Lighting Matters®

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Did you know the only federal lighting requirement for prisons is 20 foot-candles, with no ceiling at all?

Edward Bartholomew, principal of Bartholomew Lighting and executive director of Light Justice, and Richard Muthama, lighting designer at Lam Partners and Light Justice curator, join Lisa Reed of RBLD and Avi Mor of Morlights to make the case for humane lighting. Night walks. Quality darkness. The first IES recommended practice for spaces of incarceration. And the November 4 symposium. “Why should we have a 2x4 that is pushing out 5000 lumens within a cell?”

Edward Bartholomew, IALD, LC, LEED AP, IES, is Principal of Bartholomew Lighting, an award-winning architectural lighting design firm based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. With over 40 years of experience, he advances lighting design as both an architectural discipline and a means of addressing social and environmental justice. Edward is co-founder and executive director of Light Justice, an organization advocating for equitable, community-engaged lighting that supports underserved communities and building occupants. Light Justice recognizes light and darkness as essential environmental resources influencing health, safety, dignity, and belonging.

Richard Muthama is a lighting designer at Lam Partners in Cambridge, MA. He is the Curator of Light Justice. He holds an MFA in Lighting Design from Parsons School of Design, where his thesis on humane lighting for prison cell sleep environments received the Parsons Lighting Design Partners Thesis Prize for Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice. Richard is Vice President of Black United in Lighting and Design (BUILD) and serves on the IES Security Committee, where he helped develop the first IES Recommended Practice for lighting spaces of incarceration.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Lighting for spaces of incarceration
• (07:38) Night walks challenge “more light equals safety”
• (13:53) Daylight access, power, and back-of-house lighting
• (21:09) No recommended practice for incarceration spaces
• (26:40) Outward-facing mission and the November 4 symposium
• (35:41) ACA’s 20 foot-candle rule and amber light
• (41:04) Favorite spaces: Grandmother’s living room, Kenyan daylight
• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.
• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:

Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:

Light Justice

https://lightjustice.org/

Symposium registration (IES events)

https://ies.org/events/

Past Light Justice symposium videos

https://lightjustice.org/webinars

IES e-learning: Light + Justice

https://elearning.ies.org/p/lightjustice

Illuminating Engineering Society

https://www.ies.org

American Correctional Association

https://www.aca.org

Lam Partners

https://www.lampartners.com

Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w

Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/

Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/

Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/

Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

How much of your product's value depends on an organization nobody credits?

IES standards aren't free, and Brienne Willcock wants the lighting industry to understand why. This episode covers the real cost of a recommended practice, IES's growing footprint (AES, NCQLP), and a client-trust framework borrowed from healthcare. Brienne is Associate Executive Director at the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), and she joins hosts Avi Mor (Morlights) and Lisa Reed (Reed Burkett Lighting Design) to trace her path from fine art and flower color-matching into IES leadership. They dig into IES's mergers with the Audio Engineering Society and NCQLP, the real cost behind every IES file, and why "dumbing it down" is a phrase Brienne refuses to use. It's a candid look at standards, advocacy, and earning trust in the built environment.

Brienne Willcock is Associate Executive Director at IES, focused on Strategy, Standards, and Industry Engagement, leading content strategy across technical standards and education. Her background as an architectural lighting designer shapes how she manages collaborative programs, gathers input, and curates content. Brienne was named to Lighting Magazine's International 40 Under 40 (2017), served as past president of the Detroit IES section (2013–2015) and IES Annual Conference Committee Chair (2016–2017), and was awarded Honorary Affiliate status by the American Institute of Architects (2014).

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Brienne's expanding role as IES Associate Executive Director
• (15:09) Building bridges with AIA, ASID, and allied organizations
• (22:10) Manufacturer funding fatigue and thirty competing lighting organizations
• (30:35) Six years in the red: IES's financial turnaround and advocacy
• (40:35) The hidden value of the IES file and standards funding
• (50:52) The patient advocacy model for earning client trust
• (58:33) Brienne's favorite illuminated space: the Detroit Institute of Arts
• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.
• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:

Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:

Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) —https://www.ies.org

Audio Engineering Society (AES) —https://aes2.org

National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions (NCQLP) —https://www.ncqlp.org

National Lighting Bureau (NLB) —https://www.nlb.org

Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w

Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/

Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/

Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/

Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

Watch on YouTube

Could bad lighting be quietly costing a restaurant its best customers?

