International Association of Lighting Designers

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International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) was founded in 1969 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Its mission is "to serve the IALD worldwide membership by promoting the visible success of its members in practicing lighting design."

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[edit] The Association

Founded in 1969 in New York and now based in Chicago, Illinois, USA, the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) is an internationally recognized organization dedicated solely to he concerns of independent, professional lighting designers. The IALD strives to set the global standard for lighting design excellence by promoting the advancement and recognition of professional lighting designers. Lighting designers are a tremendous resource of innovative, practical and economically viable lighting solutions. They understand the role of lighting in architectural and interior design and utilize their extensive experience and knowledge of lighting equipment and systems to enhance and strengthen design.

[edit] Benefits of Using an IALD Lighting Designer

IALD professional lighting designers dedicate their careers exclusively to the art and science of lighting. There is no substitute for their level of expertise and professionalism.

With an IALD member on the team, architects, interior designers, builders and owners will see their vision realized. A professional lighting designer:

  • Meets the needs of the people who use the space.
  • Selects cost-effective and energy-efficient products most appropriate for the project.
  • Creates an innovative lighting solution that achieves the perfect balance of function and aesthetics.
  • Solves the unique lighting challenges of a wide range of interior and exterior environments.
  • Strengthens and enhances any space through creative, yet functional, lighting plans.

Lighting designers are tremendous resource for innovative, practical and economically viable lighting solutions. They understand the role of lighting in architecture and interior design and rely on their extensive experience and knowledge of lighting equipment and systems to enhance and strengthen design.

[edit] Members

Governed by an 11-member board of directors, the IALD is a professional society that relies on the active participation of its members. The over 750 lighting designers around the world who are members of the IALD hold a position of distinction and authority in the lighting design profession.

Lighting Design is a consultant profession dealing with factors bearing on the creation of a visual environment. In the process of his/her work, the consultant first develops a design concept and then translates it into physical terms. The established IALD independent lighting designer devotes the majority of his/her professional time to the design of architectural lighting while subscribing to the Vision and Mission statements and the Code of Ethics and Professional Standards.

[edit] Benefits of Membership

[edit] Business Support

Member Referrals. The IALD provides a network for the exchange of information among professionals as well as an active referral system for architects, interior designers, facility managers, building owners and others looking for a lighting designer. Members can link their own website to the IALD site. The IALD is currently adding the capacity to search by specialty area as well as grade and location and to allow members to post detailed information on their background and current projects.

Professional Recognition. All IALD members may identify themselves as members of the IALD in accordance with the specific guidelines outlined in the Membership Criteria and Guidelines document. Professional members are allowed to use the IALD initials after their names as a sign of the highest professional standards. Additionally, the IALD was a founder of the NCQLP, which issues the LC designation.

Public Awareness Program. Members receive the benefits of a formal public relations effort designed to bring the IALD and its activities to the attention of the design community and its key audiences. Through on-going marketing efforts, the IALD promotes a greater awareness of the benefits of lighting and lighting designers.

Professional Development and Continuing Education. Lectures and interactive workshops on topics of interest to the professional lighting designer are offered to enhance members' design and management skills. These workshops are offered annually at the IALD Education Conference and available on a regional basis.

Awards Program. The Annual IALD International Lighting Design Awards, established in 1983, recognizes lighting installations that illustrate the synergy of architectural and lighting design by displaying high aesthetic achievement backed by technical expertise. Projects from around the world have been recognized for their design excellence and the program has greatly increased recognition of quality lighting. Members receive a discount on the entry fee.

Insurance. The IALD sponsors an association insurance program offering professional liability, disability, business and other insurance. Discounts are given to IALD members. Liability insurance is available only in the United States at this time.

Networking Opportunities. All members are invited to participate in regional meetings, which provide a forum for members to meet informally and discuss topics of interest, to keep up to date on IALD activities and goals, to discuss current industry trends and products and to provide educational programs.

Support for Lighting Design Students. Finding new staff is a critical factor in growth of design businesses and college programs are the best source for new lighting designers. The IALD plays a key role in developing interest in lighting design. The IALD Education Trust Fund provides annual scholarships to students and researchers in the area of lighting design. In addition, the Trust provides guest faculty and materials to college and university architecture, engineering and design programs. The IALD Education Trust also co-sponsors the Teachers of Lighting Workshop with the IESNA.

Business Standards. The IALD provides members with service-oriented information related to contracts, specification formats and professional business standards. Standard Contractual Forms of Agreement have been developed to acknowledge the lighting designer as a responsible member of the design team by separating lighting design services from those of the engineering and architectural disciplines.

Internship Program. One important function of the IALD is to foster the development of a systematic training process to bring qualified people into the field of lighting design. Through the IALD internship program, qualified students have the opportunity to learn about architectural lighting design while working with a professional design firm, and IALD member firms have access to talented assistants.

Free Subscriptions. IALD members receive free subscriptions to: mondo*arc and Specified Lighting Design. Reduced subscription prices are available for other publications.


[edit] Value of Collective Action

Energy Policy. The IALD is actively involved in monitoring and influencing energy standards throughout the world. These efforts involve public education, consultation to code-writing authorities and regulatory agencies, and participation in projects related to lighting quality and lighting energy.

Lighting Industry Resource Council. The Lighting Industry Resource Council (LIRC), formed in 1996, provides a forum for IALD members and lighting manufacturers to discuss current topics, trends and issues in the lighting area. The LIRC provides a critical dimension to IALD activities and improves the quality of lighting overall. The Guidelines for Specification Integrity, recently revised and republished by the IALD in collaboration with the LIRC, promotes the use of best procedures in the lighting design process..

Metrics of Quality. The IALD is working to improve lighting quality through the development of simulation models of lighting comfort and effectiveness that will form the basis of research and the establishment of minimum quality for design. The IALD is also a member of the National Lighting Bureau and the Light Right Coalition.

Lighting Trade Fairs and Conferences. The IALD actively participates in several lighting trade fairs around the world. In the United States, IALD co-sponsors LIGHTFAIR International, providing the highest quality design and technical information available on lighting. Professional members receive a number of complimentary admission passes for clients. The IALD participates in trade shows in Australia and Europe.


[edit] Information Resources

Lighting Design Education. As part of its commitment to improving the quality of lighting design, the IALD provides educational sessions on lighting developments at its own conferences, trade shows and meetings and at the request of other organizations. Reflections. Reflections is the monthly association newsletter issued to maintain communication among the membership. It includes reports on events of interest in the lighting field and keeps the lighting public current on IALD activities and projects.

Website. The IALD website provides a searchable directory of lighting designers, a summary of association activities, a calendar of events, job opportunities and an online gallery of photos to showcase IALD work to prospects and the media.

IALD Directory. The IALD provides members with a directory of IALD and LIRC members on the website.

IALD Slide Library. IALD members have access to IALD's slide library of award-winning projects. The IALD has the images of IALD award winning projects from 1998 to 2005 available on CD-ROM for teachers of lighting design.

[edit] Qualifications for Membership

1. Members in all grades shall subscribe to the ideals, goals, Vision Statement and Mission Statement of the Corporation.

2. Voting members shall subscribe to the ideals, goals, Vision Statement, Mission Statement and shall subscribe to the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Voting members, as part of submission for membership and as part of yearly payment of dues for membership, shall be a signatory to a written agreement to abide by the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.


[edit] External links