Lighting Design

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Do it. Hire a professional. The fees associated with a professional will be well worth the expense. The benefits and advantages you will receive are priceless.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. How simple energy conservation can be. Install dimmers!

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. Our work is completely custom for your particular project. We take lifestyle, decorating style and architectural details into account before deciding in what direction the lighting plan should go. The lighting plan is then started from the lamp (light bulb) back to what fixture it should be housed in.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. Meeting my clients and teaching them interesting facts about lighting.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. The most commonly asked question is why do they need a lighting designer; can't their architect or electrician or do the lighting? My answer is yes, the electrician or architect can do the lighting, however the electrician knows wiring and circuits. The architect knows design and structure. I know lighting. Working full time in lighting design for 20 years learning the nuances of light makes me much more knowledgeable than the other disciplines who are responsible for the whole gamut or need to be installing.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. My first project on my own was lighting a lawyer's basement office. The room was to be all white with bookcases all around the room. I specified simple eyeballs (it was a long time ago!) to highlight each bookcase. I received a call to "Fix the lighting disaster!"
I went directly to the site and found to my astonishment a dark room. I investigated the installation to find the electrical contractor had put the lamp (light bulb) in behind the eyeball instead of un-screwing the socket and installing the lamp into the eyeball. The disaster was fixed and the room looked great. I decided at that point there was a great need for my services.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. I am honest and sincere in my designs. Lighting Designers are passionate about their field and make a huge difference in your life and the built environment.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. Yes, constantly. The trade organizations continually have seminars and trade shows to keep us abreast of the rapidly changing developments in our industry.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. The new found interest in energy conservation has put lighting on the top of everyones mind. There are new products being developed everyday and drastic changes about to occure.