For the retail charrette, which took place in late January, the assignment was to create a lighting design for the redesigned Ferragamo flagship store on Fifth Ave. The store is large—20,000 square feet—and has a sleek and elegant style to match the luxury Italian brand. This Esquire blog post will give you a glimpse of the interior.

Before getting started on the design, we did some useful critiquing of existing spaces. We looked at the lighting concepts, fixtures used, design challenges and solutions for other retail store such as Vera Wang and Alessi flagships stores in Soho. We were also fortunate enough to have a guest speaker, Renee Joosten, Lighting Design Director at ICRAVE Design Studio, who showed us some of the retail projects she’s been working on and gave us some invaluable tips and techniques.

Armed with all of this information, I felt ready to tackle the project planned for the rest of the weekend! The list of deliverables to complete by 2pm on Sunday was long; we were asked to present a complete schematic design, which includes the client profile, design concept, an analysis of tasks and illumination needs, a rough illustrated plan, diagrammatic sketches, rendered perspective sketch and custom fixture opportunities.

I must say, seeing the to-do list left me a bit overwhelmed, but nothing could prepare me for the surge of energy I felt once I started working on this project and how much I was able to accomplish in a mere few hours! I love the schematic design phase of a project, especially researching the client and coming up with a lighting concept for the space. By the end of this intense weekend even I became a charrette believer. I had a solid direction and a concept for the Ferragamo store. Not bad for a weekend’s work!

Here’s an image (left) of the initial analysis of the light levels I wanted for the space. Using three colors, I developed the hierarchy for the space: each color represents a different level of light intensity: pink is the lowest, for ambient lighting; orange is the medium, for accenting most of the displays; and yellow is the highest level and is used for the more focal displays.

And here is my perspective study sketch (right) of lighting ideas and techniques. Using the same colors I assigned in my light level analysis, I applied different lighting techniques to see how it affects the space. In this sketch, I’m exploring the use of high-intensity spots to establish the importance of the mannequin display in this area, while secondary displays are backlit.

In the end, I chose the Ferragamo store for my capstone project (similar to a thesis project), and I’ve been working hard to refine and complete my design ever since. You can see the fruits of my labor at the upcoming thesis show, “MFA & MPS Spring 2012 Thesis and Capstone Projects,” which will be on view from May 17 – July 25^th at NYSID’s Graduate Center. Please come to the opening reception on Thursday, May 17, and have a chance to see not just my work but all the great projects from this year’s graduating class.

Liat Raz graduated from NYSID’s BFA program in 2002. She went on to work in the lighting industry, primarily for lighting manufacturers and distributors. In 2011, she returned to NYSID to get her MPS in Interior Lighting Design. She will be graduating in May.

Source: NYSID

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1 – Corso Misure dei sistemi LED per l’illuminazione
Data: 04 maggio 2012

II corso della durata di 8 ore è previsto per la giornata di venerdì 04
maggio 2012, viene realizzato anche grazie alla partecipazione di
Oxytech, Konica Minolta, con il patrocinio di AIDI e co-finanziato da
Regione Lombardia nell’ambito del progetto BANDO EFFICIENZA ENERGETICA
Linea di Intervento 1.1.1.1.B del POR FESR ID 13593284
Il corso è rivolto ai professionisti laureati e non laureati, tecnici di
laboratorio colorimetrico e/o fotometrico, produttori di apparecchi di
illuminazione, installatori, progettisti illuminotecnici che sono
interessati ai fondamenti inerenti le misure dei LED per
l’illuminazione. Per partecipare al corso è richiesta una conoscenza
base della fotometria. È previsto uno sconto del 15% per i soci AIDI.
Il corso si svolgerà presso il Laboratorio di Luce del Politecnico di
Milano.

