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In 2018, Universal Creative approached Lighting Design Alliance with a design brief for the central land of Epic Universe: Celestial Park. Envisioned as a non-IP based garden and central connector during the day, then transformed at night to become an experience driven almost exclusively by light. Without an existing movie or game franchise to guide the story, lighting was asked to become the narrative.
9:15 AM
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Forced Perspectives examines the evolving relationship between lighting design and image-making, tracing how our perception of light shifts from embodied, lived experience to framed, two-dimensional representation. Light has often been used as a medium of deception in paintings, theater, and architecture; deployed to alter aspects of spatial, material, and temporal experience.
9:15 AM
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Lighting designers are visual thinkers, yet many AI image tools feel tuned for objects and interiors, not for light itself. This session shows how to bend tools like Midjourney, Photoshop, and Nano‑Banana to serve lighting ideas, not the other way around.
10:45 AM
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Light and sound are two invisible yet powerful agents that shape human perception of architectural space. While traditionally treated as separate technical disciplines-lighting concerned with visibility, atmosphere, and form, and acoustics with clarity, comfort, and control-their relationship is deeply interconnected and often paradoxical. From a lighting standpoint, sound can be understood not as an opposing force, but as a parallel sensory layer that either reinforces or undermines the spatial narrative created by light.
10:45 AM
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Architectural theorist Marc-Antoine Laugier framed the Primitive Hut as the origin of architecture, defining the discipline through structure, proportion, and enclosure. Writing in Paris during the Enlightenment, Laugier codified architecture as an art of form. This session proposes a different architectural origin.
12:00 PM
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Lighting fixtures and controls are becoming increasingly complex. Many require specific wiring, connectors, and/or interfaces to operate correctly. Who leads the coordination, particularly when systems are ever-changing? Some luminaires need to be digitally “addressed” to communicate with controls. Who does this?
12:00 PM
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Light is not simply a visual tool; it is a foundational biological signal that governs human physiology, health, and behaviour. Decades of medical research have established the role of light in regulating circadian rhythms, sleep, metabolism, immune function, and mental wellbeing. Yet despite the strength and maturity of this science, contemporary lighting practice has failed to respond with the urgency and depth required.
2:00 PM
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The “circadian era” of lighting has challenged lighting designers to expand beyond vision and aesthetics to account for how light can affect physiological wellbeing. It has altered both product and practice. Now the industry is beginning to learn that wellbeing isn’t just influenced by blue light, but also far red and near infrared (NIR) radiation. New products, bold claims, and nascent science offer an intriguing story of how an NIR-rich spectrum like sunlight could improve cognition, boost mood, reduce pain, repair tissue, and more.
2:00 PM
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Architectural lighting design is increasingly influenced by tools and philosophies long used in entertainment lighting, including cue-based control, layered scenes, dynamic transitions, and time-based storytelling. These approaches offer new creative opportunities for shaping experience, brand, and atmosphere within commercial environments. However, entertainment techniques are often adopted without fully considering the operational, regulatory, and occupant requirements unique to architectural projects. When applied without context, advanced control features can introduce unnecessary complexity, reduce usability, and compromise long-term system performance.
3:30 PM
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Bold leadership is not only about leading teams; it is also about knowing how to lead upward. Many professionals, especially those early in their careers or stepping into leadership roles, face the challenge of managing up. While technical expertise and team leadership are often emphasized, few professionals are taught how to navigate relationships with firm leaders, communicate upward with clarity and confidence, or advocate for their own growth within existing power dynamics. This gap in knowledge can limit both individual advancement and organizational progress.
3:30 PM
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Austin stands as the sole city globally that retains its original high mast lighting installation from the 1890s, which continues to operate. The historical and folkloric significance of this moon tower lighting has profoundly contributed to Austin’s distinctive character. Although moonlighting towers were erected in various locations, they exclusively remain in Austin, Texas.
4:40 PM
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