I had the privilege recently of meeting Marketing and
Communications Coordinator Jessica Burke of the International Association of
Lighting Designers (IALD). During the
2013 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Expo, I spent three days staring at
her booth, which was adjacent to the one I was manning throughout the AIA
National Convention. I was drawn to the words
near their banner that read, "Another Person's Dark Space is Our Blank
Canvas". When I was finally able to
meet her, I found Jessica to be very helpful and passionate about advancing the
work of Lighting Designers in America and around the world. With a handful of projects here that have
left me wondering just how to approach these individual dilemmas with a viable
solution, Jessica's input has us looking in the region for assistance for this
most important part of the construction design process. Affecting the space of new construction
projects and retrofits of existing structures, lighting is an integral part of
both the architectural and interior design-which is often overlooked in our
part of the world because of cost and lack of experience with this important
discipline.
A deep dive into the IALD yielded these tidbits of
information:
"...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
professional 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 such as IALD Professional and
Associate Members...the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting
Professions (NCQLP)..CLC or Certified Lighting Consultants.
...Architects, facility managers, designers, electrical
engineers, builders and owners are among the many who are embracing professional
lighting designers to augment their projects. They are finding that the value
of an independent lighting design professional is an integral element of
outstanding client service."
Though we are five time zones away from the home base of the
IALD, GET, LLC is encouraged that their members are the consummate professionals
who regularly attend and give educational seminars locally, nationally and
internationally. Many also teach or lecture at local universities including
some of their newest members with links to the Pacific Rim. The IALD uses these tools 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 all around the world.
These are just a number of the reasons, we are advocating for the incorporation of smart lighting design into projects here in the Western Pacific. We will be looking to the IALD for assistance on our projects moving forward to offer our customers a quality lighting design that saves money, the environment and energy. This savings will come to building owners and end users through sustainable design and code compliance by balancing efficiency and innovation. Thanks IALD for giving us the inspiration to provide the knowledge, creativity and commitment that our customers have come to rely on and expect from us.
For more on lighting solutions for your respective facility, check out our website or give us a call at 671-483-0789 to discuss how we can turn your "vision into reality".