Virtual Lighting Design Community

Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to run a successful lighting design business? Beyond the creative brilliance and technical expertise lies a complex web of business skills that many designers never anticipate when launching their own practice. --- Re-release of a presentation from our 'Business of Lighting Design' series from the first season on the VLD Community platform.  To w...

Send us Fan Mail Enter our world of lighting design with our latest community roundup. We're thrilled to welcome a wave of new members to our growing community, creating an increasingly diverse group of lighting professionals sharing insights and inspiration. Mark your calendars for two webinars approaching: Sarvdeep Basur presents "Preserving Darkness" on July 24th, hosted by the Signify Lig...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when light beams collide at high speed? They can transform into matter – possibly explaining how celestial bodies form. This mind-blowing scientific reality perfectly captures the spirit of our conversation with Daan Roosegaarde, the visionary lighting designer who, despite being kicked out of fine art school twice, found his calling in pushing the boundaries of what...

Send us Fan Mail The divide between theory and practice in healthcare design couldn't be more evident than in lighting strategies for medical spaces. Through an illuminating exploration of two contrasting Hong Kong medical facilities, we discover how the same foundational goal—promoting health and wellbeing—manifests in dramatically different design approaches based on context, clientele, and...

Send us Fan Mail A passionate conversation with Andrew Bissel at Light Middle East reveals the growing frustration among lighting professionals fighting for recognition in the built environment. Wearing multiple hats as Ridge and Partners' lighting design head, a dark sky consultant for Red Sea Global, and past president of the Society of Light and Lighting, Andrew delivers a candid assessmen...

Send us Fan Mail March Look Back As we pause to reflect on our recent episodes, we've been privileged to host some exceptional conversations in lighting design. Looking back at our recent two episodes, Philip Rafael from Insight Lighting Berlin shared invaluable insights on workplace lighting and wellbeing, challenging traditional productivity-focused approaches. Our community resonated stron...

Send us Fan Mail Is lighting design an art or a science?  In this episode we feature Koert Vermeulen from ACT Lighting Design, based in Brussels, Belgium.  Koert was one of our earliest thought leaders to share on the Virtual Lighting Design Community platform and it was certainly a memorable presentation.   Initially, Koert's presentation was shared only with premium members of the community...

Send us Fan Mail Founder & Design Director at In'Sight Lighting Design, Philip Rafael explores a critical element often overlooked in workplace design: lighting. With over 18 years of global experience, Philip sheds light on how traditional lighting has prioritised productivity over well-being, sometimes to the detriment of employee health and job satisfaction. He explains how a shift in focu...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for the first episode of 2025 as we welcome back the Virtual Lighting Design Community! After a refreshing break over the holidays, we're excited to kick off a new year filled with opportunities to connect, enhance skills, and share knowledge within the lighting design industry.  In this episode, we celebrate reaching over 600 members and reflect on the incredible gro...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when two industry giants join forces to reshape the future of lighting design? Tune in to hear Martin Klaasen and Paul Nulty share their insights following the merger of Klaasen Lighting Design and Nulty+. Get a better understanding of how their shared values and mutual respect are setting the stage for unprecedented growth and innovation. This isn't just a busin...

Send us Fan Mail In this post presentation Q&A, Ingmar Klaasen, VLDC Co-founder, talks with Kunal Shah of SPK Valo about his presentation on the art of perceptual transformation in lighting design. Through Kunal's journey from the Netherlands' LuxLab to establishing his own practice in Hyderabad, uncover the pivotal role of architectural storytelling and how it can revolutionise client i...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when lighting transcends its traditional role and becomes an integral part of architectural storytelling? Join us as we explore this fascinating question with Kunal Shah, Principal Lighting Designer at SPK Valo. Kunal shares his journey from the academic halls of Sweden to the vibrant projects of Hyderabad, India, illustrating how lighting design has evolved from mere...

Send us Fan Mail Can the right lighting design improve your quality of life? Join us as we explore this intriguing question with Amit Sheth, founder and CEO of Plus Light Tech, recorded live at Light Middle East 2024 in Dubai. Amit takes us through his transformative journey from retail lighting to architecture and now outdoor lighting, pinpointing the industry's critical gaps and how his com...

