LytePod

How is AI reshaping the world of lighting design? This episode explores how technology transforms creativity, productivity, and collaboration in the industry. Dive deep into how AI tools are helping designers make data-driven decisions, streamline workflows, and push the boundaries of what's possible. We also tackle the ongoing challenges of aligning budgets with bold design visions and fostering...

Dive into the essential role of nonprofits in the design industry, examining how they fill gaps, serve mission-driven purposes, and create community impact. Andrea and Christopher discuss key themes like leadership, the importance of mission alignment, and the future outlook for nonprofits in creative spaces. If you've ever wondered about the purpose of nonprofits in design and how they bridge soc...

Do you ever wish your client, the owner would just get it? Design has many different languages that might not always be easy to communicate across the table - but there are tools to do that. Cecilia Ramos, Senior Director of Architectural Markets for Lutron opens up a conversation about Luxury and how it can be a common thread that many can relate to. Explore her thoughts and be inspired to take a...

When you understand what you want to do, and get to play with what you love - it's hard to consider it a job. David Warfel has built a design team of nearly a dozen professionals in a space that has largely never considered the value of design fees when it comes to 'good lighting'. As a pioneer in connecting with AV integrators and homeowners directly through the CEDIA channel, he'...

The lighting industry has gone through a few evolutions, and the pathway from design to final delivery is undeniably one of them. Gone are the "transactional" days of interchangeable parts + pieces like lamps and ballasts -- for better or worse, today's lighting equipment has become unique and specialized, and staying at the forefront of change requires a new way of thinking about su...

Born of the Black Lives Matter movement, Equity in Lighting's overarching mission is to equip the lighting industry with the ability to design for everyone — not just the white, neurotypical person that today's technology and practices have come to serve the best. Join us as Elaine Cook, Co-Founder of Equity in Lighting, talks to us about why they founded EIL and how their goals and strate...

What if the lighting system in any given space could be your teammate? What if it could help cue you, guide you, inform you, and help you achieve your goals? That's one way Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Senior Lighting Researcher Andrea Wilkerson sees lighting through the lens of her career in lighting research and analysis. Andrea believes that digging into data is the key to unlockin...

Consistency. Balance. Efficiency. Three virtues most businesses strive for, but achieving them is a different story. Oculus Light Studio's business approach may be the exception, conceived of the idea that life and life in lighting can blend and coexist. Join us as Archit Jain + Scott Hatton, co-founding principals of Oculus studio, talk to us about how they look at time—one of life's most...

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a lighting designer to the stars or design homes for celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and LeBron James? That's exactly the claim to fame for Malibu-based CEO of ADG Lighting Gerald Olesker. An architectural industrial designer by training, Gerald has amassed a star-studded portfolio of luxury projects around the globe, and ADG's custom lighting is th...

Here at Lytei, we are of the opinion that architects never truly die. As long as their buildings live on, they live on. Today, we say the same about prolific architectural lighting designer Howard Brandston and his body of work that deserves recognition and gratitude for elevating the practice of lighting design to a profession. In remembrance, we spotlight his genius with this podcast episode, or...

There's a new sales channel in town...and it's got exciting possibilities for the lighting design community. Trent Mulligan and David Thomas, the President and the Executive Director of Momentum Group and Rio Grande Reps, explain to us how great lighting is not only a natural fit in the AV and integration channels, but is a vital piece of the puzzle when it comes to high-end residential lighting....

Walking the walk isn't easy, but when it comes to rolling up their sleeves and getting their hands dirty, lighting design firm Clanton & Associates and their President, Dane Sanders, make it look natural. Dane isn’t just a theorist, he and his colleagues have a passion for pushing lighting progress: putting into practice advanced ideas and technologies, and bringing stakeholders together to wo...

What a year 2022 was for lighting. From new technology to exciting trends and research, the LytePOD featured a lot of great new episodes (27 to be exact). Sam recaps the top five most listened-to episodes of the year. If your taste is anything like the rest of the listeners, we hope you like them, too. Got a few minutes to spare? Take our short survey >> https://zurl.co/510r << to let...

