Send us a text What does it really take to run a successful lighting design business? Beyond the creative brilliance and technical expertise lies a complex web of business skills that many designers never anticipate when launching their own practice. --- Re-release of a presentation from our 'Business of Lighting Design' series from the first season on the VLD Community platform. To watch this presentation visit members.vld.community and head to the 'Season One - The Business of Lightin...

Send us a text Enter our world of lighting design with our latest community roundup. We're thrilled to welcome a wave of new members to our growing community, creating an increasingly diverse group of lighting professionals sharing insights and inspiration. Mark your calendars for two webinars approaching: Sarvdeep Basur presents "Preserving Darkness" on July 24th, hosted by the Signify Lighting Academy, which explores the balance between design excellence and environmental responsibility.&n...

Send us a text What happens when light beams collide at high speed? They can transform into matter – possibly explaining how celestial bodies form. This mind-blowing scientific reality perfectly captures the spirit of our conversation with Daan Roosegaarde, the visionary lighting designer who, despite being kicked out of fine art school twice, found his calling in pushing the boundaries of what light can achieve. In his discussion with Martin Klaasen, Daan weaves through the fascinating para...

Send us a text The divide between theory and practice in healthcare design couldn't be more evident than in lighting strategies for medical spaces. Through an illuminating exploration of two contrasting Hong Kong medical facilities, we discover how the same foundational goal—promoting health and wellbeing—manifests in dramatically different design approaches based on context, clientele, and purpose. Most fascinating is how these case studies challenge our assumptions about "clinical" environ...

Send us a text A passionate conversation with Andrew Bissel at Light Middle East reveals the growing frustration among lighting professionals fighting for recognition in the built environment. Wearing multiple hats as Ridge and Partners' lighting design head, a dark sky consultant for Red Sea Global, and past president of the Society of Light and Lighting, Andrew delivers a candid assessment of where the industry stands today. Quote of the day: “We need this participation of advocates, we nee...

Send us a text March Look Back As we pause to reflect on our recent episodes, we've been privileged to host some exceptional conversations in lighting design. Looking back at our recent two episodes, Philip Rafael from Insight Lighting Berlin shared invaluable insights on workplace lighting and wellbeing, challenging traditional productivity-focused approaches. Our community resonated strongly with his vision of transforming lighting from purely functional to wellness-supporting elements. Fol...

Send us a text Is lighting design an art or a science? In this episode we feature Koert Vermeulen from ACT Lighting Design, based in Brussels, Belgium. Koert was one of our earliest thought leaders to share on the Virtual Lighting Design Community platform and it was certainly a memorable presentation. Initially, Koert's presentation was shared only with premium members of the community. However, since opening up the community to a wider audience late last year and in...

Send us a text Founder & Design Director at In'Sight Lighting Design, Philip Rafael explores a critical element often overlooked in workplace design: lighting. With over 18 years of global experience, Philip sheds light on how traditional lighting has prioritised productivity over well-being, sometimes to the detriment of employee health and job satisfaction. He explains how a shift in focus can lead to healthier, happier work environments by minimising negative lighting effects like glar...

Send us a text Join us for the first episode of 2025 as we welcome back the Virtual Lighting Design Community! After a refreshing break over the holidays, we're excited to kick off a new year filled with opportunities to connect, enhance skills, and share knowledge within the lighting design industry. In this episode, we celebrate reaching over 600 members and reflect on the incredible growth of our community. With over 100 hours of content consumed last year and numerous enlightening d...

Send us a textWhat happens when two industry giants join forces to reshape the future of lighting design? Tune in to hear Martin Klaasen and Paul Nulty share their insights following the merger of Klaasen Lighting Design and Nulty+. Get a better understanding of how their shared values and mutual respect are setting the stage for unprecedented growth and innovation. This isn't just a business deal; it's a cultural alignment that prioritises knowledge sharing, collaboration, and the well-being...

