By Randy Reid | Euroluce 2025, Milan
Lighting as a Foundation of Human Experience
The “Light for Life” Round Table at Euroluce 2025 delivered a compelling and multidisciplinary conversation on the evolving role of lighting in human well-being, sustainability, and design. Moderated by Ed Stocker, the panel featured astronomer Piero Benvenuti, lighting consultant Shelley James, DPA Lighting’s Nicholas Belfield, and lighting designer Rogier van der Heide.
Light for Life Panel Discussion at Euroluce 2025 as part of the Salone del Mobile.Milano
From the outset, the panel framed light as more than a design tool. It is a fundamental aspect of human experience. Benvenuti opened with a historical perspective. “We knew how light behaved long before we understood what it was,” he said. The scientific turning point came in the 1860s with James Clerk Maxwell’s discovery of light’s electromagnetic nature.
“That discovery opened a new window into the universe,” Benvenuti continued. “We could now analyze the light of stars to understand their chemical composition. Astronomy became astrophysics.”
Shelley James Makes a Point about how Light Affects the Brain
The Human Body and Light
Shelley James followed with a personal account, revealing how a head injury led her to discover light’s deep impact on the brain. “Every single cell in your body is responding to light,” she said. “About 30% of the calories from your lunch are burned processing visual information. And it starts in the womb.”
James promotes science-based lighting as both essential and achievable. “Natural light is the gold standard,” she noted. “But we now know how to tune artificial light to mimic its effects. We can program systems to deliver the right wavelengths at the right times, helping people sleep better, heal faster, and live healthier lives.”
Designing Emotional Experiences with Light
Offering a designer’s view, Rogier van der Heide emphasized the emotional resonance of light. “I’m interested in how light becomes an experience,” he said. While designing a museum facade in Saudi Arabia, he became fascinated with how glass modulates light. “I don’t need to know everything about the science—but I work with people who do. The goal is to create something meaningful.”
Van der Heide shared a case from a hospital in Groningen, Netherlands. “We installed dynamic lighting in the ICU to mimic natural daylight cycles. Patients left the ICU a full day earlier, on average. That’s not just cost-saving. That’s life-saving.”
Balancing Science and Practicality
Nicholas Belfield brought a more grounded lens. “We often skim the surface of lighting science,” he admitted. “Our work is driven by how people emotionally respond in a space.” However, he agreed that science is becoming more relevant, especially with circadian lighting and tunable white LEDs.
“We’re not just trying to wake people up in offices anymore,” he said. “Now we’re designing lighting for recovery, relaxation—even for elite athletes managing jet lag. One client had ‘light recipes’ to speed up recovery times.”
James agreed, adding, “It’s not rocket science. We’ve been doing this for 18 years. The technology is here and affordable. We just need to use it more intentionally.”
Ethics, Ecology, and Excess
The discussion turned naturally to lighting ethics: how much light is enough—and when is it too much? Benvenuti spoke from an astronomer’s viewpoint: “We are wasting energy and obliterating the night sky with unnecessary lighting. We must consider all life, not just human life.” Van der Heide supported a broader perspective. “We need to light cities for all forms of life, not just people,” he said. “Especially in outdoor spaces, the impact of overlighting is enormous.” Belfield added, “We’re getting better at dimming facades and landscapes. But we’re still addicted to lighting trees. Clients always want them lit, even when alternatives look too festive or informal.” James called for a systems-thinking approach. “If you dimmed a city’s lights by 10% across the board, people wouldn’t even notice. But the impact on energy use and light pollution would be dramatic.”
Standards, Simplification, and Smart Regulation
The panel also addressed conflicting lighting standards. “WELL wants bright, uniform light. LEED wants energy savings. It’s hard to meet both,” said Belfield. Van der Heide urged for simpler guidelines. “These codes are too complex for most people to apply. Let’s make the information accessible so even non-specialists can make informed choices.” James agreed, but added caution. “Let’s avoid unintended consequences. We need baselines and zones. Otherwise, we risk losing quality in the name of efficiency.”
A Call for Education
A recurring theme was the need for better lighting education. “Most electricians are poorly trained in lighting design,” James noted. “They just install whatever’s in the van.” Van der Heide echoed this concern, “Most architects don’t receive proper lighting education. That has to change.”
The Power and Responsibility of Light
In a world shaped by evolving technology, rising energy demands, and health awareness, “Light for Life” offered a powerful reminder: illumination is about more than visibility. It influences how we live, heal, feel, and connect.
“It’s a big subject,” van der Heide concluded, “but that’s what makes it so beautiful. We’re just beginning to understand the power of light.” Rather than closing with answers, the session ended with an invitation—to think more deeply, design more thoughtfully, and illuminate more responsibly.
Katia Kolovea of Archifos asks a question of panelist Rogier van der Heide
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