In the last edition of our Enlighten Americas 2022 chronicles, Co-CEO and President of Lighting Design Alliance, Kelly Jones, shares why she says "everything is a phase" and shares some of the wisdom she's gathered in the different phases of her life so far. From starting off as a driven designer to co-leading one of the industry's most renowned lighting firms to another kind of co-leading on the...

It's always inspiring to see someone speak with authority and passion – two traits Catherine Leskowat, Senior Lighting Designer at Hartranft Lighting Design, has in spades! As anyone who's been to Enlighten Americas or Lightfair recently knows, Catherine is an advocate through and through. Whether it's advocating for designing more holistically for a wider cross-section of body types, abilities, a...

With so many bright stars in the constellation of the lighting industry, it takes a little something extra to stand out. Ben Cantu, regional sales manager at LumenWerx, definitely has the secret sauce when it comes to owning his personal brand. Never without his meticulously matching eyeglasses and footwear, Ben's presence is often felt across the room before he can even say "hi!" In this episode,...

Lighting that's felt but not seen: many lighting designers say that's the holy grail. The notion isn't new, but that doesn't make the lofty challenge any simpler. Brazilian-born Claudio Ramos, acclaimed director of Electrolight in San Francisco, phrases the idea a little differently. He says: "Designing lighting is like a Disneyland ride: if you see what's happening in the background, the magic is...

How do you build a company with sustainability at its roots? You start from the ground up and let every possible decision be guided by a foundation of principles that keep the holistic, big-picture view in mind. That's exactly what Karen Jess-Lindsley, CEO of Lindsley Lighting, set out to do when she teamed up with her partner to start Lindsley Lighting. From leveraging minimalism and timeless des...

"Filling the pipeline" is an ever-present hot topic in the lighting community. No matter where you get your lighting news, you're likely to see a focus on the challenge of engaging and retaining the next generation of lighting lovers — with an emphasis on diversifying the ranks of our industry and reaching new audiences. Sometimes, out of big problems — like social unrest and global pandemics — co...

Design is a dance - and in this week's episode, Addie Smith, Senior Lighting Designer at AE Design, explains why. Whether it be leading or following, the give and take of expertise and creativity in the dynamic process of design mimics the exchange of energy in dance. Learning to lead with heart and grace and cultivating an open-minded, curious mindset as a follower can yield beautiful results — b...

Change is something you can count on in life, and that's true in the business of lighting, too. Loren Kessel, the newly-minted CEO of Delta Light Group North America, knows how to ride the waves of change better than most. His 37-year lighting career hinges on growing multiple lighting businesses from the ground up, building collaborative relationships, and leading by example — all of which culmin...

Product specification has always been a complex process — one that is dependent on strong relationships. Renee Borg, Principal of San Fransisco-based agency, Sixteen5Hundred, dives into the importance of the specification process and how it should be championed to deliver the best outcome. In a world where evolving technology is complicating the procurement of products, the most crucial thing...

Not every career path is linear — sometimes they take a twist or two (or more)! Leigh Gice, Senior Market Segment Manager at Lumenpulse, is a prime example. From a childhood moment of theatrical inspiration, through television production, lighting design, and finally, to her role today translating product ideas into reality at an international lighting manufacturer... let's just say Leigh may not...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an athlete competing at the international level against Olympic champions? Now imagine living that dream — while ALSO climbing the career ladder as a rising star in the field of lighting design. That sums up a day in the life of Sebastien Payannet, international men's figure skating superstar and senior lighting designer at Oculus Light Studio. Jo...

What do lighting design and structural engineering have in common? Turns out, a whole lot more than one might initially think. John Roach, Associate Vice President, Structural Engineer, and Office Engineering Leader at CannonDesign, talks to us about the parallels between the professions and how through collaboration and a well-orchestrated design process, both lighting and structures can intrinsi...