In June we were pleased to attend a series of workshops as part of the LightFair Connect conference – which took place entirely online this year, due to COVID-19. As always, it was interesting to hear about the latest lighting trends and topics from industry experts.
There were a handful of themes and topics that stood out to us as particularly interesting and relevant, which we’ll keep a keen eye on and have summarized for you below.
1. 3D Printing
It was incredibly exciting to hear how 3D printing is now being used in the lighting world, thanks to innovations with additive manufacturing technology. This is a big deal because it opens up a world of possibility when it comes to experimentation and prototype creation by eliminating the huge costs associated with casting and set up. We suspect that smaller players will benefit the most from this development and that it will lead to some more innovative and cost-effective designs in the years to come.
2. Blue Light at Night
There’s lots of talk about avoiding blue light in the evenings – which was explored in detail in one very interesting session we attended. The overwhelming view of the three expert speakers was that the notion of blue-rich daytimes and blue-depleted evenings is backed by science and a very important factor to consider when lighting both indoor and outdoor spaces.
We were fascinated to learn that the benefits go far beyond sleep and regulating one’s circadian rhythm; blue light has been linked to medical conditions including cancer. Needless to say we’ll be keeping a close eye on this one – in the meantime, we advise you to prioritize blue light for daytime use and opt for warmer options (with a maximum of 2% blue light) for evening use.
3. Landscape Lighting Trends
Thanks to COVID-19, outdoor spaces have become more important than ever, which has propelled an increase in demand for outdoor lighting. Whether you’re selecting fixtures for a residential backyard oasis or commercial gathering space, there are several things to take into account including:
- Reflectiveness – light reflects differently off outdoor surfaces than it does indoor spaces, with the fact that living organisms – like trees and shrubbery – grow and evolve, adding an added layer of complexity and planning.
- Safety – how do we light staircases and entranceways to that people can transition through these spaces safely?
- Source – traditional sources are consistently being switched out for more efficient and lower-maintenance LEDs, but it’s important to note/remember that LEDs will have different beam patterns and characteristics than their traditional counterparts; as such it’s not a simple one-to-one ratio.
NSL offers versatile, attractive and cost-effective outdoor lighting options – including the LED Disc Light Dome, LED Step Star Gen II and LED Mini Disc Light. If you’d like to discuss these wayfinding options, or your broader lighting needs, we’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to reach one of our Sales Agents or Customer Service team members.
In business since 1988, National Specialty Lighting is proud to provide top-quality architectural and specialty lighting products for the American market – backed by unparalleled customer service.