"People aren't buying lumens. They're buying outcomes." Jenny West, founder of West Consulting and a former workplace strategist at Knoll and CRESA, joins hosts Avi Mor of Morlights and Lisa Reed of Reed Burkett Lighting Design (RBLD). West traces her path from Gensler through corporate change management to a practice spanning retail, aviation, and art. The trio unpacks budget pressure, borrows a fee structure from Broadway theater, and insists lighting teams belong in the visioning session from day one. Why does the industry still lack a shared research voice?

Jenny West is a multidisciplinary designer and artist and the founder of West Consulting, based in Colorado. A Kansas State University graduate in Interior Architecture and Product Design, she began at Gensler, where her work included the Westin Hotel and Transit Center at Denver International Airport. She spent nearly a decade at Knoll as a Global Account Director working with Fortune 100 brands including Google and Microsoft, then led Gensler's Denver consulting practice and later directed national workplace strategy as Vice President at Cresa. She holds NCIDQ and LEED AP ID+C credentials and has spoken at NeoCon, CoreNet, and IIDA.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Framing part two of the Illuminate@NeoCon debrief
• (02:07) Hunter Tremaine of QTL on crossing into architecture and design
• (05:13) Why color quality is the "magic sauce" of good LED
• (08:35) Gregory Kay of Lightology and PureEdge on educating with color temperature
• (12:45) Brian Keilt of Lighting Services Inc on the color and material vignette
• (16:44) The ArtLifting installation and its last-minute rescue
• (19:29) Brian Maite of ALW on reaching an audience they don't normally see
• (23:32) Rebranding as an architectural brand, not a lighting brand
• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.
• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:

Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:

Watch the Illuminate@NeoCon panel referenced in this episode — "Lighting that Shapes Design" — featuring Avi Mor, Lisa Reed, and Jenny West:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OKOe1oX90Q

Jenny West / West Consulting — official site, portfolio, and press:https://www.jennywestartist.com

IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) —http://www.ies.org

IIDA (International Interior Design Association) —http://www.iida.org

ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) —http://www.asid.org

Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w

Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/

Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/

Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/

Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

Watch on YouTube

Is Illuminate at NeoCon actually a design show wearing a lighting show's name?

Avi Mor of Morlights and Lisa Reed of Reed Burkett Lighting Design close out their Illuminate@NeoCon debrief series with four more manufacturer conversations, recorded live on the show floor without a script. Hunter Tremaine, VP of Business Development at QTL, breaks down why the family-owned power and LED manufacturer's first-time booth landed alongside partners like Fry Reglet, and why color quality is the detail that separates a QTL fixture from a big-box tape light. Gregory Kay, CEO of Lightology and PureEdge, explains how mirrors and color-temperature demos turned window shoppers into engaged designers who wanted to understand the science, not just admire the trapeze.

Brian Keilt, VP of Sales at Lighting Services Inc, a longtime sponsor of Lighting Matters, details the last-minute scramble that saved the show's ArtLifting installation, which showcases work by artists with disabilities. And Brian Maite of ALW makes the case for treating Illuminate as a design show and not a lighting show, right down to the paint colors on the booth walls. Is a lighting brand even the right label anymore? Part two of two, wrapping the Illuminate@NeoCon debrief series.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Framing part two of the Illuminate@NeoCon debrief
• (02:07) Hunter Tremaine of QTL on crossing into architecture and design
• (05:13) Why color quality is the "magic sauce" of good LED
• (08:35) Gregory Kay of Lightology and PureEdge on educating with color temperature
• (12:45) Brian Keilt of Lighting Services Inc on the color and material vignette
• (16:44) The ArtLifting installation and its last-minute rescue
• (19:29) Brian Maite of ALW on reaching an audience they don't normally see
• (23:32) Rebranding as an architectural brand, not a lighting brand
• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.
• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:

Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:

QTL — qtl.lighting.com

Lightology — http://lightology.com

PureEdge Lighting — http://pureedgelighting.com

Lighting Services Inc — http://lightingservicesinc.com

ALW (Architectural Lighting Works) — https://www.alw-inc.com/

LMPG Inc. (parent company of ALW) —http://lmpg.com

ArtLifting: https://www.artlifting.com/NeoCon 2026 Featured Panel Talk: https://youtu.be/8OKOe1oX90Q?si=rGxIhUvENzU9Es1JEducational Vignettes at NeoCon 2026: https://edisonreport.com/2026/06/08/llluminate-at-neocon-2026-built-for-designers/