2 – Risparmio Energetico nell’Illuminazione
Data: 5 e 6 giugno 2012
II corso della durata di 16 ore previsto per le giornate di martedì 5 e
mercoledì 6 giugno 2012, viene realizzato in collaborazione con il
Dipartimento di Energia del Politecnico di Milano, l’ente nazionale per
le nuove tecnologie, l’energia e lo sviluppo economico sostenibile
(ENEA), Hera, Green Building Council Italia, Philips, e con il
patrocinio di AIDI e UNRIC (nell’ambito dell’Anno per l’energia
sostenibile per tutti). Il Corso è inoltre cofinanziato da: Regione
Lombardia nell’ambito del progetto “BANDO EFFICIENZA ENERGETICA Linea di
Intervento 1.1.1.1.B del POR FESR ID 13593284”.
Il corso è rivolto ai professionisti laureati e non laureati, tecnici di
laboratorio, produttori di apparecchi di illuminazione, installatori,
progettisti illuminotecnici, Lighting designer che sono interessati alle
tematiche della sostenibilità e del risparmio energetico
nell’illuminazione sia negli ambienti esterni che negli ambienti
interni, attraverso l’analisi delle nuove sorgenti a stato solido e
delle nuove tecnologie per il controllo e la gestione degli impianti di
illuminazione. È previsto uno sconto del 15% per i soci AIDI.
Il corso si svolgerà presso il Laboratorio di Luce del Politecnico di
Milano.

Per informazioni contattare
Dr. Andrea Siniscalco +39.02.2399.5696
lab.luce@polimi.it www.luce.polimi.it

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1 – Course: Lighting LED System measuring
Date: 4th of May 2012
The 8 hours course, is scheduled for Friday 04 May 2012 and realized
thanks to the participation of Oxytech, Konica-Minolta and patronized by
AIDI (Italian Lighting Association). Co-funded by: Regione Lombardia in
the project “BANDO EFFICIENZA ENERGETICA Linea di Intervento 1.1.1.1.B
del POR FESR ID 13593284”.
The course is addressed to professional graduated and not,
photometric/colorimetric laboratory technicians, manufacturers,
installers and illuminating engineers. Basic knowledge of photometry, is
required to apply to the course. A 15% discount on the course will be
available for AIDI associates.
The course will take place at Laboratorio Luce of Politecnico di Milano.

2 – Course: Energy Saving in Lighting
Date: 5th June – 6th June 2012
The 16 hours course, is scheduled for Tuesday 05 and Wednesday 06 June
2012 and realized in cooperation with the Energy Department of
Politecnico di Milano, the National Agency for New technologies, Energy
and Sustainable Economic Growth (ENEA), Hera, Green Building Council
Italy, Philips, and patronized by AIDI (Italian Lighting Association)
and UNRIC (in the frame of the Year of sustainable energy for all).
Co-funded by: Regione Lombardia in the project “BANDO EFFICIENZA
ENERGETICA Linea di Intervento 1.1.1.1.B del POR FESR ID 13593284”.
The course is addressed to professional graduated and not, laboratory
technicians, manufacturers, installers and illuminating engineers,
lighting designers that are interested in themes of sustainability and
energy saving in interiors and exteriors, through the analysis of new
solid state light sources and technologies for the control and
management of light systems.
A 15% discount on the course will be available for AIDI associates.
The course will take place at Laboratorio Luce of Politecnico di Milano.

For information, contact:
Dr. Andrea Siniscalco +39.02.2399.5696
lab.luce@polimi.it - www.luce.polimi.it

LIGHTFAIR® INTERNATIONALis the premier event for the lighting industry, connecting innovative design, cutting-edge style, state-of-the-art technology, and continuing education courses.  LFI® provides a forum for lighting manufacturers to connect with industry professionals from around the world.  You simply can’t afford to miss this event!

LIGHTFAIR continues to yield record-breaking attendance and is ranked among an elite list of trade shows and conferences showing growth in 2009, 2010 & 2011.  LIGHTFAIR 2011 Philadelphia edition boasted its largest trade show floor in the history of the show with more than 200,000 net square feet to showcase nearly 500 exhibitors.

