IALD Enlighten Americas 2024: Light Justice Takes Center Stage
The IALD Enlighten Americas Conference at Rancho Bernardo Inn brought together lighting professionals to explore key issues in the industry. The event began with a focus on inclusion. Andrea Hartranft opened by assuring the audience they were in a safe space. Following her, Edward Bartholomew honored the native lands on which the event took place, recognizing the Luiseno, Cahuilla, Cupeno, Kumeyaay, and Northern Diegueño peoples.
Edward Bartholomew Discussing Light Justice at IALD Enlighten Americas
Exploring Social Justice in Lighting
Bartholomew, one of the few Black-owned lighting design firm leaders in the U.S., posed a crucial question: “What does social justice mean in our industry?” Attendees shared different ideas. One response was, “Lighting does not police communities.” Another designer mentioned the importance of “ethical manufacturing.” These perspectives set the tone for a discussion on how lighting design can shape equitable outcomes.
Advocating for Equity in Lighting
Bartholomew’s advocacy journey began in 2020 when he spoke at IALD about racism in the lighting industry, alongside Lisa Reed and Nelson Jenkins. This initial conversation led to more opportunities, eventually inspiring him to co-found BUILD—Black United in Lighting & Design. Today, BUILD has over 40 active members and aims to create a network for Black lighting professionals. Its goal is clear: to engage, educate, and empower the industry while driving forward real solutions. In addition to his role at BUILD, Bartholomew serves on the Nuckolls Fund for Education board and participates in the Department of Energy’s DEIR initiative. He is also part of the Lighting Advocacy Congress. He believes justice is both a noun and a verb, emphasizing that change requires action.
Light + Justice: Bringing Solutions to Underserved Communities
Along with Mark Loeffler, Bartholomew co-created the Light + Justice initiative. This effort seeks to ensure that lighting design benefits everyone, especially those in underserved areas. A powerful element of this initiative is conducting night walks, where participants see firsthand the effects of poor lighting in neglected communities. Bartholomew described a recent night walk in Boston’s Roxbury-Nubian Square. The walk began in a well-lit area near a library but soon led to darker, underserved spaces. “The lighting went from great to terrible in minutes,” he said. The city’s solution, layering more poor lighting to existing bad lighting, failed to address the real issue. Bartholomew also urged attendees to get involved in drafting the IES Recommended Practice for incarcerated spaces, highlighting the need for thoughtful lighting design in overlooked areas.
Lighting’s Impact on Vulnerable Communities
Neha Sivaprasad, Principal of Sol Light Studio, shared her work in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District. This area, known for high drug use and neglect, saw a transformation after new lighting was installed. Sivaprasad recalled one elderly resident saying the lighting made their run-down building “look like an opera house.” This story emphasized how even small changes in lighting can positively impact perceptions and community well-being.
Celebrating Lighting Design for Social Justice
Bartholomew ended by introducing the Light Justice NOW award, which will debut at LightFair and is sponsored by designing lighting (dl). This award will recognize lighting designs that benefit vulnerable and underserved communities. It’s the first of its kind in the industry, and Bartholomew hopes it will inspire similar awards in the future.
Looking Forward
The IALD Enlighten Americas Conference 2024 highlighted the critical role of lighting design in social justice. Through initiatives like BUILD and Light + Justice, Bartholomew and others are driving forward real change. They are encouraging the industry to embrace inclusion and make a positive impact on communities that need it most. For more information about BUILD and Light + Justice, visit buildlighting.org. You can watch my interview with Edward at Lighting + Building in Frankfurt earlier this year. Read about Andrea Hartranft’s Business Forum event.