Why You May Need a Lighting Designer on Your Next Project

March 22, 2019

If you think lighting design is simple, think again. Lighting design has become a creative extension of architectural design. According to the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), knowledge of physics, optics, electricity, ergonomics, business, codes, environmental issues, construction, vision, and the art of design are all essential to creating great lighting solutions.

Today’s lighting professionals must be knowledgeable across these foundational areas plus they need to know about the latest LED and controls technologies, the Internet of Things (IoT), human centric lighting, and so much more. Good, solid architectural lighting design requires this background knowledge. Great lighting design requires all of this plus an artistic creative vision.

Architectural lighting design is both an art and a science. The technical and scientific side addresses codes, standards and regulations. The creative, artistic side addresses aesthetics and enhancing the human experience. A good lighting designer with multi-disciplinary knowledge can bridge the gap between these very different sides of the design process.

Measuring the value of a lighting designer

Commercial lighting design starts with a simple question: what is the intent? There are many ways a lighting designer can enhance a commercial project and/or reduce costs, including:

[BF/IT]1. Aesthetics[BF/IT]

  • Bring the architecture to its fullest realization or beyond.

[BF/IT]2. Function and the human factor[BF/IT]

  • Maximize natural light, the #1 office perk according to a survey by Future Workplace.
  • Create lighting that is in sync with our natural circadian rhythm to enhance occupant concentration and productivity as well as health and wellness.
  • Avoid over-lighting a space—a common problem in commercial lighting that can be harsh and uncomfortable for occupants as well as increase costs unnecessarily.
  • Design lighting that supports the WELL Building Standard aimed at advancing building concepts that help people work, live, perform and feel their best.
  • Leverage lighting control strategies including task tuning to create a suitable level of light for a particular task or activity in a space, and personal lighting control that enables the occupant to tailor lighting to their personal preferences.

[BF/IT]3. Sustainability[BF/IT]

  • Use the latest lighting technologies, techniques and control strategies to drive energy performance and reduce carbon footprint.
  • Achieve LEED certification credits.

[BF/IT]4. Budgetary/Cost[BF/IT]

  • Design to budget or help establish a lighting system budget early in the design phase.
  • Reduce project construction and/or operations costs by getting competitive bids on lighting equipment.
  • Leverage lighting control strategies such as task tuning, daylighting, occupancy sensors and more to reduce energy usage and costs.
  • Identify ‘hidden’ costs such as those relating to system installation and longer-term maintenance requirements.

Selecting a lighting designer

There is no standard path toward becoming a commercial lighting designer. The title is used by a range of professionals in the lighting industry including electrical contractors, electrical distributors and architectural designers with varying backgrounds and qualification levels. However, independent professional lighting consultants with the below credentials or educational backgrounds are one point of reference for your search:

  • [BF/IT]Professional associations[BF/IT] — IALD International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD publishes a directory of professional and associate members), CIE International Commission on Illumination, IES Illuminating Engineering Society
  • [BF/IT]Annual Awards Programs[BF/IT] — International Association of Lighting Designers Lighting Design Awards, Architectural Lighting Light & Architecture Design Awards, Illuminating Engineering Society Illumination Awards
  • [BF/IT]Educational Degree Programs[BF/IT] — Parsons School of Design, The New School, offers master’s degree programs in Lighting Design in the School of Constructed Environments (SCE). OSRAM is a member of the Parsons Lighting Design Partners Program which supports the Parsons MFA Lighting Design program students through public events, academic initiatives, tools and materials, awards, and the Parsons Light + Energy Lab. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) offers a M.S. in Lighting and a Ph.D. in Architectural Science with a Concentration in Lighting. The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at RPI administers the lighting graduate degree programs and pioneers research in solid-state lighting, light and health, transportation lighting, energy, and plant pathology. Osram is a partner of the LRC Partners Program, a collaboration of academia, industry, utilities, public benefit organizations, public advocacy groups, and government; a member of LRC’s Light and Health Alliance; and a member of the Illumination for Plant Health Alliance.

Photo: Mathematics exhibit at the Winton Gallery in London, U.K. lighting design by Arup. Photo by Giulio Antonutto-Foi. The project earned an IALD 2018 Award of Merit;  www.iald.org/IALD/media/Media-Library/IALD International Lighting Design Awards/2018/MERIT-Mathematics-Gallery.pdf

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • July 28, 2025 - Eureka Wins Multiple SIT Furniture Design Awards

    Eureka Wins Multiple SIT Furniture Design Awards

    Eureka is pleased to announce that it has received 2025 SIT Furniture Design Awards for its Junction, Lattice, and Velia luminaires. SIT Furniture Design Award was created to celebrate and share the remarkable work of furniture designers and those who use furniture in their projects. The creativity, innovative vision, and accessibility of the furniture design… Read More…

  • Contact Delage & Solvic Announce New Representation Partnership

    New Collaboration – A New Solar Lighting Manufacturer Joins Contact Delage’s Offerings

    Contact Delage is excited to announce the addition of a new trusted partner to their lineup: Solvic, an innovative manufacturer specializing in solar lighting. This new partnership reflects Contact Delage’s ongoing commitment to offering sustainable, high-performance solutions tailored to real-world applications. With Solvic, they are expanding their range of autonomous solar products—perfect for lighting streets, parks,… Read More…


Design

  • Unboring Project: Mitchell Eye Centre by JWA Design

    Unboring Project: Mitchell Eye Centre by JWA Design

    At LightForm, they thrive on lighting projects that are anything but ordinary.​ That’s why they are excited to introduce Unboring Projects, a new series where they spotlight the spaces that subvert convention, move the needle forward, and show what is possible when great design meets bold vision. First up: the Mitchell Eye Centre in Calgary,… Read More…

  • Guidelines for Converting LED-to-LED: What Turnkey Lighting Contractors Need to Know

    Guidelines for Converting LED-to-LED: What Turnkey Lighting Contractors Need to Know

    As turnkey lighting contractors know, the wave of LED upgrades that swept across commercial and industrial buildings over the past decade brought major improvements in energy efficiency and maintenance reduction. But many of those first-generation LED systems installed between 2015 and 2020 are now entering a phase of performance decline that creates a ripe opportunity… Read More…


New Products

  • Prolux: Lumithree PT-1016 Glass Diffuser Pendant

    Prolux: Lumithree PT-1016 Glass Diffuser Pendant

    The PT-1016 is a glass diffuser that can be mounted in any room to provide an elegant touch. The diffuser comes in several translucent finishes to match any decor, and the hardware is available in a variety of powder-coated colours. Lumithree’s quality decorative lighting solutions offer their customers a diverse range of unique and flexible… Read More…

  • Magic Lite: Tri-Proof Lights

    Magic Lite: Tri-Proof Lights

    Tri-Proof Lights are a durable lighting solution that can replace traditional linear fluorescent luminaires. Tri-Proof Lights are designed for a variety of applications requiring, dust-, moisture- and impact-resistance. Suitable environments such as corridors, stairwells, warehouses, parking garages and car washes allows this versatile fixture in a variety of applications. Read More…