deLIGHTful Interactions: Designing Sustainable & Experimental Luminaires

The goal of this studio is to explore the design of sustainable experimental lighting fixtures—otherwise known as luminaires. We will first examine the unique interactions that occur between material and light by experimenting with a variety of sustainable materials (e.g., bio-based materials, found materials, waste materials) and light sources (e.g., incandescent bulbs, LEDs, natural light). We will then contextualize these interactions within a given space by designing and building luminaires. Lastly, we will discuss the impacts of lighting on human health, the environmental impacts of light pollution, the material impacts of lighting components when fixtures are disposed of, and how to address these impacts in fixture design. Ultimately, we aim to provide a hands-on space for participants to engage in lighting experimentation and share interdisciplinary practices across industrial and furniture design, materials and fabrication, lighting and electronics, control and interaction design, and sustainability.