Congratulations to the 2024 Thesis Award Recipients
Gavin Cantrell, Xiaoxiao Cui,
and Sachintha De Vas Gunawardena 

July 2024

The IESNYC Thesis Awards provides invaluable support to young professionals and students, empowering them to actively participate in the advancement of lighting design and research. The recognition bestowed upon our 2024 recipients highlight their exceptional contributions, inspiring the lighting community, and paving the way for future innovations in the field.

Gavin Cantrell, Master of Professional Studies in Lighting Design (MPSL) candidate, New York School of Interior Design, received recognition for his thesis, a complete lighting design for the DePaul Theatre School in Chicago, IL. Gavin’s design concept, inspired by the idea of a "Lava Lamp," serves as a colorful counterpoint to the architecture and subtly nods to the school's history of mixing and exchanging ideas.

Gavin expressed, "Receiving the IESNYC Thesis Award reaffirms my commitment to transitioning into architectural lighting design. This recognition strengthens my belief that I've chosen the right career path. The IESNYC is an indispensable resource and community for all students of light. In-person events such as the student lighting competition at LEDucation are some of the few chances for the greater NYC student lighting community to come together in such a creative and supportive way."

Xiaoxiao Cui, MFA Lighting Design, Parsons School of Design, was recognized for her thesis titled "Lighting Psychology in Virtual Reality: Revisiting John Flynn's 'Lighting Modes' Theory." Xiaoxiao’s research investigates the role of lighting design in virtual reality (VR) environments and its influence on human perception and behavior. Her study replicates John Flynn's experimental methodologies within a virtual conference room using MetaQuest Oculus 2, revealing the high degree of congruence between VR and physical environments in shaping evaluative impressions and perceptions of spaciousness. 

“As a designer, I am passionate about integrating historical influences with futuristic concepts," she explained. "My work bridges the present and future by merging advanced technology with the human experience. I am deeply honored to receive the IESNYC Thesis Award, which recognizes my dedication to advancing lighting design through interdisciplinary approaches in the evolving technological landscape."

Sachintha De Vas Gunawardena, PhD, Architectural Sciences (Concentration in Lighting), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has been honored for his dissertation titled "Investigating Component Life and LED Driver Failure Prediction Method." His work addresses the critical challenges in the lifespan of LED lighting systems, focusing on the failure of LED drivers. Sachintha explored the degradation patterns of electronic components under varying conditions and developed predictive methods for LED driver lifetimes. This research offers valuable insights into improving the reliability and performance of LED lighting systems.

Sachintha shared, "Receiving the IESNYC Thesis Award is a significant recognition within the lighting community for my dissertation work. This acknowledgment affirms the importance of my research and enhances my career path in lighting. The IESNYC plays a crucial role for young professionals in the lighting industry by serving as a vital platform for education, networking, and professional development."

ABOUT THE IESNYC THESIS Awards
The IESNYC Thesis Awards is an annual monetary award given to students selected by their professors for demonstrating excellence in lighting design and/or research, and represent the intellectual insight, rigor, and quality standards as set forth by their respective school departments and each student’s thesis committee. Recipients must be a degree candidate in a graduate-level lighting program at the New York School of Interior Design (NYSID), Parsons School of Design at the New School, or Lighting Research Center (LRC), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) School of Architecture. Recipients have the opportunity to present their thesis projects to the New York City lighting community at a special presentation event and eligible for consideration to be sent to the IES Annual Conference and present their work.

*Nominations are submitted by each school’s program director