IALD ENLIGHTEN americas
Enlighten 2007 | 11-13 October | Montreal, Canada

View the Enlighten Americas 2007 Advance Program.

Enlighten Americas, the 7th Annual IALD Education Conference & Annual Meeting, was a rousing success, drawing more attendees than any prior educational conference in the IALD's history. Held 11-13 October at the Delta Centre-Ville in Montreal, Canada, lighting design practitioners benefited from two days of educational sessions led by leading lighting designers.

Session speakers shared best practices, tips and experiences gleaned from their familiarity designing in the international arena, rejuvenating the 'Passion of Light' within the 260-plus attendees.

Evening networking receptions generously sponsored by Visa Lighting, Acuity Brands Lighting Group and Lightolier allowed for mixing and mingling with peers, and also allowed attendees to get a feel for Montreal and its distinctive amenities, culture and personality.

IALD TOWN HALL FOCUSES ON THE FUTURE OF THE LIGHTING DESIGN INDUSTRY

The IALD held its annual Town Hall Meeting at Enlighten Americas featuring a panel of lighting industry leaders, and moderated by Elizabeth Donoff, editor of Architectural Lighting. The session began with a series of questions based on hot industry topics to individual panel members by Donoff.

Much of the initial discussion between panel members, as well as the open-floor discussion, focused on the education of the next generation of lighting designers. Derek Porter, IALD, expressed the need to have a standardized vocabulary so each student of lighting design receives the same learning experience. Porter continued by explaining that transitioning from a student to intern, and finally a into full-time professional, requires the contributions of many - including faculty, practitioners and the students themselves.

"Experience, development and intellectual understanding can take years to develop, and it takes the dedication and investment of individual [practices] to train the next generation of lighting designers," Porter stated.

Asked to comment on the globalization of the industry and how other professions perceive lighting design in Europe, panelist Gerd Pfarré, IALD, stated that there is an increase in demand for qualified designers, specifically mentioning a market for those with landscape lighting design competencies. Lighting designers in Europe are beginning to be viewed as an integral member of the design team.

Panelists included the following educators, practitioners and commercial industry representatives:

* Jimalee Dakin, Visa Lighting
* Sean O'Connor, IALD, Sean O'Connor Associates Lighting Consultants
* Gerd Pfarré, IALD, Pfarré Lighting Design
* Graham Phoenix, IALD, Graham Phoenix: Lighting Design
* Derek Porter, IALD, Derek Porter Studio
* Jean Sundin, IALD, Office for Visual Interaction

Feedback regarding the format of this year's IALD Town Hall Meeting has been positive, with one attendee expressing that it was "a terrific session and should probably be expanded... The issue of education and young people joining our profession clearly took front and center and it was refreshing and, well, educational to hear a variety of opinions on the topic."

EVENING EVENTS ALLOW ATTENDEES A CHANCE TO MINGLE, NETWORK, RELAX WITH PEERS

Thursday evening's President's Opening Reception, sponsored by Visa Lighting, opened Enlighten Americas with a festive and flamenco-themed event held at the Delta Centre-Ville's top-floor restaurant. With stunning 360-degree panoramic views of Montreal serving as a backdrop to the evening, attendees welcomed the opportunity to connect with old friends and make new ones at this kickoff event.

On Friday, after a full day of sessions and the launch of the new IALD identity, attendees were treated to a private evening at the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, sponsored by Acuity Brands Lighting. Guests were not only dazzled by their surroundings, but also by the mesmerizing acts of balance and brilliance as performed by Cirque du Soleil, including a special impromptu mime performance in which James Youngston, IALD, stole the show.

Enlighten Americas closed with Saturday evening's Gala Reception at Parisian Laundry, Montreal's newest avant-garde art gallery. Generously hosted by Lightolier, guests were treated to an evening of food, fun and three floors of fantastic art on their final night in Montreal.

ENLIGHTEN AMERICAS 2007 SPONSORS