Motivation
Perth, 2nd November 2012
Motivation is a crucial driver in our line of work. Without motivation (and passion) it would be hard to keep it up as you deal with the ups and downs along the way to success. You learn from the “downs”, you get motivated and stimulated by the “ups”. I had a great “up” day today. I spending the morning with the project team mapping out the necessary forward actions for the façade lighting of a heritage project, which needs to comply within stringent guidelines for energy consumption, light emission and budgets. Design is not only about creating something beautiful, the challenge lies in being able to meet all criteria that make up a great creative, sustainable and affordable solution that everyone will enjoy and appreciate. Everyone was focussed and we made great progress.
In the afternoon I had my biggest “up”, a client who went into bat for me with his board of management because he strongly believed we were the better team for the job. His board of management and shareholders had been recommending another company. Now this is about helping a hotel convert from conventional to LED lighting technology to meet the new sustainability guidelines said by the operators head office. As lighting designers we deal continuously with the so called “green” consultants who do everything and nothing when it comes to sustainability. We face them continuously and have already lost many battles. The point however is that these consultants don’t understand the (human) design element (mood/ ambiance/ occupational health and safety) of lighting, they are just number crunchers. So to find a client who could really appreciate that when it comes to converting to sustainable lighting they should engage a lighting designer and NOT a green consultant or a lighting supplier was a great kick. It is great to see that when it comes to creating sutainable lighting solutions more and more clients realise that listening to these people will not get them anywhere!
Light Watch 3-170: Here is some motivation for your weekend, a novel way to get people excited! A great add created by French company Contrex, producers of mineral water. Check out the Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=yEH4Yum4nN4 or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNBWhQ2A1ns
Nano technology
Perth, 1st November 2012
Arrived in Perth today after a little bomb scare at the airport…turned out to be false alarm, just an “abandoned” suitcase. But enough to get the full bomb squad out in force and close down the airport! How different times we live in these days!
While we are yet to reach full potential with LED lighting technology, a new (lighting?) technology is already on its way; carbon fibre nano-technology. This will be the new buzz word of the next 10 years…nano technology. I don’t know too much about it but I recently saw one of those programs on BBC Knowledge or similar TV program explaining the opportunities and benefits of this new technology. As the name implies it is unbelievably “nano”…very,very tiny. As my knowledge on this subject is limited I may not word it totally correct…bare with me 🙂
One of the current researches focusses on channelling light (by compressing the photons by about 100 times) through carbon fibre nano tubes. These nano tubes could replace what we now know as photo voltaic solar cells. The nano technology would allow you to only have tiny spots of “photo voltaic cells” rather than a whole roof full of (silicon) solar panels as we see today. This is also likely to be far less expensive then today’s solar panels which on top of that have limited lifespan and very long ROI’s. These little nano receptors would be about 10 micrometers long (1 millionth of a meter…wow!) and 4 micrometers thick. That little receptor would have about 30 million carbon nano fibres or tubes.
The interesting thing for lighting is that this nano fibre technology is not only able to conduct energy, receiving and transporting energy like for solar panels, but also able to emit energy in the form of light. Specifically in combination with the LED technology there are great expectations. Where LED technology “ends” and nano technology “starts” I don’t really know, but I understand that nano fibre technology is already part of the latest LED developments, specifically in the optical properties of LED’s. Interesting… I hope to share more about this in future blogs.
Light Watch 3-169: Nano technology
Light Talk now as E-Book
Singapore, 31st October 2012
“Light Talk, A year in the life of light” is now available as a PDF download.
Following many requests from friends and colleagues in the lighting industry, I have decided to make my book also available as a PDF download. With the Kindles and Ipads these days many like the convenience of carrying e-books rather then its (heavy) countrpart…so here it is. The hard copy still remains available for purchase (there are still many like me who prefer the real thing!). If after reading the softcopy you still would like to purchase the hard copy, you will only be charged the difference for the hard copy. We have introduced the download and buy button on the side of the blog, hopefully it all works well. After your payment is approved you should be able to download the PDF file. If you have any problems do let me know I will make sure you will get the soft copy.
