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]

October 2026

AI Won't Fix Lighting's Data Problem. It Will Expose It.

Foad Shafighi
Lighting Department Lead, HGA

Foad Shafighi makes the case for fixing lighting's product data, before we lean on AI. There are honest reasons for caution and a need for consensus. Feed it scattered, inconsistent, unverifiable product information and it hands that straight back to you, but faster and with higher confidence.   MORE >

September 2026

The Social Art of Lighting

Omar Gómez González
Compositor de Iluminación Social Integrativa   

Using interactive public lighting, Omar Gómez González explores how light strengthens relationships, builds trust, and restores meaning. "The social art of lighting plays an important role in this era when so many things seem determined to separate us."  MORE >

August 2026

CRI Has One Job. That’s the Problem

Jason Livingston
Principal, Studio T+L, LLC  /  Co-Chair, IES Color Committee  

Many manufacturers are defaulting to 90 CRI these days, but the IES Color Committee wants us to adopt the full TM-30 suite, with focus on the PVF categories. "Switching to TM-30 and broadening your color rendering goals can enhance your lighting designs."  MORE >

July 2026

Paths to Success: How Lighting Designers Manage Entrepreneurship

Francesca Bastianini, Founding Principal, Sighte Studio
Kelly Roberts, Principal, Primary Arc Design

A new guard of lighting design studios has launched over the past decade. Here’s how some did it and guidance for others to succeed on their own terms. MORE >

June 2026

Bringing a European Lighting Brand to North America

John Yriberri
Market Leader North America, Modular Lighting Instruments

Modular’s John Yriberri recounts his 8-year journey bringing an established European brand to North America. "Credibility drives growth, and it’s not something that can be rushed. MORE >

May 2026

Standards Are Power. Are We Giving Ours Up?

Kimberly R. Mercier
Principal, Lighting Design Innovations

The CIE shapes lighting standards both here and abroad. If we lose our seat at the table, we surrender influence over the rules that govern our industry. If, like me, you believe the US should lead in global lighting discourse, this is the moment to act.   MORE >

April 2026

Community as Catalyst: Why Lighting Designers Choose Entrepreneurship

Kelly Roberts, Principal, Primary Arc Design & Francesca Bastianini, Founding Principal, Sighte Studio

A clear shift is underway: a wave of new entrepreneurship in lighting design. After more than a decade of consolidation – through mergers, acquisitions, and centralization – the trend has begun to move in the opposite direction. We see more designers starting their own practices as part of a broader shift in how careers, leadership, and longevity in our profession are being imagined.  MORE >

March 2026

The Work That Changes Us

Cy Eaton
Associate Director, HLB Lighting Design
Managing Director, Light for LA initiative

Showing up – without authority or guarantees – quietly reshapes judgment, builds trust, and strengthens the culture the lighting industry depends on. Be attentive. Engage. Find small ways to help. Over time, small investments of grace will yield surprising dividends for your community. And you just might help yourself along the way.   MORE >

February 2026

The Hidden Cost of Facade Lighting

Ajin Cho
Lighting Designer, Domingo Gonzalez Associates

Tools for evaluating skyglow are often used only after construction, e.g., taking nighttime photos or on-site measurements. These assessments are helpful, but they often come too late to make any real changes. What we need is a more proactive mindset that helps us understand the environmental impact of our lighting decisions before they are built.   MORE >

January 2026

Ethics in Illumination: Applying Catholic Social Teaching to the Lighting Industry

Matthew Dacey
VP of Specification Sales, ELA + Synergy

Matthew Dacey makes the case that ethical sourcing, human dignity, and responsible design aren’t “extra.” They're the future of a stronger lighting industry. "Ethical sourcing is no longer optional. It’s a reflection of who we are and what we value as an industry."    MORE >