models. This allows them to build specifications and coordinate inputs across many design team members.
going on, helping folks understand lighting practices and how to be able to use AI.”
He also highlighted the contributions of Kuldeep Vali and LumiBuilder.ai. Brian noted that Kuldeep is doing important educational work to help lighting designers understand how to integrate AI into their practice, while also developing smaller tools aimed at bridging theory and practical workflows. In Brian’s words, “Kuldeep has a cool little thing
Foad described how Stable Diffusion is his preferred platform for Design Development imagery. Unlike Midjourney, Stable Diffusion can preserve the parameters of a space and let the designer adjust only the lighting component—like swapping a pendant for a linear fixture— while leaving the rest untouched. This iteration workflow has no equivalent in older rendering pipelines.
Construction Documents (CD) In the construction documentation phase, AI has started to streamline production tasks. Brian said his team is exploring Copilot inside Word and Excel to automatically build specification tables and link them to BIM models. They also apply internal automations to calculate lighting power densities across platforms—reducing the time it takes to finalize schedules.
“Interior of a modern workspace where a designer compares two lighting concepts side by side” prompt. Midjourney 7, Midjourney, Inc. Generated on 17 August 2025.
Foad agreed that construction documentation is an area where AI has not yet reached full maturity. While no single tool can yet produce a fixture schedule end-to-end, he noted that Gemini’s milliontoken capacity helps with analyzing large specification documents. For example, you can feed it an entire schedule and ask targeted questions about part numbers or compatibility. However, this approach has limitations. “General AI tools lack the specialized knowledge our industry needs,” he explained, adding, “We need dedicated tools that understand our needs and solve our pain points. Tools that are designed by lighting designers for lighting designers.”
Bidding & Procurement The bidding phase showcases how different AI approaches serve different industry needs. While Parspec has secured significant investment to help distributors assemble bid packages and VE alternates, Foad's LightingAgent takes a designer-first approach. “Parspec optimizes the supply chain, but designers need tools that understand lighting design principles, codes, and standards from the ground up,” Foad explained.
Ethical and Workflow Considerations Both Brian and Foad stressed that AI must be used thoughtfully. “Interior of a modern workspace where a designer compares two lighting concepts side by side” prompt. Midjourney 7, Midjourney, Inc. Generated on46 17 Augustdesigning 2025. lighting