lighting are required within specific areas. The pendant track variant will complement the ULTIMA-T series in autumn.
ULTIMA-P (Pendant)
ULTIMA-P is ideal above counters in entrance areas, hotel receptions, bars, but also above work desks as well as tables in meeting rooms.
Studiotech enter creative partnership with Venture Arts
(UK) – Specialist architectural lighting company Studiotech has entered into a creative partnership with Manchester-based arts charity Venture Arts.
The award-winning charity, who supports people with learning disabilities to reach their full potential through visual arts and culture, will work with Studiotech on a series of projects, together finding new and dynamic ways to bring artwork to life and present illuminated work in unusual public settings.
The partnership begins with the installation of a giant cube light sculpture for Manchester Flower Show – a city-wide trail of floral displays, green installations, outdoor dining and entertainment, which began on 29 May.
Venture Arts consulted on the aesthetics and design of the sculpture, created by Studiotech, alongside partners Sutton Creative, which incorporates snippets of writing cast in thought-provoking shadows on the floor.
Positioned in a prime location in central Manchester, the installation features an additional cube with fully programmed pixel boards that can be controlled by members of the public. This allows for bystanders to change the colour of the artwork via hashtags on social media.
Venture Arts Director Amanda Sutton said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Studiotech and to be working together on the first of a series of highly visible and dynamic projects, which will enable our artists to marry their artistic vision with technology and to see a unique project brought to life in the centre of Manchester as a vibrant and innovative piece of public art for all to enjoy.”
Natalie Critchard, Studiotech Marketing Manager, added: “When we discovered that Manchester was hosting a flower show to ‘bring the city back’, reunite communities and build confidence, we knew that it would be the perfect platform to present our new partnerships with Venture Arts and Sutton Creative. For Studiotech, the sculpture represents collaboration, hope, diversity and awareness. We are delighted to have this opportunity to showcase our work and the incredible art from Venture Arts to our local community.”
Studiotech Creative Lead Karen Owens continued: “When we first met with the Venture Arts family, there was an immediate connection. We knew that together we could create magic and evoke wonder in others. Through the mediums of art and light we will be bold and raise awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion. Together we will make our world a brighter place.”
www.studiotech.co.uk
www.venturearts.org
Lucent Lighting: TubeLED High Output
The newest addition to Lucent's TubeLED range is the TubeLED Mini HO (High Output).
Designed to deliver maximum performance whilst maintaining the Mini's small form and flexibility, the fixture is ideal for retail and gallery applications with its high performance and architectural aesthetic form.
For track mounting either on mains or line voltage or 48v low voltage tracks incorporating integral drivers, it is available in surface, recessed and trimless monopoint options with integral driver.
Women in Lighting Awards to be held on 10 June
(Online) – The winners of the first ever Women in Lighting Awards will be announced in an online presentation on 10 Jun 2021 at 1pm BST.
Inspired by the Maya Angelou poem, “Still I Rise”, the awards were created to seek out and celebrate the achievements of women and those who support them, especially in light of the challenges that we have had to endure over the past 18 months.
“The WiL Awards are like no other. They are specifically to highlight the achievements of the WiL community and its supporters. We want to seek out and celebrate the things that you achieved in 2020. They may be large or small, but we still want to know and share them with the world,” said Women in Lighting of the Awards.
Participants were invited to nominate people under the categories of Achievement, Initiatives and Supporters. The winners of each category will be revealed in the online presentation.
The winners will be announced on a live video on YouTube here.
Women in Lighting: Florence Lam
After being awarded the 2020 SLL President's Medal, we take a look back at Florence Lam's interview with Women in Lighting, where she explains how she rose to the position of Global Lighting Design Leader at Arup, and breaks down her approach to lighting design.
Video courtesy of Light Collective.
www.womeninlighting.com
www.arup.com
Nichia: Luxury Store Lighting 101
In this webinar, presented by Nichia, a panel of experts discussed the key aspects for lighting for store locations representing sophisticated retail brands. The speakers describe lighting designs based on brand alignment, the fixtures that work best, and the most effective LED solutions that you can deliver.
The expert panel included:
- Nicolas Martin, Sustainable Store Planning Manager, LVMH
- Claudio Scaroni, Corporate Client Manager, FLI and Folio
- Paulo Giovane, Senior Lighting Designer, Metis LIghting
- Alessandro Afeltra, Lighting Division Manager, Nichia
The webinar also featured a live Q&A session, moderated by arc's Matt Waring.