Illuminate @ NeoCon 2026: https://edisonreport.com/2026/06/08/llluminate-at-neocon-2026-built-for-designers/IALD — http://iald.orgNeoCon http://neocon.com

Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w

Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/

Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/

Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/

Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

Watch on YouTube

Avi Mor of Morlights and Lisa Reed of Reed Burkett Lighting Design pull up chairs on the Illuminate@NeoCon floor for four back-to-back manufacturer check-ins. Sage Russell, VP of Specification Sales at LumenWerx, explains why a fully custom experience room, built in just thirty days, outdrew every standard booth on the floor. Nate Jackson of Fixt Electric traces an unlikely path from Soviet-era salvage runs across Russia to launching Cym x Fixt, a new architectural line made with ceramicist Cym Warkov.

Sean Gaydos, president of USAI Lighting, gets candid about the real math behind an eighty-show marketing calendar, drayage, unions, and rep support included. And Jana Owens, director of sales at Luminii and part of the team behind Morlights' recent LeSelect restaurant project in Chicago, makes the case for an underrated Midwest design community. "Bring something special, make it worth your while," one guest says. What did the lighting industry's first dedicated trade show floor actually deliver, and what still needs fixing before next year?

Part one of two — episode 39 picks up the conversation with more manufacturers from the show floor.

In This Episode:

(00:00) Framing the Illuminate@NeoCon debrief series

• (02:09) Sage Russell of LumenWerx on Illuminate's first-year impact
• (07:42) Booth placement and next-year growth for exhibitors
• (08:59) Nate Jackson of Cym x Fixt launches a new architectural line
• (12:14) Sean Gaydos of USAI Lighting on trade show economics
• (17:34) Designers backing the manufacturers who back the industry
• (20:56) Jana Owens of Luminii on selling light beyond the spec sheet
• (24:16) New product launches and the Midwest design community
• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.
• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:

Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:

LumenWerx —https://www.lumenwerx.com

Fixt Electric Co. —https://www.fixtelectric.com

USAI Lighting —https://www.usailighting.com

Luminii —https://www.luminii.com

NeoCon 2026 Featured Panel Talk: https://youtu.be/8OKOe1oX90Q?si=rGxIhUvENzU9Es1JEducational Vignettes at NeoCon 2026: https://edisonreport.com/2026/06/08/llluminate-at-neocon-2026-built-for-designers/

Illuminate @ NeoCon 2026: https://edisonreport.com/2026/06/08/llluminate-at-neocon-2026-built-for-designers/IALD — http://iald.orgNeoCon http://neocon.com

Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w

Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/

Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/

Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/

Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

Watch on YouTube

60 manufacturers, 5 months — did Illuminate at NeoCon actually pay off?

Half the year is gone — where did it go? Hosts Avi Mor of Morlights and Lisa Reed of Reed Burkett Lighting Design (RBLD) trade updates on a packed six months: the Holocaust Museum LA opening, the relit Campanile at the University of Kansas, and ongoing work on the Gordie Howe International Bridge and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. But most of the conversation returns to Illuminate at NeoCon, where 60 manufacturers showed up in just five months.

Avi and Lisa dig into what worked — LSI's interactive color-temperature display, ETC's photo booth vignette — and what didn't sit right, including a pointed question Avi raises: are manufacturers being asked to do too much? They also touch on the newly announced NLB-IES partnership, the re-illumination of Notre-Dame, and a recurring IALD theme: designers as "shepherds" of a client's story rather than its authors. It closes with the IALD president's public call to elevate the profession, and Avi's blunt response: "I'd like to get beyond the words and see the action."

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Mid-year check-ins and recent project milestones
• (09:56) The case for lighting designers and debriefing Illuminate at NeoCon
• (12:53) Manufacturer highlights: LSI's color installation and ETC's photo booth
• (17:32) Planning NeoCon 2027 and rethinking manufacturer sponsorship asks
• (21:16) NLB-IES partnership and current project spotlights
• (24:09) Notre-Dame's re-illumination and the emotional power of cathedral lighting
• (26:28) Light as storytelling and putting words to a visual craft
• (27:05) The IALD's call to elevate the profession
• (28:25) Sign-off: pop culture picks and lighting in film
• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.
• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:

Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:
NeoCon 2026 Featured Panel Talk: https://youtu.be/8OKOe1oX90Q?si=rGxIhUvENzU9Es1JEducational Vignettes at NeoCon 2026: https://edisonreport.com/2026/06/08/llluminate-at-neocon-2026-built-for-designers/

Art Lifting Website: https://www.artlifting.com/Illuminate @ NeoCon 2026: https://edisonreport.com/2026/06/08/llluminate-at-neocon-2026-built-for-designers/IALD — http://iald.orgNeoCon http://neocon.com
Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w
Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/
Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/

Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/

Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

Watch on YouTube

8% of award-winning projects had a lighting designer. Only 2% got credit. Why is this profession still invisible?

