The Yale Center for British Art lets the (diffused) sunshine in New Haven, CT’s Yale Center for British Art (YCBA), home to the largest collection of British art outside the UK, reopened in March 2025 after a three-year renovation and a two-year closure. The institution includes a vast collection of 35,000 rare books and manuscripts…

Atypical design allows everyone to have fun at La Nube What were your childhood dreams? Flying high above your hometown in a homemade airplane? Exploring the depths of a mysterious cave? Becoming a rockstar? STEAM discovery center, La Nube, in downtown El Paso, TX, makes such ambitions more realistic for people of all ages, abilities,…

This class-of-2026 graduate student at Parsons School of Design discusses the impact of light as a constant amidst a changing landscape. Why light? I saw the power of intentional lighting in my own life and the potential it holds for people in public spaces. Through living in 11 cities, shifting skies, and unfamiliar streets, my…

The National Taiwan Museum of Comics writes its origin story Over the past century, comic books have become modern American myths, many of which include unforgettable origin stories: last son of a dying planet, a young boy motivated by the murder of his parents, a radioactive spider bite, brainwashed and trained as an assassin by…

Seeking clarity in lighting advocacy You hear it everywhere—at conferences and crossroads, on bar stools and Zoom calls, in Lyfts and Slack—the lighting industry, in all its facets, doesn’t advocate well. We’ve spent a lot of energy trying to find identity within the whole—maybe without realizing it, we’ve fractured some of our credibility and productivity…

A courtyard is central to Al Jamea-tus-Saifiyah University’s serenity Al Jamea-tus-Saifiyah University’s Nairobi campus stands as a testament to the seamless integration of historical inspiration and contemporary design. Drawing from the rich architectural heritage of the 10th-century Fatimid era, the campus design incorporates verdant gardens and tranquil spaces that promote relaxation and reflection. The central…

How 3-D-printed lighting overcomes traditional limitations The world of lighting design is undergoing a transformative shift thanks to the advent of 3-D printing technology (also known as additive manufacturing). This innovative technique is empowering designers to overcome traditional manufacturing limitations. The words “3-D printing” may evoke different thoughts depending on personal experience, but the leaders…

This designer at Hartranft Lighting Studios and B.U.I.L.D. president is working on creating a more sustainable and diverse lighting industry. Why light? I always joke about how I received my first pair of glasses so early in life—that it was the unintentional start of my lighting design journey because of how differently I viewed light…

The evolution of sports lighting Mention the topic of sports facilities and you are likely to hear a discourse on what amounts to evolution or, more specifically, the challenges of the industry and the way manufacturers have created products, and builders have developed methods, to ameliorate those issues. Examples include noise-reduction products and systems in…

The IES 2024 Illumination Award of Merit-earning Agnew K-12 Campus in Santa Clara, CA, uses evolving color schemes, architectural structures, and lighting design to foster STEM learning as well as cross-grade mentorship and social development. While bright tones like yellow signify elementary-aged children, deeper tones such as blue and green support more sophisticated teen learners.…

Readying next-generation caregivers For more than 155 years, St. John’s University has looked to St. Vincent de Paul for its inspiration and vision. While the patron saint of charity was more familiar with candlelight than LEDs and advanced lighting controls, he advised, “Make it a practice to judge persons and things in the most favorable…

Anticipation is high for the summer edition of the largest residential lighting show in the Western Hemisphere, with special emphasis on the event’s architectural lighting resources and a complimentary hotel offer for qualified new attendees. Dallas Market Center will host Lightovation June 18-21, offering 1 million square feet of permanent exhibits encompassing all interior and…

Addressing the question that ruins conversations Since I began advocating for natural darkness, there is one question that has been an incredible obstacle to awareness-creation, like a record scratching to a halt. This one question thwarts our collective thought process and subsequent understanding by immediately creating a lens of fear: Is more light safer? As…

What is the ideal human habitat? In our surveys, 90% of individuals identify natural landscapes as their preferred environments, free from any built structures. The remaining 10% favor outdoor areas with built elements like patios, surrounded by nature. Why? As the biophilia theory explains, we are not just intertwined with nature, we are nature. Human…

Light pollution’s impact on fireflies The rapid evolution of lighting technology over the past century has dramatically altered our nighttime environment, with significant consequences for nocturnal species. Among the most affected are fireflies, whose unique bioluminescent communication system is increasingly disrupted by artificial light at night (ALAN). This disruption poses a serious threat to firefly…