Send us Fan Mail Today we unpack the profound impact light has on our environment, health, and communities, guided by insights from Maria Dautant, a senior Associate at HLB Lighting Design. Maria is joined by cofounder of the VLD Community, Ingmar Klaasen, as they dive into the pressing issues of light pollution and light poverty, exploring the adverse effects of sky glow, glare, and light trespas...

Send us Fan Mail How does the glow of city lights impact our environment and health? Discover the surprising answers as we unpack the complexities of light pollution and light poverty in this illuminating episode. Maria Dautant, a Senior Associate at HLB Lighting Design, joins us to share her expert insights on the often-overlooked consequences of artificial lighting on biodiversity and human heal...

Send us Fan Mail What if the future of lighting design could transform not only our spaces but our very emotions? Join us for an illuminating presentation by Pinar Onat, the founder of P.ERO Lighting Design in Istanbul. Pinar guides us through the historical evolution of lighting, from ancient rituals to Renaissance masterpieces and contemporary movements like OP art and kinetic art. By weaving to...

Send us Fan Mail How is our night sky changing, and what does it mean for our future? Join us in a compelling conversation with Ruskin Hartley, CEO of Dark Sky International, as we unravel the alarming increase in light pollution—by an astonishing 10% each year—and the profound consequences for our starry nights. At the Light Middle East 2024 event in Dubai, Ruskin sheds light on this growing cris...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how lighting design adapts to cultural nuances? Join us for an exclusive conversation with Jinkie De Jesus, the design principal of Lightplan Inc., as she reveals the intriguing challenges and solutions in implementing international lighting standards in the Philippines. From navigating client expectations to making spaces feel more lively and vibrant, Jinkie shares...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when international lighting standards clash with local cultural norms? Join us as we unravel this intricate issue with Jinkie De Jesus, the design principal of Lightplan Inc in the Philippines. In this episode, Jinkie candidly discusses her initial challenges in implementing Western lighting norms in her home country, leading to some unintended, ghostly results. From...

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to live in the shadow of war, yearning for light in times of darkness? Join us as Nadine Balbaaki, founder of Light the Detail, paints a vivid picture of her childhood in Lebanon amidst conflict, where the absence of reliable light sources was both a literal and metaphorical struggle. Nadine's poignant storytelling transports us to her family's home, wh...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the lights go out and never come back on? Join us on a journey through the shadows as we uncover the profound and often overlooked impact of light scarcity on communities around the globe. This episode features the compelling story of Nadine Baalbaki, founder of Light the Detail, who recounts her experiences growing up in Lebanon amidst war and chronic power outa...

Send us Fan Mail What if the key to unlocking the full potential of architectural spaces lies in the nuanced interplay of light and design? Join us as we explore this profound question at the Light and Intelligent Building Middle East event in Dubai 2024. In conversation with Kanwal Thareja, a principal architect with over 28 years of expertise, and Harmeet Singh, a seasoned lighting designer, we...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how lighting can transform an entire space without you even noticing the lights themselves? That’s exactly what Martin Klaasen uncovers, taking you through his journey from setting up Philips' project lighting division in Asia Pacific to his own lighting design practice Klaasen Lighting Design. This episode promises to enrich your understanding of lighting desig...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we delve into a captivating conversation with renowned lighting designer David Gilbey. Join us as David shares his insights and experiences with our VLDC cofounder, Katia Kolovea, at the Light Middle East 2024 event in Dubai earlier this year.  David Gilbey, a veteran in the field of lighting design, has a diverse background ranging from theater and film to archit...

Send us Fan Mail ** Here is a short clip for you to enjoy giving you a glimpse of the ideas and concepts discussed in the full presentation.  ** Melike Özden, head of design at Design Brilliance in India, unveils the transformative power of emerging technologies on lighting design. This episode discusses AI's potential to craft realistic lighting scenarios and how that could change the way we...