What I learned presenting at the IES conference

Speaking at industry events is such a blessing because I get to learn far more than I teach. The topic I talked about for the IES conference is one I am passionate about, and I was so pleased to hear how it resonated with others.

The most fun part of any talk for me is the discussion portion, my group was lively and pushed me to deepen my thinking on a subject I’ve been thinking about for years. Here are the three big takeaways I learned at the conference.

One audience member explained how she got her master's focusing on circadian lighting. She explained that she explained the concepts to her father, who had no background in lighting at all. When her mother was ill in the hospital and recuperating, her father moved her closer to the window every morning to help her get more natural light and regulate her rest. Her point was simple. Don’t assume non-lighting people are stupid or won’t get it.

Interior designers find ways to articulate design choices to non-designers. The concepts aren’t always tangible, but with patience, well-chosen visuals, and a common language, interior designers find ways to explain their ideas to non-designers. There’s no reason in our efforts to educate the public we can’t work to find visual examples and simple visual examples to make lighting less of a mystery.

Nothing ignites people more than seeing the passion of others. The IES conference is attended by people passionate about light and lighting design. We shouldn’t assume that our love for light won’t resonate with people who don’t also work in the field. You might be passionate about dark skies, color or controls, or art lighting or facades. Whatever gets you excited will likely get the people you’re connected to excited.