

lightly
Introducing Lightly: A line of radically sustainable architectural linear LED lighting pendants, made from wood, wool and hemp. Lightly strips away high-carbon, toxic materials in favor of bioderived, biodegradable components with a refreshingly simple, circular-economy ready design that ultimately results … Continue reading lightly

chataigne
Chataigne is a free, open-source software being developed by Ben Kuper as a common tool for artists, technicians and developers who wish to use technology and synchronize software for shows, interactive installations or prototyping. Via Hackaday. Continue reading chataigne

dc nanogrid house by purdue university
Purdue’s Center for High Performance Buildings renovated a historic residential home and powered it with a DC-powered nanogrid. Check out the article here and the video below. Check out Jonathan Ore’s Ph.D. dissertation here. Continue reading dc nanogrid house by purdue university

marshall dc lighting
If you are looking for a distributor specializing in DC LED lighting, check out Phoenix, Arizona-based Marshall DC Lighting. Continue reading marshall dc lighting

sunne
Sunne is a startup by Amsterdam designer Marjan van Aubel that incorporates solar PV cells and battery storage into a decorative linear pendant. Begun as a Kickstarter campaign in 2021, Sunne is an interesting concept that takes advantage of proximity … Continue reading sunne

sunshower
Sunshower is an interesting Amsterdam company with a range of shower lights with ultraviolet and infrared output. I have long dreamt of something like this in my shower, to provide direct warmth and a just a little UV light to … Continue reading sunshower

blurred lines: immersive digital experiences in retail
I’ve been messing around using Midjourney AI image generation to explore the fusion of immersive digital experiences in retail and hospitality applications. The random nature of Midjourney is so powerful in creating design “mood boards” — most of the trials … Continue reading blurred lines: immersive digital experiences in retail

digital window for your rec room
How cheap has display technology become? YouTuber Drew Builds Stuff turned an entire wall of his basement recreation room into a full-scale digital window. For less than ~$3,000, Drew added three 75″ 4K screens with some simple trim work to … Continue reading digital window for your rec room

the battle for the data in your spaces
Who will control the data flowing into and out of the built environment – and how will they be able to influence occupant behavior? Whether or not we realize it, there is a revolution occurring that is poised to deeply … Continue reading the battle for the data in your spaces

immersive digital technologies with david kepron
This is an exceptionally good short interview with David Kepron, formerly the VP of Design for Global Design Strategies at Marriott International, exploring the future of immersive/location-based digital experience design for hospitality and retail. Continue reading immersive digital technologies with david kepron

every light source is a pixel
In many of my conference presentations over the years, I’ve stated: Every pixel is a light source; every light source is a pixel. The first part of that phrase, every pixel is a light source, is intuitively easy for most … Continue reading every light source is a pixel

LED displays at schiphol
Just a couple quick videos of direct-view LED displays in retail applications at Schiphol airport here in Amsterdam. Many folks haven’t caught up to the fact that “video screens” can now be in any shape, format or size needed. Direct-view … Continue reading LED displays at schiphol

IALD enlighten 2022 – specifying a bright future
Thanks to everyone who attended my presentation titled “Specifying a Bright Future: Decarbonizing and Detoxifying Lighting Systems” at the IALD Enlighten 2022 conference in Palm Springs. I heard wonderful, positive feedback about the presentation! Below is the PDF of the … Continue reading IALD enlighten 2022 – specifying a bright future

lux machina – virtual production
Here’s a fascinating video from Lux Machina Consulting that gives a detailed behind-the-scenes look at setting up virtual production studios, such as the production process behind The Mandalorian. And I screen cap’d this great series showing the sequencing of one … Continue reading lux machina – virtual production

google jacquard
Over the years, there have been many interesting ideas about the use of smart textiles/etextiles for architectural applications. But despite the artistic and technical potential, none have really gone anywhere commercially. Regardless, here is an interesting R+D experiment from Google … Continue reading google jacquard

mojo AR contact lens
Wow. What once were the most fanciful sci-fi concepts of integrating digital content into our personal consciousness – almost without any physical “hardware” as we would traditional see it – is actually not that far away. California-based startup Mojo is … Continue reading mojo AR contact lens

more AI image generation: the future of architectural lighting?
In continuing my experiments with Midjourney AI, for fun I tested entering the tagline of Lucept: “the future of architectural lighting” Much of the magic behind this system is the sample set it was trained on. But still, the poetry … Continue reading more AI image generation: the future of architectural lighting?

eurovision 2022 behind the scenes
Check out this fantastic video from EventElevator detailing all the lighting, audio and video gear setup for Eurovision 2022, held in Turin, Italy. It is always fascinating to check out the latest and greatest in theatrical lighting technologies. Just mind … Continue reading eurovision 2022 behind the scenes

phases of anonymity
There is a huge backlash against software companies’ collection and use of personal data – and rightfully so. What Google, Facebook, et. al have done to seize and abuse the data of our lives is shameful. However, it is important … Continue reading phases of anonymity

imagination on demand: my 1st experiments in AI image generation
I was just granted access to Midjourney’s beta invite and ran a handful of quick tests to see how AI-based image generation will affect architectural lighting and experiential design. My first impression: WOW! The raw power for ideation and early … Continue reading imagination on demand: my 1st experiments in AI image generation