FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY

The Fabric of Our Society column invites industry leaders to provide experience-based opinions and discussions on various topics. Diverse perspectives are respected and most welcome, but do not necessarily reflect the opinions of IESNYC or the Board of Managers. Want to contribute?  Email [email protected]

December 2024

Advocating for Accessible Lighting 

Nicole Calise
Marketing/Spec Sales Assistant, Enterprise Lighting Sales

Though she’s an industry veteran, a new friendship brought fresh perspective to how Nicole Calise sees the built environment and the lighting within it. Low vision is not a one-size-fits-all condition and requires truly universal lighting design and technologies. MORE >

November 2024

#themoreyouknow 

Sara Schonour
Owner/Creative Catalyst, Luxsi
Director of Education, Business of Light
Mentorship Committee Chair, Women in Lighting + Design

Overall, Sara Schonour sees a lack of training on lighting design project management skills and product pricing maneuvers. But digital tools and educational programs are available to better arm those less-experienced in the battles of value engineering. MORE >

October 2024

DALI Update at NYControlled: Interoperability in the Digital Age 

Carol Jones
NA Market Development Manager, DALI Alliance

Lighting controls expertise is a differentiator for specifiers. And DALI’s advances into product certification and wireless value propositions are game-changers. Carol Jones, NA Market Development Manager at DALI Alliance invites the community to both NYControlled and the first-ever North American DALI Summit, October 29 and 30. MORE >

September 2024

Reps at the Hub    

Melissa Deutsch Stein
Owner, Stan Deutsch Associates

We’ve heard it 100 times: “Once you are in lighting, you’re stuck in it forever.” But why is there a pejorative tone? Melissa Deutsch Stein thinks we undervalue our community. And she finds longevity in the industry to be an asset. “I think our NYC niche of the spec lighting community is quite special.”   MORE >

August 2024

Build Human Relationships, Build Your Career    

Manny Feris
Retired, Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.

Self-assurance is the key to building close, professional relationships and learning from each new person and experience. Everyone knows something I don’t know…or more about something I thought I knew.  Every member of the team has their own priorities that skew their view of any possible solution. And they're almost always right – from their point of view. Figuring out a solution that meets the primary concerns of multiple team members is the most satisfying part of the job!   MORE >

July 2024

AI: A Beacon of Creative Exploration    

Josh Miller
Senior Manager of Strategic Visualization, Acuity Brands

A new technology has recently begun to rise within our field: artificial intelligence (AI). Initially met with curiosity, this latest addition is unfolding into a rich, transformative fusion. I see AI enhancing the essence of creative work in lighting design, rather than diminishing it. AI's role in lighting design highlights a compelling truth: countless creative visions have remained unexplored. This is not for lack of imagination, but for the absence of resources to visualize and iterate on concepts within a confined budget. AI tools enable designers to uncover the creative stones left unturned. They offer a glimpse into the expanse of what's possible when time and technology converge to support our creative endeavors.  MORE >

June 2024

Building Control Systems - Legrand North America    

Gary Meshberg
Market Development Specialist, Legrand

No lighting technology is changing more rapidly than controls and data collection. Systems compatibility, cybersecurity risks, and user experience are all crucial to widespread adoption of smart lighting technology. Industry education, in terms of technology and market research, is the key. Overall, the future of lighting control is likely to be characterized by increased compatibility and connectivity (wired, wireless, and hybrid technology), intelligence, and customization. For the foreseeable future, technology will continue to evolve, and innovations will be introduced and adopted into the marketplace. To educate both professionals and customers on the benefits of advanced lighting controls we need knowledge-sharing, education, and accessible marketing. Together, we can overcome technology and marketplace obstacles and encourage widespread adoption in homes, businesses, and public spaces.  MORE >

May 2024

First They Came for the Socialists

Alana Shepherd
Founding Principal, Intangible Light
Founder, North American Coalition of Lighting Industry Queers
Lecturer of Design, Theatre Arts Department, University of Idaho

Regardless of the outcome of the 2024 election, a reckoning is coming. The forces set in motion by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) and other anti-LGBTQ organizations will reverberate through a decidedly conservative judiciary for decades to come. In short, it is a well-connected, well-oiled, incredibly effective hate machine. The Dobbs decision, and its assault on bodily autonomy for all, is the most glaring example. It’s time for the lighting industry to rally: to speak, donate, and lobby on behalf of our queer peers.  MORE >

April 2024

Museum Lighting: The Art of Collaboration

Eileen M. E. Pierce
Founding Principal, Pierce Lighting Studio

Working with museum teams can present competing interests and visions. Empathy is a reflex, but it is also a muscle that lighting designers must develop and nurture over their career. In working with museum collaborators, empathy is essential to clearly define the root lighting problem. The solution journey can be intimidating and daunting, but ultimately empathy is necessary for a lighting design to succeed with both beauty and functionality. But by defining core values, and with long-term success at the heart of each individual, the opportunities are boundless. MORE >

March 2024

Lighting System Cybersecurity in the Age of AI

Michael Mehl
Director, LightBox Studios

Digitization continues to evolve lighting controls and lighting fixture componentry at a rapid clip. Already, nearly all of today’s lighting systems possess multiple layers of intelligence. As threats from malicious actors escalate, AI-driven decision-making is becoming more deeply embedded in various systems. The risks are evolving rapidly, but old-school methodologies and analog solutions are available now. Even in the face of AI, analog technologies and close collaboration with experts can safeguard your clients’ building systems. The point is, there are definitely solutions. It’s a new world out there, and we must be brave, and cautious, in our approach.  MORE >