Recorded live at Illuminate@NeoCon 2026 in Chicago, this episode features Rebecca Keehner, Senior Interior Designer at Stantec Architecture — a global architecture and engineering firm with all major design disciplines under one roof. Hosts Avi Mor of Morlights and Lisa Reed of Reed Burkett Lighting Design (RBLD) dig into the structural dynamics of how lighting actually gets done on projects. Who owns it? Who should?

Rebecca introduces what she calls the "triangle of responsibility" — the working relationship between interior designers, lighting designers, and electrical engineers — and makes a sharp case for why adding a lighting designer doesn't inflate a budget, it redistributes expertise where it belongs. The conversation moves into specification rigor, material testing under controlled light conditions, and the persistent problem of lighting designers going uncredited on award-winning projects. "98% of the jobs had lighting designers on them — but only the lighting design firms were able to promote that they were involved." Short episode. Dense content.

Rebecca Keehner is a Senior Interior Designer at Stantec Architecture with 19+ years of experience across retail, restaurant, healthcare, multi-family, and corporate projects. NCIDQ certified and LEED accredited, she pairs 15 years of Revit expertise with a design approach rooted in form, materiality, and client experience.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Live from NeoCon: Rebecca Keehner on her role at Stantec Architecture

• (03:04) The triangle of responsibility explained

• (05:50) How scope and fee divide across the lighting triangle

• (10:26) Specification precision and the cost of getting it wrong

• (11:56) How light controls visual hierarchy in a space

• (16:14) Testing materials under real lighting conditions

• (19:06) Color casting and why flat samples mislead

• (20:02) The four visual design disciplines in the built environment

• (22:06) The lighting design credit gap in industry awards

• (24:36) Budget, schedule, team, or client: what matters most

• (30:22) Rebecca's favorite lighting experience: the redwoods

• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.
• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:

Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:

Stantec Architecture — Rebecca Keehner's firm

URL:https://www.stantec.com/https://www.stantec.com/

IALD — http://iald.org/

NeoCon http://neocon.com/

Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/
Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w

Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/

Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/

Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/

Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

Watch on YouTube

Of 100 award-winning architecture projects, how many listed a lighting designer in the credits? The answer should embarrass the entire industry.

Jen Park, principal at Chicago's Park Fowler, joins hosts Avi Mor of Morlights and Lisa Reed of Reed Burkett Lighting Design to examine what architects genuinely understand about lighting—and where the gaps are. Park describes lighting as the critical thread in architectural composition: invisible when right, conspicuous when wrong. Who's actually making that argument to developers? The discussion covers the ROI case for lighting design, color temperature consistency across building types, and one startling data point—of 100 recent award-winning projects across AIA and Dezeen, not one credited a lighting designer in its submission.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Park Fowler's founding and accelerated firm transition
• (07:57) Lighting as a critical compositional layer in architecture
• (17:48) Architecture school's gap in electric lighting education
• (21:33) Museum spaces as field labs for reading light
• (30:07) The ROI argument for lighting designers on developer projects
• (35:13) Color temperature consistency and the build-to-sell challenge
• (37:53) Material samples, color accuracy, and Neocon vignettes
• (44:22) The four visual professionals of the built environment
• (50:28) Lighting designers uncredited in architectural award submissions
• (56:18) Architect as conductor: the full-team design model
• (59:53) Favorite illuminated spaces: The Rookery Chicago, Jumex Museum in Mexico City
• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.
• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:

Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:

Material Bank (material sample sourcing tool) http://materialbank.com

AIA Chicago (business forums, awards, and board service) http://aiachicago.org

Dezeen (awards discussion) http://dezeen.com

IALD — http://iald.org

NeoCon (trade show - upcoming lighting vignettes) http://neocon.com

Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w

Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/

Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/

Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/

Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

Watch on YouTube

Why does the profession that shapes how humans experience every built space they occupy still have no regulatory recognition — anywhere in the world?

