Abstract
Facilitating an Understanding of the Qualities of Artificial Light through Experiential Activities and Interactive Spaces - Lighting can be an intimidating component of a design project for both students and design professionals. Technologies are quickly changing, there are a wide range of technical considerations, and the qualities of light sources are not always fully understood. In a published lecture by Boyd from 2006, he suggests that in many projects, lighting design solutions remain stagnant with only a select few innovative designers making good use of available new technologies. While the field of lighting design is evolving and sophisticated design techniques are explored more often, his suggestion that educating those who specify lighting about “the advantages of going beyond visual performance and visual discomfort,” remains true (p.285). Differences in color temperatures, color rendering, beam angles, or lighting placement can significantly alter psychological experience, visibility, emphasis, and aesthetics. Understanding appropriate selection, placement, and qualities of artificial lighting is critical to adequately showcase the design of interior spaces. As noted by Trajkova and Namichev (2022), “Lighting is the most crucial factor to take into account when creating a space, since it has the power to significantly impact the atmosphere of a place” (p.52). In order for students and designers to best comprehend and visualize the variables that impact lighting selections, they should have participatory and experimental engagement with lighting products. Whether through physical lighting mock-ups in a lighting lab, custom-designed models, or interactive exercises, understanding physical aspects of lighting will better equip students and future designers to make informed lighting selections for their projects. According to Brooks-Harris and Stock-Ward (1999), experiential activities “provide environments for learning to occur in a dynamic and powerful manner” (p.1). This poster presentation will showcase a series of student projects and activities from undergraduate lighting studio classes that help reinforce the qualities of artificial lighting. A series of exercises developed as a student’s honors project titled Adventures in Lighting allowed her peers to better grasp qualities of lighting and experiment with different lighting types. The student set up interactive displays with instructions and evaluation forms for each activity. Results of a survey conducted to determine the effectiveness of these exercises in reinforcing basic lighting concepts will be presented. A different assignment had students create a custom light fixture which coincides with the Illuminating Engineering Society of Boston’s Student Light Fixture competition. The poster will feature students’ projects that were selected competition winners and showcased a thoughtful approach to addressing lighting challenges through careful consideration of placement of the source, materials, and light output. These projects considered diffusion and reflection of light within the fixtures to alter the interior surroundings, and these variables were manipulated using 3D physical models and digital renderings. One of the students specifically looked at traditional methods of light in a historic home and transformed those ideas into a contemporary light fixture. The construction of custom fixtures requires students to carefully consider the technical components of a luminaire as well as their aesthetic value in a space. This lighting course also integrated a hands-on lighting charette, in which students developed illuminated displays on the interior and exterior of a building, working alongside professional lighting mentors. Qualitative feedback from the students’ reflections will be shared to reinforce the value of this lighting charrette. Many universities are finding that lighting labs are crucial to provide students with sufficient understanding of the application of light. In a nationwide study conducted by McGoldrick, Pulay, and Cosminski (2025) the results showcase the advantage of being able to simulate lighting design characteristics in these lab spaces, and the study validated that the labs make the learning experience more meaningful. Findings from the survey and case study exploration that were part of this study will be included in the poster presentation, as well as visual representations of a future lighting lab space currently in development. Collectively the exercises, projects, and enhanced facilities noted in this research study provide future designers a more acute understanding of lighting design techniques and qualities of light. These methods could be replicated at other universities or presented at design firms as workshops to practicing professionals, expanding the knowledge of lighting concepts using experiential methods of learning.</span></p>