WHY HIRE A LIGHTING DESIGNER?

Light is a technically difficult and astonishing medium that requires mastery of varied and continually evolving disciplines. A lighting design practice integrates the arts, sciences, and business of illumination design and implementation, far beyond concerns of visibility and horizontal footcandles.

Lighting designers work as part of a design team and like architects, charge fees for services rendered. Professional lighting designers bring solid technical expertise and sensitive design technique to architectural and landscape projects. The value-added services they provide can contribute greatly to the success of a project which often negates the impact of their design fee.

An owner or project designer may be unaware of the advantages an independent lighting consultant can bring to today’s design and construction processes. For example, what is the difference between the services provided by a lighting professional versus an electrical engineer or interior designer? The electrical engineer specified lighting, because it was part of the electrical system, and the interior designer selected decorative lighting equipment. Right? So what has changed to create a profession that specializes in lighting?

Technology

Lighting equipment and controls technologies are developing at light speed: hundreds of new products are introduced to the marketplace annually. To provide proper design solutions that exploit the latest, most-cost-effective technologies, lighting professionals must attend national tradeshows and continually update product information and samples from hundreds of manufacturers. Keeping abreast of the newest lighting technologies and design techniques has become time intensive, and more and more essential.

Technique

Illumination is the silent design partner of architecture. Light is invisible until it strikes an object or surface. And it is controlling this difficult, transitory medium that gives the lighting "artist" the ability to create focus, hierarchies, dynamics, and mood. Lighting design has become a creative extension of architectural design, improving visibility and complementing form, program, and color. Experience and, of course, talent create patterns of illumination that seamlessly support overall project goals.

Education

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. Lighting professionals must be well grounded and continually educate themselves to provide the best possible service: networking, reading trade magazines and journals, attending and presenting seminars. This sort of give and take, along with healthy competition, forwards the profession as a whole.

Independence

Independent lighting consultants do not sell or install equipment, nor do they depend on the recommendations of lighting salespersons. So the client receives a lighting design based on research and expertise, free from conflicts of interest.

THE COST OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Why should an architect or owner pay for lighting design services when it can be done in house or by a salesperson at no additional "cost"? The fee that a lighting designer charges is often a difficult sell. But those owners and architects who have benefited from independent, skillful lighting design realize that the fee is of little consequence.

Lighting designers can be a unique, value-added resource. In many instances, a lighting designer will actually reduce the project construction and/or operations costs.

Equipment Cost Control

Lighting designers can provide a design to meet an established budget, but are most helpful establishing the budget. They will select equipment from numerous manufacturers to help keep bids competitive and recommend lighting equipment or techniques to reduce installation costs. Their involvement encourages competition. However, some light fixtures are "one of a kind," in which case a price may be obtained from the manufacturer early on.

Unit pricing gathered during design development can be compared to unit pricing from the bidding contractors, in order to spot gross anomalies. The designer may recommend distributors in order to procure additional competitive bids. Finally, the designer will work with the owner’s rep and contractors to achieve budget objectives without sacrificing design intent.

Operations Cost Control

Reducing the owner’s operations costs may be a crucial factor in design decisions, and these measures often benefit the project aesthetically and practically. Lifecycle cost analysis compares the return on initial investment of different lighting techniques or technologies.

Often, costs can be reduced simply by not over-lighting a space. Over-lighting is common if the specifier uses only horizontal footcandle prescriptions or fails to understand the project’s specific visual and task issues. All too often, specifiers rely on recommendations from persons selling equipment.

There are numerous ways a professional designer can reduce costs and enhance the project. Improving the reflectance of surfaces (e.g., choosing lighter colors for walls and carpets or replacing dingy ceiling tiles) can help reduce lighting equipment and operational costs. Selective spotlighting is often key to retail sales. Integrating daylight with electric lighting saves energy and provides a satisfying connection to the outside world.

People Costs

Quality of light influences people on many levels. New scientific studies are demonstrating how lighting affects retail sales, the productivity of office workers, wayfinding, and safety and security. Lighting designers are keenly aware of these issues and the techniques demanded to achieve results. The cost of poor lighting that barely meets code isn’t worth the risk in areas where the "people factor" is important.

Aesthetic Costs

Technical skill can be learned, but talent cannot. Architects know that the value-adder for brilliant and creative design is difficult to assess and depends on the appreciation of decision-makers. The difference between a competent lighting design and one that brings architecture to its fullest realization, or beyond, is more often felt than intellectually apparent.

How to Qualify a "Lighting Designer"

Anyone with a business card can call himself a lighting designer. Electrical systems designers, electrical contractors, electrical distributors, sales reps, and lighting retailers all use the title.

There are ways, however, to identify the full-time, independent lighting consultant. If the design of a project is important, the persons in control of lighting design and specification should be participating in one or more lighting programs and associations.

IALD Professional and Associate Members

The International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) was established to recognize independent lighting design professionals and promote lighting excellence. Professional membership is limited to experienced designers and is contingent on peer-review of an applicant’s portfolio. IALD members must abide by rules of ethics and do not sell or install lighting equipment. Visit the IALD web site at www.iald.org for more information.

LC Lighting Certification

The National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions (NCQLP) recognizes individuals that understand lighting principles and can offer technical skills. The LC exam is open to anyone in all lighting professions with a minimum of three years experience. A person with the LC credential has demonstrated a knowledge base and a commitment to lighting, having passed this technical exam.

CLC Certified Lighting Consultant

This program of the American Lighting Association trains individuals in basic knowledge for residential lighting applications.

IESNA: Illuminating Engineering Society of North America

IESNA performs the important function of setting consensus-based standards and recommended practices in lighting. This technical association publishes the definitive Lighting Handbook and supports education and research. The diversified members exchange ideas and information on lighting products, sales, and practice.

Lighting Design Award Programs

The industry recognizes exemplary lighting design each year through various awards programs. Participation and receipt of awards is an indication of skills and talent of a designer. Lighting design firms typically participate and excel in awards programs.

Lighting Education

Professionals regularly attend and give educational seminars locally, nationally, and even internationally. Many also teach or lecture at local universities. Several national magazines profile lighting designers and their projects; some accept tutorials and essays authored by designers themselves.

To keep their designs fresh and stay current with product technologies, lighting designers are obliged to expand their knowledge base in the multitude of lighting-related disciplines and techniques. Professional lighting design fees finance this time-intensive commitment and are the mark of independence from the multilayered sales channel. Owners and architects should demand creativity and design sensitivity in solidly engineered lighting solutions – but it is the value added that will foster a project’s success in a competitive marketplace.

If good design is important to you or your project, the persons in control of your design/specification should have participation in at least one or more of the above and be active in the three areas described on the first page: Technology, Technique and Education.

When considering lighting and issues of visibility, the choices you make early in selecting your designer will determine the success of the lighting design. Good lighting may or, may not be important to your project. If it is, we hope this article provides insight on making a better, more informed decision.