Dawn Brown, CLD, Design IALD, Lighting Designer at Ontario Aesthetic Lighting Design (OALD), joins Avi and Lisa for a direct look at the future of the profession. The conversation covers the persistent divide between interior designers and lighting designers, Dawn's proposal to regulate lighting design in Ontario, and the science case for circadian and wellness lighting. "If we know there's something we can do to prevent harm, why not just do it?" Engineering addresses the conscious mind. Lighting design influences the subconscious. That distinction, Dawn argues, is why professional recognition is long overdue.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Dawn Brown's path from architecture to lighting design
• (09:05) Interior designers and the lighting design disconnect
• (14:29) Engineering serves the conscious mind, design serves the subconscious
• (20:49) Proposing lighting design regulation to Ontario's Parliament
• (27:39) IES recommended practices, professional liability, and malpractice
• (38:10) Why CLDs must lead wellness and circadian design
• (42:28) Circadian lighting adoption: barriers and the next generation
• (50:03) Reaching interior designers and elevating the profession
• (56:01) The boardroom moment that made Dawn a lighting designer
• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.
• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:

Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:
Dawn Brown LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-brown-cld-design-iald-03404aa9/Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w

Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/

Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/

Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/

Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

Watch on YouTube

Lighting's go-to-market model is one of the most complex in any product category. Does anyone outside the industry actually understand that—and does it matter if they don't?

Amy Bonder came to Luminii from the Fortune 500—Black & Decker, Advance Auto Parts, Bridgestone—and found that nothing prepares you for lighting's go-to-market complexity. In this episode, hosts Avi Mor (Morlights) and Lisa Reed (Reed Burkett Lighting Design) dig into what's broken. One agent partner touched a single project 178 times. The conversation moves through data fragmentation, spec integrity, and a harder question: why does this industry still fail to develop its own leaders? "Better is better," Amy says. Take the nuggets and move.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Amy Bonder's path from Fortune 500 to the lighting industry
• (06:55) Why lighting's go-to-market model is unlike anything else
• (14:24) The real cost of a fragmented specification process
• (23:53) Solving the data and software gap across the value chain
• (32:50) Spec integrity and the lighting designer's role in reducing friction
• (37:31) Personal branding and leadership development for design firms
• (44:08) Feedback as a leadership tool: building stronger teams
• (50:26) The business fundamentals design school never teaches
• (55:15) Interns, AI, and developing the next generation
• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.
• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:

Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:
Amy Bonder LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-bonder-3b23b47/Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w

Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/

Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/

Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/

Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

Watch on YouTube

What if the fastest way to bring a project in under budget was just to pay people on time?

Ron Unterreiner—retired design-build executive, founder of the People networking initiative and WBEDC, and advisor to the Rise CDFI—joins hosts Avi Mor of Morlights and Lisa Reed of Reed Burkett Lighting Design for a direct conversation about what's quietly breaking the AEC payment chain. The discussion is anchored in three realities: 30-day payment terms aren't prompt, they're a slow disaster for small firms; minority and women-owned contractors are turning to predatory lenders at 82% interest to bridge the gap; and lighting design is a specification decision, not an optional add-on. "There is no such thing as cash flow anymore," Ron says flatly. "It does not flow." So who has the power to change it—and why aren't they?

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Ron Unterreiner on 32 years in design-build and minority contractor equity work
• (08:24) How design and construction disciplines communicate—and where lighting fits in
• (11:21) Who actually controls which fixtures end up on a job site
• (18:59) The 90-day payment gap bankrupting AEC's smallest firms
• (25:27) Why large firms absorb slow payment while small firms can't survive it
• (32:10) What prompt payment actually looks like: lessons from HBE Corporation
• (38:13) Industry organizations, antitrust fears, and stalled collective action
• (43:05) The financial case owners aren't hearing: prompt payment costs less
• (50:52) Prioritizing clients who pay: a survival strategy for small design firms
• (51:46) Ron's defining lighting experience: Pope John XXIII at St. Peter's Basilica
• (57:39) Lighting design as a specification decision, not a budget line to eliminate
• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.
• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:

Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:

Ron Unterreiner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-unterreiner-49a549184/

IALD (International Association of Lighting Designers): https://www.iald.orgLighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w

Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/

Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/

Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/

Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

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Structural engineers are licensed. Architects are licensed. Why isn't lighting?

