(USA) – A new research initiative, led by Glenn Shrum, an Associate Professor of Lighting Design at Parsons School of Design, aims to expand the history of lighting design. The ‘Pioneers of Architectural Lighting Design’ (PALD) research project aims to highlight the overlooked key players in the discipline’s movement.

This research archive seeks to expand the list of PALD to include individuals who contributed to the growth of the field in local communities worldwide, enabling more members of the architectural lighting design community to understand the discipline’s origins in their local contexts.

The research initiative began when Professor Shrum prepared his presentation, ‘Founding Practice: Originators of Lighting Design,’ on the online platform.

After cataloguing the first documented architectural lighting designers worldwide, Shrum recognised that the available history of architectural lighting design largely neglected pioneering individuals outside of North America and Western Europe. Recognising this oversight, Shrum imagined a project that would provide a more inclusive understanding of architectural lighting design history that documents and celebrates the diversity of architectural lighting design around the world.

Since its launch, the PALD initiative has widened its reach, adding research teams in countries including Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, Panama, Haiti, Nigeria, Canada, and Spain. The project aims to create a collaborative framework for investigating local histories, refining methodologies, and sharing results internationally. Current priorities include consolidating existing research, strengthening community engagement, and building partnerships to support future stages of work.

According to the organisers, the long-term goal is to establish a more comprehensive and inclusive history of architectural lighting design, while providing resources for continued academic and professional study.

www.newschool.edu/parsons/