Lighting Matters

Why does museum lighting deliver 10x ROI compared to other exhibit elements? 
 
AJ Goehle, CEO of Luci, and Kevin Snow, lighting and set designer, discuss the critical role of theatrical lighting in museum exhibit design. The Chicago-based firm has grown from 2 to 52 team members since 2011, creating immersive visitor experiences across history museums, science centers, ...

Hosts Avi Mor and Lisa Reed take the Lighting Matters podcast on location to the IES conference in Anaheim, conducting rapid-fire interviews with five leading lighting professionals. The episode explores how lighting designers advocate for their profession across different practice models - from integration firms to nonprofits to global studios. Violet Estes of Cantara Design discu...

Why are expensive light fixtures often the wrong choice for better spaces? 
 
Margaret Cavenagh, Managing Director at Perkins & Will Chicago, discusses her evolution from residential lighting basics to managing complex architectural lighting at a global firm. Drawing from 20 years at Studio Gang and recent transition to Perkins & Will's 2,500-person practice, she...

 "If someone would say we have $1 million for finishes but no lighting designer, or $600,000 with a lighting designer - I choose that second one every day of the week." - Karen Herold 
 
Interior designer Karen Herold of Studio K joins hosts Lisa and Avi for an in-depth discussion about the critical relationship between interior design and light...

"No amount of photometric studies is gonna tell you how it's actually gonna perform until you actually see it at 10 o'clock at night." - Rob Reuland 
 
Avi Mor of Mor Lights and Lisa Reed of Reed Burket Lighting Design reflect on their first year hosting Lighting Matters, outlining their evolved mission to advocate for lighting design as the fourth essential...

 "No amount of photometric studies is gonna tell you how it's actually gonna perform until you actually see it at 10 o'clock at night." - Rob Reuland 
 
What happens when someone starts taking out trash at 17 and becomes a principal at one of Chicago's leading landscape architecture firms? Rob Reuland from Site Design Group joins ho...

"A 50,000-hour fixture, if it's on 24/7, like in many municipal buildings or hospitals…it won't even last six years." - Anne Kustner-Haser 
 
Anne Kustner Haser, President of AKLD Lighting Design joins hosts Lisa Reed and Avi Mor to tackle the urgent challenge of lighting maintainability in an industry where "lifetime" LEDs often fail within years. Drawing f...

Why are architects who collaborate with lighting designers winning more ambitious clients? 
 
Architect Michael Byrd of Core10 Architecture in St. Louis shares his journey from skeptic to advocate for professional lighting design. "We bought an existing firm and thought we knew everything," he admits. Yet as projects grew more ambitious, his team discovered critical blin...

Why are 90% of lighting designers making a critical mistake by not designing the control systems for their projects? 
 
Tune in as Avi Mor and Lisa Reed speak with Brett Andersen and Kenny Schutz of Focus Lighting. What sets them apart? Their innovative business model combining design with procurement expertise. Both Brett and Kenny trace their paths from theatrical ligh...

How did the Smithsonian cut lighting energy usage by 80% while actually improving visibility and preservation? 
 
Tune in as Avi Mor and Lisa Reed speak with Scott Rosenfeld, lighting designer at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery. Scott shares his 30-year journey from theater lighting to museum environments, revealing how he "handcrafts" light for 5...

What makes lighting designers "psychotically passionate" about their work when they're constantly battling value engineering? 
 
In this episode, Avi Mor and Lisa Reed speak with Katherine Stekr, CLD, IALD, MIES, EDAC, LEED AP BD+C, Founder + Principal, STEK Design. Their conversation explores the unique position of lighting designers as visual professionals alongside ar...

Have you ever wondered how the vibrant and competitive architectural landscape of Dubai influences global lighting design trends? Discover the secrets from Lisa Reed's experience at the Light Middle East Conference! 
 
In this episode, Avi Mor and Lisa Reed dive deep into the world of lighting design, sparked by Lisa's recent trip to the Light Middle East Conference in D...

How does the lighting industry foster a unique sense of community, and what lessons can we learn from its collaborative environment despite competition? 
 
In this episode, Avi Mor and Lisa Reed welcome lighting designer and podcast host Rachel Fitzgerald CLD, LC, IALD, IES, LEED AP BD+C. Rachel shares her 21-year journey through the lighting design world - from childhoo...

In this episode, Avi Mor and Lisa Reed chat with Giulio Pedota, IALD, LC, LEED AP,  and Principal at Schuler Shook. Giulio shares his fascinating journey from computer programming in Venezuela to becoming a renowned figure in architectural lighting design. Giulio, Avi and Lisa discuss the unique blend of art and technology required in lighting design. From the irreplaceable experti...

In this episode, Avi Mor and Lisa Reed have a captivating discussion with Richard Wyton of Louvers International. As a veteran of the lighting industry, Richard shares his expansive career journey, along with perspectives on the evolution of lighting design. Can passion and historical knowledge help drive innovation within the field? The discussion covers the rise of LED technology...

Curious about how modern lighting design blends technological advancements with historical elements? Discover how the St. Louis Arch's evolving lighting designs tell a story of innovation and tradition in our latest episode.

Avi Mor and Lisa Reed celebrate nearing 500 followers of the Lighting Matters podcast, and refle...

How did Brittany Lynch's unique upbringing under Montana's starry skies shape her passion for sustainable lighting design and advocacy against light pollution? 

In this episode, hosts Avi Mor and Lisa Reed welcome Brittany Lynch, Assoc. IALD, LC, and Senior Designer II for Clanton & Associates. Brittany shares her transformative journey from a child fa...

In this episode, hosts Avi Mor and Lisa Reed share their personal career journeys and insights. Avi Mor, founder of Mor Lights, and Lisa Reed, Principal and CEO of Reed Burkett Lighting Design, explore how Avi’s theatrical background informs his innovative approaches in architectural settings. Avi and Lisa discuss the challenges and triumphs of their indus...

What are the hidden secrets behind the successful collaboration and mentorship in the lighting design industry? 

In this episode, hosts Lisa Reed and Avi Mor are joined by Thomas Paterson, IALD, Director, Lux Populi SA de CV. Lux Populi is an architectural and artwork lighting design consultancy, based in Mexico, with clients throughout the world. In our c...