For an “old school” lighting designer like me going paperless, digital with “soft copies” is still quite and adaptation process. While our kids are growing up in this electronic age (nowadays you can’t even do your school home work if you don’t have a computer, let alone access to search engines like Google) and find the availability of E-books, social networks and the like the most normal thing in the world, my generation is still slowly getting used to life without hand drawing plans or reading hard copy books. But truth be told, I do start to enjoy my Ipad and the ease of access to cyberspace at a touch while on the go. Having all your project plans and documents in your Ipad while on site safes you the trouble of carrying files of documents and site plans!
Light Watch 3-168: Proof that our lives are moving to a virtual, intelligent and wireless world is Philips latest offering just announced, called Hue, a web-enabled LED home lighting system that lets the consumer control and play with lighting through a free mobile app downloadable on your Iphone or Ipad. In an interesting move the Hue light bulbs are initially sold exclusively through Apple stores. See a short video or visit http://www.meethue.com/en-US
LED’s speed of development
Singapore, 30th October 2012
One of our great challenges as lighting designers in this age of LED technology is to keep up with the rapid developments. What you specify today maybe obsolete tomorrow and certainly with some projects running over a period of several years keeping abreast of what will be available soon is becoming a key part of our job. While I was not able to visit the Hong Kong Light Fair which closes its doors today, I heard from some colleagues visiting the fair that this year, more than ever, is about LED’s and LED’s. With the rapid pace of the LED developments it is becoming imperative to visit these fairs and have continuous interaction with your suppliers and manufacturers. They will be the first to knock on your door with new products, so my advice is keep your doors open and make time to meet them as it is becoming a near impossible task to personally chase after anything that might be new!
In our daily design work this means that we need to hold on to our specifications as long as possible and only release the technical specification at the very last possible moment in the project’s construction schedule. That creates a number of challenges if you need to provide dimensions and want to log in locations, quantities and budgets…it is bound to change along the way! With increasing performances (I was told some time ago) that on average performances increase with at least 10% a year and prices for the same decrease with about 10% a year, we need to keep vigilant! I would not be surprised if these figures are understated…
Light Watch 3-167: Light Therapy has been around for quite a while. But with LED technology developing at such a speed, new opportunities are popping up at rapid pace. A Dutch coffee joint, Bagels & Beans is offering a novelty…light therapy while having a coffee or a bite. The coffee, bagel and “light” combo includes 15 minutes of light therapy. In Northern countries days are short in the winter and some additional light therapy is a good alternative to combat the lack of daylight. The Luminette is developed by Lucimed. Here are some photo’s and a link to a short video to give you a feel. 🙂
Staying in control
Singapore, 29th October 2012
Surprisingly I am still in Singapore, though I was supposed to be in Mumbai the next few days to commission one of our hotel projects. Unexpected safety issues on site and festive activities (run up to Deepavali) seems to have created delays to the extent it was judged by the client it be better for me to postpone my visit till a time my presence would be more effective. I can understand that, but to call at the eleventh hour, literally (I received the cancellation message late on Saturday night, is cutting it very thin, I had already checked in on line! So I find myself with some unexpected additional days in Singapore…
And as always in our profession there is never a dull moment! Sometimes they are exciting, sometimes they are unexpected, sometimes they are plain frustrating. Today I had a cocktail of all of these, but it is the unexpected and frustrating one that I want to highlight as it something that happens a lot. In our design process we deal with manufacturers, mostly with the principal office directly, to work out the best light fitting specifications for our lighting concept. While there are no guarantees in life we will generally support the specification throughout as it will assure we will be able to deliver the lighting effects we are after. But clients being clients, they will often try to find “cheaper” ways to get the same results, regardless whether we have proposed the best value for money. So from that perspective I can understand that manufacturers/ suppliers want to make sure they ”secure” their time and efforts, we all do. But what I cannot stand if it is done behind your back and without consultation, which what I found out happened in one project.
However the architect duly informed us as well as the client who requested predictably that any design discussions on lighting should be carried out under our direction and in our presence. Direct approaches like that muddy the waters and only create confusion between the parties. It is imperative for a good result that we remain in control of the design process at all times 🙂
Light Watch 3-166: Talking about control and measures…Google seems to be one of those companies in total control of everything they do. We can hardly imagine life without Google these days, we use it all the time…they recently opened the doors and showed the media around their nerve centre…fascinating and colourful 🙂
The buck stops with me
Singapore, 25-26th October 2012
Today is a public holiday in Singapore (Hari Raya Haji) so I am taking it easy, great time to tidy up lots of little things that had been lingering around as the rest of the team is enjoying a long weekend…no distractions! This week has really been about standing up for what I believe, both in design as well as in management. Running your own company has the added responsibility that the buck stops with you. I have no-one to pass it on to, so I have to own up or take responsibility; for the good of the company, for the good of the team, for the good the future.