In 2012 the LFI Exhibit Hall will feature more than 475 domestic and international exhibitorscovering more than 170,000 square feet, including 4 unique pavilions, Building Integration, Global Light + Design, Daylighting and Design Pavilions.

Visit their website: www.lightfair.com

More than half of people in Britain can only see 10 or fewer of the brightest stars which lie within the distinctive Orion constellation, named after the mythological Greek hunter.

Experts said that 30 or more of the hundreds of stars which lie between Orion’s four bright corners, which represent the hunter’s arms and legs, ought to be visible from Britain on a dark night.

But a new survey found that only two per cent of people could see this amount, while more than one in ten was able to see little more than the three stars which make up his easily recognisable belt.

The “star count” survey was carried out to illustrate how Britain’s skies are being “contaminated” by unnecessary light from street lights and buildings despite attempts by councils to reduce excess light.

As well as robbing people of the chance to enjoy the beauty of the night sky, light pollution can also cause sleeping problems and threaten wildlife, researchers said.

Excess light at night can disorientate mammals like bats, prevent nocturnal birds like owls from hunting at night and delay the dawn chorus in birds that live in urban areas.

The new survey, carried out by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and the Campaign for Dark Skies (CfDS), was carried out by 981 volunteers during a week in February.

Orion, which lies over the equator and can be seen throughout the world, is one of the most easily recognisable constellations in the night sky.

From some prime stargazing locations like the Atacama Desert in South America hundreds of individual stars can be made out in between the four brightest points which mark the edges of the constellation, while from Britain on a dark night at least 30 should be visible.

But the survey found that 14 per cent of people could only see five or fewer stars, such as those which comprise the hunter’s famous belt, while another 39 per cent reported being able to spot between six and ten.

The results suggest that there has been no improvement in light pollution since similar surveys were carried out in 2007 and 2011, in spite of efforts by local authorities to tackle the problem by dimming or turning off some street lights at night.

Emma Marrington, CPRE Rural Policy Campaigner, said: “All too often we hear poor excuses for bad or excessive lighting. Of course we need the right, well-designed lighting in the right places – and some areas need to be lit for safety reasons – but there should not be a blanket assumption that glaring lights are needed.”

Bob Mizon, of CfDS, added: “Light pollution is a disaster for anyone trying to study the stars. It’s like a veil of light is being drawn across the night sky, denying many people the beauty of a truly starry night. Many children growing up today will never see the Milky Way; never see the unimaginable glory of billions of visible stars shining above them.”

via: The Telegraph

It really is a beautiful piece. I love that the idea builds on the concept of the toy planes that used to hang from our bedroom ceilings, but manages to turn them into something so wonderful-looking. It’s a real shame we had to crop the photo for the site, but you can see it in all it’s glory just below.

The artwork is currently on display as part of the ‘Fly to Baku‘ Contemporary Art Exhibition at the De Pury Gallery in London, UK. The exhibition aims to showcase the growing contemporary art scene of Azerbaijan and its capital, Baku. If it’s all this good, I’m ready to be impressed.

via: reddit

from jocundist

LuminAID Lab is proud to introduce the LuminAID light: a solar-rechargeable, inflatable lamp that packs flat and inflates to create a lightweight, waterproof lantern. Safe, sustainable, and portable, the LuminAID light provides up to six hours of LED light, ideal for disaster relief situations, recreational use outdoors, or in the home as an extra light source. Our mission: make light more affordable, sustainable, and available for everyone.

via: indiegogo.com

Daniel Libeskind’s eL Masterpiece chandelier is roughly nine feet tall and two-and-a-half feet wide. It weighs 350 pounds. A luminous, sharp-edged, cascading shape, the chandelier has a highly-polished stainless steel exterior and a stainless-and-23-carat-gold-plated-leaf interior.

Illumination is provided by 1,680 specially designed LED modules that have the ability to create seven color scenarios. The scenarios can be called up wirelessly via a special iPad app that activates individual built-in mechanisms attached to each module (LEDs are usually controlled by a single external mechanism).

via: dexigner

Follow this link for more info