Hosts Avi Mor of Morlights and Lisa Reed of Reed Burkett Lighting Design go unscripted. It starts with a hotel ballroom running 20 footcandles at a dinner event, broken dimmers, and no one who knew how to operate them. From that comes a pointed question: why is proper lighting still treated as a luxury? The specification market sits at roughly 3–5% of total luminaires sold in the U.S. Lisa and Avi dig into licensure, the IES partnership with America by Design, and whether Neocon's Illuminated show can move that number.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Season preview and upcoming guest lineup
• (06:18) Hotel ballroom lighting failure and the luxury perception problem
• (12:04) Neocon's Illuminated show: lighting in front of 50,000 designers
• (17:41) When lighting work becomes how you see everything
• (21:03) KU Campanile project and plans for the season ahead
• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.
• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:

Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:
IES (Illuminating Engineering Society): https://www.ies.org

Neocon / Illuminated: https://www.neocon.com

The Merchandise Mart, Chicago: https://www.themart.com

IALD (International Association of Lighting Designers): https://www.iald.orgLighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w

Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/

Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/

Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/

Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

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Ten experienced lighting designers walk into a conference. Can they agree on what they actually do for a living?

"What do you do?" For lighting designers, it's a deceptively hard question to answer well. At the IALD Enlighten Americas 2025 conference in Tucson, hosts Avraham Mor (Morlights) and Lisa Reed (Reed Burkett Lighting Design) posed three pointed questions to ten industry veterans —

Chip Israel (Lighting Design Alliance, A Salas O'Brien Company)
Aram Ebben (EXP)
Francesca Bastianini (Sighte Studio)
Ron Kurtz (Dark Light Design)
Randy Burkett (RBLD)
Giulio Pedota (Schuler Shook)
Steven Rosen (Available Light)
Laura Arroyo (FLOU Lighting Design)
Gonzalo Saez (SV Lighting Design)
Nancy Clanton (Clanton & Associates)

The conversation cuts to the core of professional identity, the real distinction from electrical contractors, and whether a unified global vocabulary for the profession is even achievable. Then ChatGPT weighs in — sort of.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Welcome and IALD Enlighten Americas 2025 conference recap
• (06:47) How do you describe lighting design to a non-technical audience?
• (10:48) Lighting designer vs. electrical contractor: where expertise diverges
• (14:31) Can the profession agree on a shared vocabulary?
• (20:44) ChatGPT synthesizes responses from eight designers
• (26:30) Debating the definition — and who it actually needs to reach
• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.
• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:

Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:
IALD: https://iald.org/Conferences/EA25Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w

Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/

Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/

Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/

Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

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Can you quantify why lighting matters—or does defining it ruin everything?

Avi Mor of Mor Lighting and Lisa Reed of Reed Burkett Lighting Design record live from ArchLight Summit 2025, exploring a fundamental question: does lighting matter? They tackle the industry's most pressing challenge—proving the value of professional lighting design in every project type. Why do affordable housing developments consistently exclude lighting designers despite their residents' critical need for quality light? The conversation reveals an uncomfortable truth: good lighting remains indefinable, immeasurable, yet undeniably essential. Their solution? Show the bad to prove the good.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Does lighting matter? Industry perspectives on value

• (10:06) Luminaire level lighting control without sensors

• (13:46) AI integration in lighting software and design tools

• (18:45) Where lighting design has the most impact

• (24:10) The challenge of proving lighting ROI in affordable housing

• (29:03) Why good lighting can't be quantified with metrics

• (36:26) Publishing lighting projects: what makes a compelling story

• (40:36) Limited budget museum design best practices

• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.

• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:
Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:
ArchLight Summit: https://archlightsummit.com/
Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/
Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w
Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/
Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/
Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/
Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

Watch on YouTube

What's the connection between lighting control systems, circadian rhythm, and designing for neurodivergent building occupants?

David Euscher, national board chair for the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and interior designer based in Houston, discusses the critical relationship between interior design and lighting with hosts Lisa Reed of Reed Burkett Lighting Design and Avi Mor of Morelites. Can you really design a space without considering how light reveals it? The conversation explores professional licensure challenges, the 2014 friendship agreement between ASID, IES, and IALD, and strategies for bringing lighting professionals onto project teams early. Euscher shares compelling project stories, including work on Texas Children's Hospital where lighting designers fundamentally changed how dimensional spheres were illuminated. The discussion addresses human health standards, ASID's annual Trends Outlook Report, and why creating variety in lighting environments matters for both neurotypical and neurodivergent building occupants.

