Spotlight on LIghtFair 2018: Keynote Neri Oxman of Sony Corporation and MIT Media Lab

February 1, 2018

Keynote Neri Oxman of Sony Corporation and MIT Media Lab is an award-winning designer whose work reveals a future with the intersection of technology and nature. LightFair takes place in Chicago May 6-10, 2018. The pre-conference LightFair Institute: May 6-7; the Trade show and conference: May 8-10).

During her May 7 keynote luncheon address “Innovation in Design,” attendees will discover the broad spectrum of Oxman’s forward-thinking work. The research her team conducts combines computational design, digital fabrication, materials science and synthetic biology. They use the knowledge in applications from micro scale to building scale.

Oxman states that her goal is to “enhance the relationship between the built and the natural environments by employing design principles inspired or engineered by Nature and implementing them in the invention of novel digital design technologies.” She received a PhD in design computation as a presidential fellow at MIT, where she coined the term “material ecology” to describe her research area. Material ecology considers form generation, manufacturing, the environment and the material itself as inseparable dimensions of design. In this approach, products and buildings are biologically informed and digitally engineered by, with and for, nature.

She was on ICON’s list of the top 20 most influential architects to shape our future and theFast Company list of the 100 most creative people. SEED magazine called her a “Revolutionary Mind,” and she was a part of Esquire’s Best and Brightest. She has received many awards including the 40 Under 40Building Design + Construction Award, Graham Foundation Carter Manny Award, International Earth Award for Future-Crucial Design andMETROPOLIS Next Generation Award. In 2014, Oxman won the Vilcek Prize in Design, Carnegie’s Pride of America Award and Boston Society of Architects Women in Design Award. Her work has been covered by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, WIRED, Fast Company and The Boston Globe.

Find out more about LightFair: www.lightfair.com

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • LEDVANCE Expands Ontario Presence with New Specification Agent

    LEDVANCE Expands Ontario Presence with New Specification Agent

    LEDVANCE is pleased to announce the appointment of Sterling Architectural Products Ltd. (Sterling Lights) as their new specification agent in Ontario. This partnership strengthens LEDVANCE’s presence in the region and reinforces their commitment to serving the professional lighting design and specification community with innovative, reliable lighting solutions. With decades of experience and a service-driven mindset,… Read More…

  • May 29, 2025 - Eureka Wins Three 2025 Red Dot Awards for Product Design

    Eureka Wins Three 2025 Red Dot Awards for Product Design

    Eureka is pleased to announce that its Velia, Cirra, and Junction luminaires have each received a 2025 Red Dot Design Award for Product Design. It is the 11th consecutive year that Eureka products have been honored with this prestigious award, which is a testament to the company’s consistency and relentless drive to design exceptional luminaires.… Read More…


Design

  • The Difference Between Accent, Ambient & Task Lighting: Ultimate Guide

    The Difference Between Accent, Ambient & Task Lighting: Ultimate Guide

    In interior design, lighting is not just about brightening the room. Sensitive lighting layout is the key in the whole aesthetic atmosphere. An outstanding lighting solution will not rely on one type of fixture. Rather, it is through the combination of different types of lighting. Accent, ambient, and task lighting are three basic types of… Read More…

  • Graphic Office Interiors Enhance Their Office Space, Incorporating State-Of-The-Art Lighting Solutions

    Graphic Office Interiors Enhance Their Office Space, Incorporating State-Of-The-Art Lighting Solutions

    Graphic Office Interiors, a renowned office design and furnishings company serving Vancouver Island since 1966, embarked on a unique lighting project for their personal office in Saanichton, BC. This project marked the first collaboration between Kelly Inglis of Mac’s II Agencies and Graphic Office Interiors’ in-house registered interior designer, Laura Harlos. Known for their exclusive Steelcase furniture line, modular moveable… Read More…


New Products

  • Amico: SOLAR ECLIPSE – 2X4 Multi-Functional Luminaire

    Amico: SOLAR ECLIPSE – 2X4 Multi-Functional Luminaire

    The Solar Eclipse Series provides a multi-functional luminaire that supports the demands of the hospital environment. The sleek and modern design merges architectural aesthetics with exceptional lighting performance to improve patient comfort while maximizing clinical efficiencies. This architectural patient room fixture offers reading, ambient, and exam functionalities and an optional night light. Multi-functional capabilities provide… Read More…

  • Signify: Unleash Colors from Your TV Screen with New WiZ HDMI Sync Box

    Signify: Unleash Colors from Your TV Screen with New WiZ HDMI Sync Box

    Signify has announced the release of new TV sync features and products for its smart lighting brand WiZ, enabling users to effortlessly immerse themselves in a world of dynamic colors and moods. With the new WiZ HDMI Sync Box with TV backlight, users now have an easy and affordable way to sync lights to their… Read More…