Although light, as an investment, should be kept as low as possible, the cost incurred on lighting design should be considered carefully as it undoubtedly proves to be a critical business asset in the long run. This is because lighting gives a story to space by setting a mood for the home or the workplace that conveys that story or provides ease to the owner and the visitors.
Before beginning the process of lighting design, it is important for the designer to understand the needs of the user or the organization. Other than studying the characteristics of the space and the goal of lighting design, one should also look into the kinds of users working or living there, the significance of energy efficiency to the owner, and the restrictions.
Then, depending on the requirements of the owner and the story they want to convey through lighting design, a lighting designer begins to light the space.
This requires Layering with Light, that is, layering the three kinds of lighting, general or ambient, task, and accent lighting, to serve the purpose of the owner effectively.
General Lighting: It is the primary layer of light that is uniform and diffuse in nature. It is used to ensure there is sufficient light to perform tasks and for safe circulation.
General lighting is four types:
Direct Lighting: This refers to a type of lighting that dispenses light downwards towards the workplace. It could be uniform or concentrated, the most simple and efficient kind of lighting. At times, however, it can result in pronounced shadows or glare.
Indirect Lighting: Indirect lighting, on the other hand, distributes all light upwards, towards the walls and the ceilings. When this light is reflected back, it illuminates the place softly and provides some aesthetic comfort.
Direct/Indirect and Indirect/Direct Lighting: These two refer to a mix of both direct and indirect lighting. Direct/Indirect lighting is when more light is oriented downward while Indirect/Direct lighting is vice-versa.
Task Lighting: Task lighting is the supplementary lighting that brings one’s attention to the tasks at hand by providing higher intensities of light at specific places through a variety of equipment such as task lights.
Accent Lighting: Accent lighting is used to draw one’s attention to important objects, artworks, and displays in a workspace to enhance the visual appeal of the space. It is done through specialized equipment that allows light beams to concentrate and highlight the lighted space.
Controlling these lighting at different intensities allows a lighting designer to layer the space perfectly so that it meets the need of the space while making it visually comforting and appealing.