Designers Mind and Women in Lighting to host wellbeing webinar
(Online) – Designers Mind and Women in Lighting have come together to host a conversation about the work culture in the design industry, and the impact this has on our wellbeing.
The session, hosted by Designers Mind’s Kaye Preston and Kael Gillam, alongside Martina Frattura, Women in Lighting R.A.W Blogger, is titled ‘Can our Work Culture Co-Exist with our Wellbeing’, and will discuss the challenges that are faced in the design world, and the changes that can be made. Areas such as openness, setting boundaries, managing expectations and priorities will all be on the agenda.
Intended to have a relaxed, informal feel, the session will be a ‘Clubhouse Style’ talk, where the speakers will open the conversation, and then ask the audience to join in.
The session will take place on Tuesday 22 June at 2.00pm BST. Registration for the event is free, and participants can sign up here.
www.designers-mind.com
www.womeninlighting.com
Florence Lam awarded SLL President’s Medal
(UK) – Global Lighting Design Leader of Arup, Florence Lam, has been awarded the 2020 Society of Light and Lighting (SLL) President’s Medal, becoming the first woman to win the award in its 10-year history.
The award, the highest accolade presented by the lighting professional body, recognises significant and lifetime contribution to lighting. Lam, an internationally renowned, award-winning designer, is recognised as an expert in daylight, visual perception and holistic lighting, with more than 15 national and international awards to her name.
Lam co-founded Arup’s lighting practice in 2000. Under her leadership, the lighting team grew from four members based in London, to a global practice of 130 designers across 12 countries. The practice offers a broad spectrum of creative design and technical capabilities. In 2015, Florence was appointed an Arup Fellow by the Trustees Board in recognition of her talent, design, technical excellence and vision – not just at Arup – but across the global industry.
Over her 30 years of working in in the industry, Lam has been responsible for delivering a range of lighting projects from the London Olympic Games in 2012 and the Acropolis Museum project. The Latter of which won her an Award of Excellence, as well as Award of Sustainability at the 2010 IALD Awards. In 2013, Lam became the first woman to win the coveted ‘Lighting Designer of the Year’ at the Lighting Design Awards.
Outside of project work, Lam led a ‘Lighting in the Urban Age’ campaign to address the ‘over-illumination’ issue cities of today are facing. As part of the campaign to raise awareness about lighting’s role in promoting sustainable development, an exhibition was designed that allowed visitors to understand the issues with urban lighting and how these could be overcome, as well as a report which emphasised the need for a more context-sensitive design approach and holistic integration of lighting into urban areas. The campaign was recognised in 2016 by the Management Consulting Association (MCA) as highly commended for the ‘Best Use of Thought Leadership’.
Speaking of the achievement, Lam said: “It is an honour to be awarded with the Society of Light and Lighting’s President’s Award. It is particularly exciting to be the first woman to receive this award and I am humbled by the recognition of my work with Arup over the last 30 years. This acknowledgement is a testament to Arup’s lighting practice, and I hope it inspires the next generation of designers to spotlight the important role of lighting in the built environment.
“My commitment to broadening the influence of the industry from human to humanity-centric and driving innovation to light our way, towards a more sustainable and regenerative future remains as strong as ever.”
[d]arc room to exhibit at Design London
(UK) – UK-based lighting exhibition [d]arc room set to join Design London with a pop-up event this September.
Recognising London’s profound influence over Architecture and Design specification, [d]arc room pop-up @ Design London (previously 100% Design) is a new and enhanced event experience underpinned by the wealth of knowledge of both [d]arc media and Media 10, organisers of Design London.
In previous editions of 100% Design, the lighting contingent was sporadically positioned throughout the exhibition.
This year will see [d]arc room pop-up as an established lighting area within Design London giving lighting specifiers a destination within a destination.
In addition, [d]arc awards installations will be displayed at Design London for the duration of the event with a [d]arc night party on 23 September.
Featuring a highly curated selection of brands, [d]arc room pop-up @ Design London provides a unique in-person platform to meet with leading lighting designers, architects, interior designers, developers and retailers at what will be the must-attend event during London Design Festival and the first in-person lighting exhibition of the year in the UK.