How to Begin a Lighting Project
by Eric Strandberg LC

Believe it or not, lighting design does not begin (or end) with the selection of light fixtures.
Start with an idea or concept.

• What kind of lighting do I want?
• How do I want the space to look?
• Are there any special lighting needs that should be addressed?
• Is daylight available?
  

In some spaces (workshops, storage, and utility rooms) all you are usually interested in is bright shadowless light. But in other areas, (lobby, boardrooms, restaurant or exterior) we are looking for a little style, drama, or to have the lighting make a statement. It is important to keep in mind the concept of layering the light. In most spaces you do not want to rely on just one type of lighting or fixture to do all the lighting in a space. At minimum, you need to consider three basic lighting needs; task, ambient, and accent lighting (though not necessarily in that order). Ambient lighting (or general lighting) is used in circulation areas, to fill in shadows or to control contrast. Task lighting is usually a higher level of even, shadowless light in certain key areas where tasks are performed. Accent lighting is a much higher light level (at least 3 times brighter than the ambient) concentrated at artistic or architectural points of interest.

After the concept, you need to decide what light bulb (or lamp) will best help to implement that idea. Some lamps shine in a given direction, others shine in all directions, some radiate even, shadowless light, while others have direct focused light that creates shadows and contrast. If you start out looking for a certain effect (or concept) and use lamps that are best suited for a different effect, or you will always be struggling to make the lighting do what you want. The importance of proper lamp selection early in the design phase cannot be overstated. It is also a good idea at this point to think about other characteristics of the lamp as they relate to various applications.

• What is the lamp life? (Will the bulb need to be changed frequently?)
• Is this a special bulb? (Will it be hard to buy replacements?)
• Does the lamp give enough light and how much power will it require? (Do not forget the electric bills!)
  

Remember that a light fixture is just a glorified light bulb holder.

I can think of a certain popular vanity light (no names please), that uses an expensive lamp, that has a short life, uses a lot of power (150watts) and gives off a dull yellow light. People like the way the fixture looks even though it has so many performance problems. It is like eating a meal that is unhealthy, expensive and tastes bad, but looks good on the plate.

Once the lamp has been selected then the optimal location for the lamp is addressed. We are trying to locate the lamp in space so that it can illuminate the subject in an optimal way. For example, if you are lighting a vanity you would not put the lamp behind where a person would stand, you put it on the wall by the mirror so it can shine on their face (it seems like common sense, but you would be amazed). If you are lighting wall art the light from the lamp should normally strike the piece from above at about a 60º angle. If you are lighting a workshop, the lamps are often placed directly over the workbenches. In all of these examples, we are addressing the location and direction of the light from a normal viewing perspective. This is often done unconsciously, but it helps to know the process.

Finally, we start looking at light fixtures.

• Do we want the fixtures to blend in with the architecture, or to make some sort of statement with light or structure?
• Will the fixture itself be highly decorative, or does it want to be plain and utilitarian?
  

Again, think about layering. Just as no one lamp type is right for all applications, no one fixture type is correct everywhere either. Not only does layering give more options for how the space is lit, (more than just on or off), but each type of fixture can do what it does best. For example, track lights for accent lighting, under cabinet lights for task, and decorative fixtures for ambient light. Often a fixture may do double duty; the accent lighting may provide task light, the task lights may provide enough ambient light, or the architectural coffer lighting may provide ambient light. This layering strategy is critical to creating a rich visual environment.

Before finalizing the fixture selection you may want to consider other aspects of the fixture. Evaluate the fixture with the proper lamp and from a normal viewing angle (for glare control).

• Is the fixture efficient? (How much of the light from the lamp actually exits the fixture.)
• What is the availability of the fixture? (Will it need to be ordered from overseas?)
• Long term costs of the lighting system (to buy, operate and maintain) and durability (is it appropriate for this application and will it need replacement parts?)

Above: A good lighting design involves a series of critical steps..

Image courtesy Lighting Design Lab