• (00:00) David Euscher's interior design career and role as ASID national board chair

• (05:56) Collaboration between ASID, IES, and IALD - the four visual design disciplines

• (13:41) Professional licensure and making the case for lighting specialists

• (22:27) Daylight automation, control systems, and human health standards

• (30:09) Project stories - Texas Children's Hospital and historic renovations

• (34:50) Favorite illuminated spaces - Nasher and Kimbell Art Museums

• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.

• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:
Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:
David Euscher LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-euscher-asid-iida-ncidq-well-ap-01ba8b50/
Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/
Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w
Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/
Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/
Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/
Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

Watch on YouTube

What if value engineering meant distilling to essentials instead of cutting corners?

Joel Fuoss, Principal at Trivers in St. Louis, joins hosts Lisa Reed of Reed Burkett Lighting Design and Avi Mor of Mor Lights to discuss adaptive reuse, historic tax credits, and collaborative design. How do you convince clients that lighting isn't optional? Fuoss explains how historic tax credits reduce costs by 40%, making specialty consultants financially viable. The conversation challenges traditional value engineering, reframing it as distillation to a project's essential mission rather than arbitrary cost-cutting. "We can design an incredible space...and then you turn the lights on, and it kills it," Fuoss warns. The discussion explores why architects need lighting designers as creative partners, not decorators, and how collaboration produces award-winning work like The Victor Building's recent AIA national housing award.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Joel's adaptive reuse architecture

• (04:10) Victor Building wins national AIA award

• (07:05) Historic tax credits enable design quality

• (12:47) Redefining value engineering as distillation

• (18:42) How poor lighting destroys architecture

• (26:11) Collaboration replaces master architect model

• (32:18) Architects as conductors of design orchestra

• (40:36) Favorite spaces lit through trees

• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.

• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:
Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:
Joel Fuoss LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-fuoss-aia-leed-ap-a1121b4/
Trivers Lighting: https://www.triverslighting.com/
Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/
Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w
Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/
Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/
Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/
Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

Watch on YouTube

Why does museum lighting deliver 10x ROI compared to other exhibit elements?

AJ Goehle, CEO of Luci, and Kevin Snow, lighting and set designer, discuss the critical role of theatrical lighting in museum exhibit design. The Chicago-based firm has grown from 2 to 52 team members since 2011, creating immersive visitor experiences across history museums, science centers, and cultural institutions. They explore how strategic use of light and shadow creates "transportation moments" that suspend disbelief. "What I think is really great- what you light, and where you light it, and how, where you tell people to look," Snow explains about directing visitor attention. The conversation covers budget strategies, client education through precedent trips, and transformative before-and-after case studies. Both emphasize lighting's exceptional return on investment for creating memorable museum experiences.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Luci's growth from 2 to 52 team members

• (05:56) Creating transportation moments through lighting design

• (16:04) First Division Museum transformation case study

• (25:58) Client education and budget allocation strategies

• (38:00) Before and after lighting transformation examples

• (45:14) Favorite illuminated spaces and inspiration

• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.

• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:
Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:
AJ Goehle LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajgoehle/
Kevin Snow LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinsnowluci/
Luci http://lucicreative.com/
Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/
Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w
Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/
Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/
Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/
Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

Watch on YouTube

Hosts Avi Mor and Lisa Reed take the Lighting Matters podcast on location to the IES conference in Anaheim, conducting rapid-fire interviews with five leading lighting professionals. The episode explores how lighting designers advocate for their profession across different practice models - from integration firms to nonprofits to global studios. Violet Estes of Cantara Design discusses bridging the gap between lighting design and home automation. Nick Albert reveals his Light Equity initiative helping LA wildfire victims access professional lighting design. Shoshana Segal challenges the industry to stop preaching to the choir and educate broader audiences. SmithGroup's Paige Donnell explains internal advocacy within integrated firms. IES Fellow Paul Gregory shares decades of wisdom on creating emotional connections through light. "You don't see the column, you just see the light that bounces off it," Gregory explains. Each conversation reveals different approaches to the same fundamental challenge: proving lighting's essential value.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Conference introduction and methodology - hosts Avi Mor and Lisa Reed explain their on-location recording approach at IES conference in Anaheim, using consistent questions across multiple lighting professionals