Send us a textIn this post presentation Q&A, Ingmar Klaasen, VLDC Co-founder, talks with Kunal Shah of SPK Valo about his presentation on the art of perceptual transformation in lighting design. Through Kunal's journey from the Netherlands' LuxLab to establishing his own practice in Hyderabad, uncover the pivotal role of architectural storytelling and how it can revolutionise client involvement and empower budding designers. Explore Kunal's unique insights into the cultural dynamics betwe...

Send us a textWhat happens when lighting transcends its traditional role and becomes an integral part of architectural storytelling? Join us as we explore this fascinating question with Kunal Shah, Principal Lighting Designer at SPK Valo. Kunal shares his journey from the academic halls of Sweden to the vibrant projects of Hyderabad, India, illustrating how lighting design has evolved from mere lux calculations to a sophisticated dialogue about material interaction and layered illumination. D...

Send us a textCan the right lighting design improve your quality of life? Join us as we explore this intriguing question with Amit Sheth, founder and CEO of Plus Light Tech, recorded live at Light Middle East 2024 in Dubai. Amit takes us through his transformative journey from retail lighting to architecture and now outdoor lighting, pinpointing the industry's critical gaps and how his company aims to address them with cutting-edge technologies. This episode promises to enlighten you on the s...

Send us a textToday we unpack the profound impact light has on our environment, health, and communities, guided by insights from Maria Dautant, a senior Associate at HLB Lighting Design. Maria is joined by cofounder of the VLD Community, Ingmar Klaasen, as they dive into the pressing issues of light pollution and light poverty, exploring the adverse effects of sky glow, glare, and light trespass. Maria emphasises the critical need for balanced lighting guidelines and the role of governmental ...

Send us a textHow does the glow of city lights impact our environment and health? Discover the surprising answers as we unpack the complexities of light pollution and light poverty in this illuminating episode. Maria Dautant, a Senior Associate at HLB Lighting Design, joins us to share her expert insights on the often-overlooked consequences of artificial lighting on biodiversity and human health. From disrupted sleep patterns to endangered wildlife, we explore why balancing the right amount ...

Send us a textWhat if the future of lighting design could transform not only our spaces but our very emotions? Join us for an illuminating presentation by Pinar Onat, the founder of P.ERO Lighting Design in Istanbul. Pinar guides us through the historical evolution of lighting, from ancient rituals to Renaissance masterpieces and contemporary movements like OP art and kinetic art. By weaving together past influences, she highlights the pivotal role of sensory experiences in creating emotional...

Send us a textHow is our night sky changing, and what does it mean for our future? Join us in a compelling conversation with Ruskin Hartley, CEO of Dark Sky International, as we unravel the alarming increase in light pollution—by an astonishing 10% each year—and the profound consequences for our starry nights. At the Light Middle East 2024 event in Dubai, Ruskin sheds light on this growing crisis, comparing it to the more familiar issues of air and water pollution, and emphasizing its adverse...

Send us a textEver wondered how lighting design adapts to cultural nuances? Join us for an exclusive conversation with Jinkie De Jesus, the design principal of Lightplan Inc., as she reveals the intriguing challenges and solutions in implementing international lighting standards in the Philippines. From navigating client expectations to making spaces feel more lively and vibrant, Jinkie shares her journey and the cultural adjustments she’s had to make in the early years of her own lighting de...

Send us a textWhat happens when international lighting standards clash with local cultural norms? Join us as we unravel this intricate issue with Jinkie De Jesus, the design principal of Lightplan Inc in the Philippines. In this episode, Jinkie candidly discusses her initial challenges in implementing Western lighting norms in her home country, leading to some unintended, ghostly results. From streets that look haunted to poorly lit marketing signage, Jinkie's experiences offer a fascinating ...

Send us a textWhat does it mean to live in the shadow of war, yearning for light in times of darkness? Join us as Nadine Balbaaki, founder of Light the Detail, paints a vivid picture of her childhood in Lebanon amidst conflict, where the absence of reliable light sources was both a literal and metaphorical struggle. Nadine's poignant storytelling transports us to her family's home, where makeshift lighting from candles and generators not only illuminated their nights but also underscored thei...