It is not always easy to stand your ground as we deal with people having all sizes of ego’s, from hardly noticeable to plain in your face! Professionalism remains the key to dealing with all of them. On design issues it is for me generally quite straight forward…I know my stuff and I know when a client or other team member has a point, I will be the first to acknowledge. But I can’t appreciate the grandstanding that some egomaniacs project to show off. Specifically client representatives and architects who believe they are “God”. The best results are always achieved in team spirit where everyone respects each other and each-others expertise and skills. Ok, of course you have to earn respect first, but generally we are in a job because of the respect and name we have earned along the way.
Generally it comes back to me to deal with these “situations”, design issues with the project team, administration issues (generally payment :)) with the client. I can’t always just let it sit there as if I don’t stand up and clarify our position they will walk over you the next time. Often it is about setting the boundaries of the relationship…the buck stops with me.
Light Watch 3-165: Sydney is currently running its annual Sculptures by The Sea event, where selected artists from around the world have their artworks displayed along a trail that runs through several of Sydney’s famous beaches. Sydney Morning Herald’s photographer Peter Rae went out one early morning to catch the artworks at sunrise. In this day and age where the use of daylight is crucial in any design, a great inspiration to relax over the weekend!
Up or down?
Singapore, 24th October 2012
There are many ways to skin a cat, or so goes the expression isn’t it? Likewise in lighting there is more then one solution to a lighting problem. I am currently discussing a courtyard lighting concept with a landscape consultant. Though I have never worked with them before, they seem to be quite well known. Isn’t it funny that time and again you “discover” companies that have been active in your field of work for donkey years and you had never heard of them before…?
Now I have worked with many landscape consultants over the years, some better than others, some more involved in the lighting concept than others. So it is quite normal to me to find a landscape consultant with some firm ideas about the lighting concept. No issues there. They generally leave it to us to work out the specifics and help then realise and define the overall concept and details. The brief we got from them was a general planting plan showing the proposed tree locations, footpaths, planter beds, etc. and some mood images showing the intended lighting effect they were after. The images clearly show a lighting technique we call “moonlighting” where lights are placed high up in the trees shining back to the ground to re-create the effect of moonlight. The effect produces interesting shadow patterns through its leaves and branches.
So we set of to work on the landscape design planning and selecting lights to achieve the desired effect. We then submitted that to the landscape consultant for review and coordination. To our surprise we got the feedback that we had it all wrong and that we needed to up light the trees! I double checked whether the mood images were still relevant as they may have changed their mind, but no the mood images were correct and we needed to up light the trees to achieve it! Now I have been in lighting more than 30 years and I know a moon light effect when I see one! The landscape consultant insists we have it wrong but I won’t budge because I know that moon lighting is the only way to achieve the effects shown in the mood image. Why can’t they leave it to the (lighting) expert? I am not commenting on whether the trees are right or wrong, that is their expertise! 🙂
Light Watch 3-164:Here are some up lighting and moon (down) lighting examples…see the difference for your self
My way or the highway
Singapore, 23rd October 2012
Dealing with inflexible and ego-centred people can be pretty frustrating when you are trying to move forward in a project. They come in all form and functions! Today was one of those days were I had to deal with a few proponents of the “my way or the highway” approach. In some cases you cannot always do it your way and need to contemplate whether to take the highway (and pay the toll!).
The first today was a client who did not want to budge on a previously agreed contract. In that contract we had agreed and stipulated the amount of tax that we would absorb as part of our fees. However as they prepared to pay our appointment fees it turned out the tax to be paid on the fees was higher, about 10% more than anticipated. So now the client wants us to absorb the difference. This I refused as we had already given a substantial discount on the fees. He, from his side, had logged in the fee amount with the board of management so it may well be that we will have to take the highway.
