Winners of The 2007 Student Lighting Competition

For the seventh year, the IESNYC has invited New York City college students to explore light as an artistic medium and participate in a design competition. This year’s theme - Immersive Lightscapes – to design of a three-dimensional study of how light can create an immersive sensory experience.  In the past, students in lighting, architecture, interior design, art, product design, photography and electrical engineering programs have submitted projects, resulting in a diverse showcase of ideas and interpretations on a single theme. 

Since the competition began, the amount of submissions has been steadily increasing.  Last year, a record 90 submissions were on exhibit for one night only and they virtually occupied every available space at the Center for Architecture. As a result, the competition committee decided to move the event to a larger venue, Lotus Space in Chelsea.

First Prize

“Madala in Light” by Chung-Jung Liao
Parsons The New School of Design
MFA – Lighting Design

Nelson Jenkins, Instructor

First Place Award: $3,000, plus airfare, accommodations, and registration fee to attend Fall 2007 European Lighting Designers Association Workshop

"Madala in Light" is an interactive installation that uses the translucency of sand to create a unique lighting experience for one user.  Sand is replaced with salt pouring down from funnels creating the pattern of the Mandala, a Tibetan Buddhist representation of the cosmos characterized by a concentric configuration of geometric shapes.  Lit from below, the white crystals gi ve different color values depending on the amount of accumulation. The user can also redraw the lines in the sand to create unique images.  

Second Prize

“The Light Prism” by Sara Elizabeth Foley
Cooper Union for Advancement of Science, Bachelors of Engineering 

Professor Toby Cumberbatch, Instructor

Third Prize

"Refracted by Levers" by Ross Guntert
Parsons The New School for Design – Architecture 

Scott Gundula Proksch, Michael Morris, and Randy Sabedra, Instructors

Honorable Mention

Wanlop Chantarakolkit
Parsons The New School for Design, MFA - Lighting

Nelson Jenkins, Instructor

Honorable Mention

Siriphot Manoch
Parsons The New School for Design, MFA – Lighting 

Nelson Jenkins, Instructor

Honorable Mention

Ian Lotto 
Parsons The New School for Design , BFA – Architecture 

Scott Gundula Proksch, Michael Morris, and Randy Sabedra, Instructors