Opening Remarks by Sharon Stammers & Martin Lupton

Keynote Session

Praveen Thampi, Creative Director | The Ministry Of Light, India

With new initiatives at legislative and professional association levels being combined with grass roots initiatives from alliances of designers and manufacturers, the drive toward reducing the impact of the lighting industry. Going circular, designing for reuse and remanufacture, has benefits across environmental, social and economic channels and the lighting industry is in a key position to be able to lead the way.

In addition, the Middle East is uniquely placed to consider plans for a more sustainable lighting future. With projects like Neom in Saudi, where an entire city is being built from scratch and with most Middle East construction having taken place in the last twenty years, there is opportunity for the region to be a forerunner in circular thought when it comes to lighting specification, future planning and re-use and recycling. Designers, manufacturers/suppliers and developers can all learn initial steps to make changes within their specification, manufacturing and construction processes and together start finding ways to adopt circular economy principles.

This session tackles the question of how the lighting industry in the Middle East region can make initial steps to becoming more circular in its economics. Our panel will share their insight into standards from other countries, emerging technologies and new business models.

Panelists:

•  Dr. Amardeep M. Dugar, Founder & Principal | Lighting Research & Design, India
•  Paul Nulty, Founder | Nulty+ , UK
• Praveen Thampi, Creative Director | The Ministry Of Light, India
• Erin Denkovska, Associate Lighting Designer | Delta Lighting Design, UAE
• Ruth Kelly Waskett, Senior Associate | Hoare Lea, UK

Keynote Session

Mark Lien, Industry Relations Manager | Illuminating Engineering Society, US

Without a doubt artificial intelligence is playing a growing role in the function of a wide variety of systems - lighting control systems can be combined with data analysis to create self-learning control systems that responds to user preferences automatically. Digital Twins create mirrors of the real world that allow outcomes to be monitored, predicted and

reacted to in almost real time. Other systems merge the physical and digital using data to create lighting effects that quietly communicate meaning and infer a link to real world scenarios.

This machine intelligence is also moving into the world of design - with the growth of artistic generation systems such as Midjourney and Dall-E facilitating the rapid visualization of concepts. Does this create the means for designers to explore ideas faster and are these systems expanding the powers of the imagination. Are we entering a new age of design?

This panel will discuss and explore current technology and practices, the future of lighting design and how we might need to adapt our working methods to benefit.

Panelists:

• Giovanni Zambri, Director | Smith Tait, UAE
• Faraz Izhar, Senior Lighting Designer | KEO International Consultants, UAE
• Mark Lien, Industry Relations Manager | Illuminating Engineering Society, US
• Waleed Shaalan, Co-Founder and Design Director | Sifr Studio, Saudi Arabia
• Regina Santos, Founder/ Design Director | Light Fusion, UAE

Keynote Session

Charles Stone, President | Fisher Marantz Stone, USA

It is said that the problem of Light Pollution is probably one of easiest to resolve. There are simple actions to enable the stars to be visible from the earth but still the vast majority of people on the planet have never seen the milky way and hardly ever see a significant number of stars in the sky. This simple act of looking at the sky and seeing our place in the universe should not be undervalued but it is. There is more knowledge than ever available about the role of light and darkness on human health, plant and insect ecology and lighting designers have a key role in disseminating and putting this knowledge into practice.

With buildings throughout Europe and world turning off their exterior lighting due to rising energy costs and availability there is a movement to create cities connected to the stars. Where light pollution is limited and the color and composition of light is designed for more than just beautification.

This panel will bring together thought leaders and practitioners in the Middle East who are looking to make a real difference and put the Middle East at the forefront of sustainable responsible design.

Panelists :

• Charles Stone, President | Fisher Marantz Stone, USA
• Courtney Mark, Design Director & Founder | STUDIO MARK, UAE
• Stephanie Hreiki, Senior Lighting Designer | Nulty, UAE
• Myriam Alqassab, Founder & Managing Director | Stargazers for Astronomical Science, Bahrain
• Abdulaziz Al Azem, Founder / Principal Lighting Designer | DTS, Saudi Arabia
• Mohamed Siraj Medani, Associate Lighting Designer | Delta Lighting Design, UK

Keynote Session

Claudia Paz, Lighting Designer | Art Light & Design & Claudia Paz Lighting Studio, Peru

Most lighting designers are inspired by light art and many even create light art installations of their own. Is this conceptual, narrative-based and often emotional use of light something that can be transferred into lighting design for architecture and urban environments? Does the artistic approach to the use of light add a human story-telling element that can be missing from conventional lighting design and engineering? What is the difference between a light artist and a lighting designer?

At the same time as we turn out attention to light pollution, sustainability and the circular economy we are seeing a rise in the number of light festivals around the world. With huge budgets, big name artists there is no doubt they can celebrate the magic of light and create moments of joy within our cities but how can we ensure they stay special? How do we justify their role in a world were energy and carbon emission are very real concerns?

This panel will ask these questions of artists, designers, curators and the institutions behind the work and the events. We’re looking for insights that will help shape the future of both light based events and the creative application of light in design.

Panelists :

• Paula Cortes Castellanos, Head of Lighting Design | WSP Middle East, UAE
• Claudia Paz, Lighting Designer | Art Light & Design & Claudia Paz Lighting Studio, Peru
• Magali Mendez, Co-Founder | LightInMe , Spain
• David Gilbey, Founding Director | d-lighting, UK
• Maria Dautant, Senior Associate | HLB Lighting Design, UAE

Panel Discussion

The best in lighting design must consider the people for whom it is designed. The principles of human centric design are based on assessing the needs of actual users of spaces rather than generic groups represented by the “standards” approach. By including research and interacting with users in the design phase the designer can establish the real

needs of the user and also identify and scenarios where the needs of a specific individual or individuals requires a modified approach. By using this approach we will not only achieve a better design solution but we will be able to ensure Social Inclusion and create spaces for all.

Design for Social Inclusion is needed in all lighting design, whether it be for safety and confidence in exterior spaces or to provide a suitable working space for a wide range of diverse personalities and working styles.

This panel will share experiences, knowledge, techniques and real-world examples of socially inclusive designs in a number of different scenarios.

This Women In Lighting session will be presented in Pecha Kucha style with each contributor presenting their experiences, knowledge and real-world examples of socially inclusive designs.

Panelists :

• Cherine Saroufim, Interior Architect - Lighting Designer | IDEPCONSULT, Lebanon
• Momena Saleem, Ambassador | Women in Lighting, Pakistan
• Dipali Shirsat, Lighting Designer | Delta Lighting Design
• Katia Kolovea, Founder & Art Director | Archifos, UK
• Dr. Dalal AlSharhan, Founder & CEO | DAL Studio, Kuwait
• Ar. Surbhi Jindal, Founder & CEO | Da Light Hub & Womeninlighting Ambassador, India