Keeping It Simple-Lighting Design Integrity

If lighting design were installation art, then design maintenance would easy. Unfortunately, lighting design works in the real world. Where light bulbs need to be changed and lighting fixtures need to be re-aimed. So finding ways to maintain design integrity weeks, months and years after a designer has walked off the job is critically important.

If you’re a client there are some things a designer is expected to provide so make sure this requirement is written into any proposal you might come across. Primarily, you should be provided with a simply-formatted, easy to read guide for the fixtures in your space, the document should include instructions on how to change a light bulb, and what kind of light bulbs are to be supplied.

There are design firms that go above and beyond, often for a the designer will document aiming and lamping strategies, the ultimate document should appear simple and easy to follow, but the work that goes into creating a document like that is painstaking depending on the amount of unique aiming scenarios on a given job. If the project in question is high-end residential, commercial or retail then make certain to build some time into the end of job schedule for your designer with the maintenance staff of the space to walk them thru design choices and aiming strategies. Strong documentation is good (and necessary) but nothing solidifies understanding better than demonstration.

All of that said there are things lighting designers can do to maintain design integrity. One of them is to limit the number of types light bulbs use on a given job. There are over a dozen different kinds of MR16 lamp (all identical) but with different lumen output and beam spreads and basic quality.  The possibility for error is just too high to rely on multiple types of MR16. You specified a GE Constant color 20w 40 Degree flood for all the down lights in the hallway, but a 50w 40 degree flood for the spiral staircase. What do you think the likelihood is of getting bright spots in your hallway and a dark staircase?

Reliable lighting design that will look the same way over time requires simplicity to maintain integrity-something for both clients and designers to remember. Your lighting design is something like a garden. You wouldn’t hire a landscape architect but then not have a grounds-keeper. Lighting needs to be as simple and organic to maintain.