The Simple Gift of Light #10 There is a part of me that wants lighting design to be so complicated, technical, and artistic that no one else tries it, leaving all of the opportunities to me. In this fantasy world- the one where lighting is too complex for ordinary citizens to grasp- I get to […]
We take light for granted: we assume it will be bright enough to see whenever we want it so, even in the middle of the night. We assume entrances will be lit, lobbies will be illuminated, restaurants will glow. Sometimes, despite being taken for granted, we notice something that catches our eye. I call this […]
Imagine the future: light helps you keep your balance as you age, cuts down on point sources that cause glare, minimizes sleep disturbances, and helps you see what you are doing better than ever. Wouldn’t it be nice? Pushing these boundaries requires experiments like our recent lighting makeover at my parents’ farmhouse in Illinois. The […]
January is a good time to fly south and check out Lightovation at the Dallas Market Center. The annual event for buyers is focused primarily on showrooms and distributors but integrators are beginning to show up- especially those that also do decorative lighting. I was at Lightovation to share my passion for linear lighting with […]
A few years ago I heard a simple phrase from a leading lighting researcher: “Light is a drug.” Like most drugs, light causes chemical reactions in our brain and body. Moods change, biorhythms change, migraines disappear. Wait, migraines? Dr. Mohab Ibrahim, director of the chronic pain clinic at a hospital in Tucson, Arizona, has an […]
WARNING: THIS BLOG POST CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT MAY BE UNSUITABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS SENSITIVE TO ACRONYMS. I like control. A lot. And it all started in theater many, many years ago when I moved to my first computer-controlled light board. It was love at first “GO.” I have not lit a traditional show in years, but […]
If you have read other posts on this blog you might be thinking “this guy hates all normal lighting.” You would be mostly correct. Take stairways for example. My previous home had a light at the bottom and a light at the top. That made the landings well lit and the stairs themselves, well, dark. […]
I enjoy sightseeing. My family and I have been privileged to see many wonderful natural and cultural sights in the United States from New York City’s Grand Central Station to Yosemite’s Half Dome. Today I am by myself on a rare international business trip to Spain, and the miracle of modern air travel granted me […]
I [dis]agree with President Trump. This is a lighting blog, not a political blog, correct? Yes. Unfortunately, light- like so many aspects of our lives- is being politicized for electoral advantage. Recently President Trump’s administration repealed rules that would continue to require energy-efficient replacements for yesterday’s incandescent lamps. In live speeches, Trump spoke strongly against […]
Check out this short video of our two-day process to re-light a fifteen-year old project with updated technology and science. What has changed in the last fifteen years? Everything. Just remember, I’m a lighting designer, not a movie star (this will be obvious). […]
There are more lighting products than ever on the shelves, but that can make it tough for a homeowner to make smart choices. Why is lighting getting harder? How can we wade through the hype and get better lighting in our homes? The last fifteen years have seen the biggest disruption in lighting since Thomas […]