The 2024 IESNYC Student Lighting Competition recently concluded, naming Evan Wu from Pratt Institute as the Grand Prize winner for his project “Taiwan Blvd.” The competition, held during the LEDucation Trade Show and Conference on March 19th, showcased the talents of over 165 students from design colleges across the city. This year’s theme, “Proximal Light,” prompted participants to explore how light contributes to intimacy in our increasingly digital world. From bustling night markets to urban skylines, students presented innovative projects that captured the essence of proximal light and its ability to foster meaningful connections.
Among the notable entries were “Castles in the Cloud” by Thalia Lee and “Chromatic Connections” by Jude Fox, both from Pratt Institute, securing second and third place respectively. Honorable mentions went to outstanding designs like “Infinite Unity” by Mohammad Valizadeh Alvan from Parsons The New School for Design, and “S-LIFE” by Huien Yin from New York School of Interior Design. The competition’s diversity of ideas and creativity reflected the vibrant spirit of emerging lighting designers. View all submissions here