One of the things that is most difficult about the current state of the global lighting industry is that NOTHING is CONSTANT – especially when it comes to LED lighting. The LED marketplace is in a constant state of flux and that is why I am constantly learning – always looking for new opportunities to check out what’s new in lighting technology.

When my local chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) had a joint meeting with the Illuminating Engineers Society (IES) at the Philips Lighting Headquarters in Somerset, NJ. (Philips is now a subsidiary of Signify) – I jumped at the chance to attend.

Here’s a link to an insightful YouTube video from Signify on the impact lighting has in our lives.

Philips headquarters facility has a really cool lighting lab where I have taken many, many lighting classes over the past 20 years. Each time I go it’s a great experience. I always learn something new about the latest lighting technology AND I get a great refresher course in the basics of lighting theory. Yes, I guess that makes me an official “Lighting Nerd” – but I can’t help it! To me, lighting is the FIRST STEP in developing a cohesive interior design – without lighting you can’t see all the beautiful and amazing elements of your design!

What I really enjoy most about these seminars is the opportunity to “see” lighting in action. When you can experience lighting demonstrations it really clarifies the concepts of lighting – and makes it a reality vs a theory.

My own interior design studio/home is set up in much the same manner. I love taking my clients on tours of my home so that they can see the lighting choices I’ve made and how they affect the interior design as a whole.

At the Philips Lighting Lab they have so many awesome lighting vignettes addressing everything from residential to retail to office environments. Too many to see in one evening - but here are a few highlights;

A simple fun test is trying to pick which lamp had what type of light bulb. Check out the photo – can you tell which lamps had LED, CFL, Halogen or traditional Incandescent? (Answers at the end of this blog.)

Or, seeing first-hand the best options in vanity lighting.

But the demonstration I enjoyed most was a new installation in which a large textured wall was lit with a wide range of lighting techniques – so cool!