Lighting design services from concept to completion

What does an architectural lighting designer do?

An architectural lighting designer decides how a space will be lit before anyone chooses a fitting: which surfaces carry the light, what colour temperature and colour rendering the materials need, where contrast should draw the eye, and how the scheme changes through the day. The design is then proved with calculations, drawn for the contractor and checked on site.

Working independently means the specification is written around the project rather than a manufacturer’s catalogue. Luminaires are selected on photometric performance, glare control, colour quality, efficacy and buildability, and every product is checked against its IES or LDT data before it goes into a calculation model.

Concept design and lighting strategy (RIBA Stage 2)

The concept stage establishes the intent: a layered strategy for each space (ambient, accent, task and feature light), mood references, a preliminary luminaire palette and a budget allowance. It is presented so the client, architect and interior designer can picture, price and sign off the scheme before detailed design begins.

• Lighting concept narrative and reference imagery
• Layered strategy per space, with target illuminance and colour temperature
• Preliminary luminaire palette and cost allowance
• Coordination notes for the architect, interior designer and M&E engineer

Developed design and Dialux Evo lighting calculations (RIBA Stage 3)

Every scheme is modelled in Dialux Evo before it is drawn. The calculations report maintained illuminance, uniformity, unified glare rating (UGR) and installed load in W/m² against the targets in BS EN 12464-1 and the SLL Code for Lighting, with the maintenance factor assumptions stated rather than buried. False-colour plots and rendered views let the design team see what the numbers mean.

Calculations are also available as a stand-alone service for M&E consultants, electrical contractors and manufacturers who need an independent lighting report for a planning application, a BREEAM assessment or building control.

Technical design: reflected ceiling plans, luminaire schedules and specification (RIBA Stage 4)

The technical pack is what the electrical contractor prices and installs from: reflected ceiling plans and luminaire layouts in DWG and PDF, a luminaire schedule with photometric, electrical and IP data, a written specification with equal-and-approved criteria, and cove, joinery and detail drawings where light is built into the architecture. If a substitution is proposed at tender, the pack gives you the paper trail to assess it.

Lighting control narrative and scene setting

Good schemes change with the day and the trade. The control narrative sets out zoning, protocols (DALI, 0–10 V or wireless as the project warrants), scene schedules by time of day and use, daylight-linked and presence strategies, and a commissioning brief with a witness-testing checklist so the handover day finishes on time.

Part L, LENI and energy compliance

For non-domestic work in England, Approved Document L sets minimum lighting efficacy and encourages effective controls; the alternative route is the Lighting Energy Numeric Indicator (LENI) calculated to BS EN 15193-1 in kWh/m² per year. I produce the compliance evidence for building control, LENI calculations where the design relies on controls to meet the target, luminaire efficacy checks, BREEAM Hea 01 and Ene credit support, and CIBSE TM66 circularity assessments of the specified luminaires.

Emergency lighting design to BS 5266-1 and BS EN 1838

Emergency lighting is designed alongside the architectural scheme rather than added afterwards: escape-route, open-area and high-risk task-area illuminance to BS EN 1838, self-test or central-battery system selection, an emergency luminaire schedule with calculation results, and coordination with the fire strategy and signage. The aim is a scheme that passes inspection without compromising the look of the ceiling.

Tender, site and commissioning support (RIBA Stages 5–6)

Site support covers tender return review and substitution assessment, sample and mock-up review, site visits for aiming and focusing, and as-built records and O&M input. It is the stage that makes sure the built scheme looks like the drawings.

Deliverables by stage

Sectors

Most of my work is retail, hospitality and automotive brand spaces, where the lighting has to sell a product, flatter a face or make paintwork read true. Each sector page explains the design targets I start from and shows the projects behind them.

• Retail lighting design: flagships, boutiques and multi-site roll-outs
• Automotive showroom and brand experience lighting: dealerships, VIP configuration suites and launch spaces
• Hospitality lighting design: cafés, restaurants, bars and hotels