The role of lighting in the space, there is no doubt that everyone knows its importance and has been learning various knowledge of lighting, such as how to design without main lights? How to create the lighting atmosphere of the space? Is there a poor landing effect does not match the design? What are the mistakes in lighting design? What are the requirements and specifications of a good space lighting?

In response to these questions, today we will talk about the following aspects about lighting design .

 1. Mistakes that designers often make in the application of lighting.

2. How to make an excellent lighting design?

3. The logic and process of lighting design.

Mistakes that designers often make in the application of lighting

Lighting is a relatively complex technical parameters of soft furnishing materials, visible light body, but difficult to control the light. The poor knowledge of lighting and the changing performance of lighting can lead us to step in the design of lighting, so what are the mistakes we have made in the light design?

The following 2 actual cases to show the mistakes often made in lighting design.

 1. The light was arranged too much.

This is a tea room space, the area is not large, but the top surface uses embedded downlights and track spotlights,  make the tea room space too bright, giving the psychological feeling of being rushed, not suitable for drinking tea and chatting.

This is a hotel, in the space lighting,the aisle as a transitional space,  do not need too bright , but be able to see clearly . The lamps designed in bedding area are also too much.

 2. Too bright lights

The lighting is too bright and too much light arrangement caused the space is too bright, the two concepts are different, one reason for the lighting is too bright，not considering the reflection coefficient of the whole space environment.

For example, in this pool space, there are not many lamps arranged, and because of the unreasonable position of the lamp design, while the wall stone and pool water are easy to reflect, causing the whole space is too bright and lose the atmosphere that the space should have.

3.Not fully consider the distribution of light

The lighting problem in this case is obvious, 1.color temperature of chinese style is recommended to choose 3000K/3500K, but the actual light belt selected is cold white light, 2. the main light and the overall space style do not match, 3.for the key areas lack of key lighting, can not form a visual focus, such as coffee tables, decorative cabinets, decorative paintings, etc. should be used to focus on lighting.

4.The lights are overly arranged

Lighting point arrangement, is also a frequent mistake, such as designers will be habitually mechanized to distribute the location of the lights, such as isometric distribution of lighting points, and did not consider the meaning and purpose of the actual light presence. It will cause the need to focus on the lighting of the area and the actual lighting position does not correspond.

We should think more about the purpose of the presence of light. For example, the angle and position of the top track spotlight does not serve the purpose of illuminating the TV wall, and the recessed spotlight in the sofa area, without artwork and decorative paintings, so what is the purpose of its presence?

Therefore, the layout of the lighting points, combined with the floor plan, elevation drawings, effect drawings, first of all, considering the purpose of light irradiation, second considering what kind of irradiation techniques to create different lighting atmosphere, and  finally considering what kind of lamps and lanterns to use.

 5. Lighting is too bland and lacking layers

Good lighting space must have light and dark, light and shadow, level of contrast, and the case of lighting using a uniform illumination value of spotlights, resulting in the space of the display products without the main focus of the difference.
In this hotel space, the use of indirect lighting, due to the high floor height, resulting in space illumination is not high, second the lack of space lighting levels, will not be able to give users focus on the guidance,such as the lack of key lighting in the front desk.

Accent lighting is not only to create a space of light and dark contrast, decorative space, but should be with guidance.

Therefore, when we plan the lighting, we should first consider the lighting dynamic, and then design the level of lighting.

6. Lighting does not reflect interior design features.

In the picture on the left, the carved flowers and Roman columns on the wall lack floodlighting to show the details of the wall decoration. In the picture on the right, the form of the columns has a dynamic feeling, but the lighting uses ordinary grille spotlights, which cannot reflect this dynamic design.

If dynamic, rhythmic line lights are used in the middle of the grille, it will fit better with this dynamic decoration.

How does a good lighting designer do?

Understand the characteristics and feelings of quality lighting design works, and develop sensitivity to lighting in order to gradually improve the ability to control the lighting in the works.

1. Simple but infectious

Good lighting does not require complex lighting to create, the appropriate illumination, color temperature, angle, irradiation techniques, installation location, etc. will be able to show the texture and visual focus of the object illuminated.

2. Delicate and rich light levels

Subtle and vivid lighting levels is a test of a designer’s design skills, too many levels will make people feel that the lighting arrangement is too much, too few levels and will fall into the bright environment, no contrast, no visual focus.

For example, the lighting of this hotel lobby in the picture below creates the lighting levels of the space through four dimensions: high, medium, low and façade lighting.

3.Complete mastery of all lighting effects.

We all know that the lighting of the restaurant is relatively complex, not only to create a dining environment, but also to irradiate the dishes more appetizing.

Therefore, only the mastery of the overall lighting effect can perfectly express the unique characteristics of each light and to express the theme of the effect.

For example, directly above the dining table, the light source is customized to match the exclusive light source used for dining, with the right beam angle and illumination, as well as considering the reflection coefficient of the dining table material. For the decorative cabinets on the wall, built-in spotlights and light strips are used to increase the level of the façade.

The decorative paintings on the wall are illuminated with internal translucent light, which is uniform and very meaningful.

4.Highlighting the interior design features.

Lighting itself is for interior design, and good lighting can express the characteristics of space design.

For example, the dome in the picture is very eye-catching. By installing upward-projected wall wash lights at the end of the curved top, the frescoes hidden inside are evenly illuminated, and the temperament of the space is perfectly expressed.

5. Considering the visual comfort of the user.

Lighting using direct lighting, if the glare is serious, it will produce bright shiny light spots,  the visual perception is uncomfortable, that the use of indirect lighting can be a good solution to this problem.

 The logical sequence of lighting design

In the above content, we understand what mistakes are often made in lighting design and what qualities good lighting works should have.

How to create excellent lighting design, how to explore customer needs and communication with customers, how to master the scientific approach to lighting design, we can do from the following aspects to understand.

1. Double Diamond Design Process Method

Double diamond design process method, mainly applies to the design communication stage with the A party, when a project has a clear concept needs, that continue to dig deeper.

When the party can not clearly express their real needs, in the concept of the program phase, to understand the project status, list the project needs, through the thinking of creative lighting effects, and then through the focus, screening, so as to get a prototype program.

To the deep excavation stage, it is necessary to consider what kind of lamps and lanterns and irradiation techniques to achieve, combined with the construction site conditions, the party’s budget, and finally determine the lighting design program suitable for the party.

2. Lighting design in five steps

a. Who is it designed for?

First of all, to clarify who the user is? Understand the user’s age, gender, eyesight, preferences and whether there are special requirements, etc. (It is recommended that you can do a light needs research table in the communication phase of lighting design.)

b. Which places need light?

You can imagine the space is a dark, and then consider which places need light, how bright the light needs to be, can be different according to the characteristics of each functional area, to conceptualize the point of light.

c. What objects need light? What kind of techniques used to express?

Consider what objects need light, decorative paintings or functional areas, using indirect lighting or accent lighting or other techniques to express them.

d. summary, review the reasonableness of the lighting arrangement

From an overall perspective to examine the reasonableness of the lighting at each point, such as whether the color temperature is uniform, beam angle, illumination value is appropriate, etc.

e. Technical realization

The designers can select the appropriate lamps and lanterns to verify the conception of the lighting design program, or fully borrow the professional support of the lamp manufacturer to improve the lamp program.