• (02:41) Violet Estes from Cantara Design - integration specialist bridging lighting design and home automation, discussing control systems and the challenge of maintaining design integrity through installation

• (11:46) Nick Albert from Chromatic Lighting Design - architectural lighting designer's perspective on the universal application of lighting principles and Light Equity nonprofit initiative for LA wildfire reconstruction

• (26:32) Shoshana Segal from Hartranft Lighting Studios - advocating for quality lighting as a universal entitlement, moving beyond lighting industry echo chambers to educate broader audiences

• (45:08) Paige Donnell from SmithGroup - integrated firm lighting designer discussing internal advocacy challenges, value engineering versus value maintenance, and building connectedness through light

• (57:49) Paul Gregory from Focus Lighting - newly inducted IES Fellow sharing 45 years of experience, the art of creating emotional memories through lighting, and client education strategies

• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.

• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:
Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:
Violet Estes, Senior Lighting Designer, Cantara Design, http://cantaradesign.com/
Nick Albert, Principal, Chromatic, http://wearechromatic.com/
Shoshana Segal, Principal, Hartranft Lighting Studios, http://hartranftlighting.com/
Paige Donnell, Principal, SmithGroup, http://smithgroup.com/
Paul Gregory, President & Founder, Focus Lighting, http://focuslighting.com/
Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/
Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w
Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/
Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/
Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/
Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

Watch on YouTube

Why are expensive light fixtures often the wrong choice for better spaces?

Margaret Cavenagh, Managing Director at Perkins & Will Chicago, discusses her evolution from residential lighting basics to managing complex architectural lighting at a global firm. Drawing from 20 years at Studio Gang and recent transition to Perkins & Will's 2,500-person practice, she explores budget-conscious lighting strategies and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Cavenagh emphasizes that "it doesn't have to be expensive to still have high quality impact" when discussing cost-effective approaches to architectural lighting. The conversation covers circadian rhythm standards, restaurant lighting psychology, and maintenance considerations. Her perspective on integrating lighting designers early in the process rather than at design development reveals how strategic thinking prevents costly mistakes in educational and healthcare projects.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) From Studio Gang to Perkins & Will

• (08:28) Early lighting discoveries in residential projects

• (13:14) When to bring in a lighting designer

• (24:05) Why expensive fixtures aren't always the answer

• (30:14) Selling lighting design to skeptical clients

• (39:46) Circadian rhythm standards changing building design

• (47:30) Restaurant lighting psychology and profit

• (53:15) Cross-disciplinary design and acoustics

• (57:33) White tuning technology revolution

• (1:04:00) Favorite illuminated spaces and inspiration

• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.

• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:
Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:
Margaret Cavenagh margaret.cavenagh@perkinswill.com
Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/
Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w
Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/
Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/
Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/
Morlights https://www.morlights.com/

Watch on YouTube

"If someone would say we have $1 million for finishes but no lighting designer, or $600,000 with a lighting designer - I choose that second one every day of the week." - Karen Herold

Interior designer Karen Herold of Studio K joins hosts Lisa and Avi for an in-depth discussion about the critical relationship between interior design and lighting. With 25 years in hospitality design, Herold shares insights from her work with notable restaurateurs and her philosophy that "lighting makes or breaks every project." The conversation explores how lighting creates emotional environments, the challenge of selling lighting design services to clients, and innovative approaches like rechargeable table lamps changing traditional restaurant lighting strategies. Herold emphasizes the collaborative nature of successful projects, stating "if you don't light it correctly, you might as well not design it" - echoing Steve Wynn's design philosophy that has guided her career from Vegas casinos to mountain resorts.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) From fashion to hospitality design

• (05:25) Why lighting makes or breaks every project

• (11:27) Restaurant design challenge: layering light between tables and the ceiling

• (13:09) Selling lighting design services to skeptical clients

• (16:12) Rechargeable lamps are changing restaurant lighting strategies completely

• (24:18) Building client trust through clear boundaries and expertise

• (26:28) Bridging the knowledge gap with better visual tools

• (34:15) Training junior designers and continuing education importance

• (39:42) Beyond restaurant: lighting that reduces the need for expensive finishes

• Would you be interested in sponsoring our podcast? Reach out to us.

• Share your thoughts, comments, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:
Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:
Karen Herold http://www.studiokcreative.com/
Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/
Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w
Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/
Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com/
Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/
Morlights https://www.morlights.com/