Other frequent my way/ high way situations occur in design concepts. We have one going on right now with a landscape consultant. They have a certain lighting concept in mind they feel will best fit their design. From my assessment and long experience I know it will not work so (as the lighting consultant!) I have advise a different path. I will stick to my guns and have expressed to the client that I will not take responsibility for their approach. They may sent me to the highway, but I will not pay the toll 🙂
Another situation today was again about money. We generally invoice progressively in accordance to work done, but some “difficult” clients or project managers come with the line that they can only pay when the work of a certain stage is completed. We all know that stages generally not move sequentially and that some parts may still be in conceptual stages and others in design development. So we invoice progressively to keep up with the work progress. Surely the client does not want us to wait with issuing our work till we have completed all work in that stage! I think on this one it will most likely be my way 🙂
Light Watch 3-163: Following on my stones from yesterday here is some every day (light) inspiration from Italy…
Stones
Singapore, 22nd October 2012
No, not the Rolling Stones…my subject are the actual stones. As lighting designers we have to deal with all kinds of materials in the spaces we design for. Stone is one of them. I never knew there are so many different kind of stones, in fact just like lighting, there are actually “stone” fairs where major stone producers exhibit their latest stone designs. For us lighting designers there 3 major material characteristics that have an important influence on the way we apply our lighting. Recently I was shown some of the latest stones originating from the land of the stones…Italy.
The first characteristic that has a lot of influence on how we appreciate stones with lighting is the reflective capacity of the stone. The more the stone is polished the higher the reflection factor. This of course creates a high probability of reflective glare. The darker the colour, the more mirror-like the effect. It can be so strong that the reflection totally dominates the actual stone itself! I often have to advise the interior designer about the potential effects of certain highly polished stone selections. Moderate application and clever location of lights will go a long way. With lights generally located in the ceiling it is not difficult to understand that specifically floor finishes need a thoughtful selection in this respect.
Another key characteristic is the structure of the stone finish. Groves, indents or protruding wave patterns, mosaic’s worked into the stone surface can create very interesting plays of light and shadow, specifically when applied on vertical surfaces with a grazing light. It is a favourite application for me as it allows light to reveal the patterns of the stone together with sometimes unexpected shadow forms.
But one of the most interesting features that a stone can have is its translucency, it’s ability to let light through. Some stones have certain transparency that makes it an interesting material in combination with light. The various colours and patterns, together with light, using the back lighting technique can make for some interesting effects. One of the main issues when back lighting transparent stones is to make sure it is not “set in stone” in other words that the light is still accessible for maintenance! 🙂
Light Watch 3-162: See here some manufactured stones with their reflections, patterns and transparency.
Integrity
Singapore, 19th October 2012
Now here is a touchy subject for you. Today’s subject of integrity is triggered by the fall from grace of Lance Armstrong, a sporting cycling hero that many around the world have admired and looked up to for his achievements. Only now, after the damaging 1000 page report issued by the USADA, evidence of his drug taking seems so strong and overwhelming, that it is really hard to believe and imagine that we have all literally been taken for a ride! And they can’t even award his titles to any other rider as nearly all riders in the top 10 classifications of the 7 Tour de Frances he won have been convicted or banned from the sport for drug taking as well…phewww.
Integrity in our profession is a sticky issue as many designers have commercial or personal interests in some way or another. Being truly and fully independent can be a tough call at times. Commercial benefits aside, we generally like to deal with and help our friends in the business as we like to deal with people we know, people we trust. Does that mean we are not in integrity when we go about selecting our light fittings, manufacturers or suppliers? As long as our choices and decisions are based on professional and verifiable grounds I think our recommendations are in integrity. We have developed our preferences over time, with proven solutions and reliable people behind those solutions, so as long as the choices do not represent a conflict of interest, we are in integrity.
Sometimes you can sense conflicts a mile away. In a project a few years ago I was presenting my light fitting selections to the client only to find myself “attacked” by the architect. He came with a story promoting another brand and supplier he had worked with and did everything possible to discredit my design and promote his “views”. He had obviously some personal interest in this brand/ supplier. Most of all he did not have any professional or light technical arguments to back up his stand, other than “past experience”. He lost the battle…
So the question beckons; do you stand strong by your principles and integrity, or do you join/condone in what seems to be perceived as the way to be successful in business at the cost of integrity? I think the answer, after all what has been exposed in the Armstrong case, is easy…
Light Watch 3-161: The Noche Zero event in Chili has come to an end, here are some initial pictures. More about this event may come to us in the coming times. Pics courtesy of Light Collective.
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