THE BUSINESS OF LIGHTING DESIGNÔ
From Blueprint to Byte Navigating the Digital Transformation of Design By PARKER ALLEN
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designing lighting
The design industry is experiencing a profound shift as digital tools reshape traditional workflows and introduce new possibilities. In a recent webinar entitled "Digitization in the Design Practice," hosted by Business of Light, key industry leaders discussed the implications of digital technologies on design firms, from improving margins to fostering creativity. The expert panel included Rachel Fitzgerald, Principal, Discipline Lead, Lighting at Stantec; Jay Wratten, Senior VP and Digital Lead at WSP USA, and Samuel Mikhail, Managing Director at 4 Ideal Design and NYSID’s MPSM Program Director. David Ghatan, President of CM Kling + Associates, served as the moderator.
Defining the Digital Practice Samuel Mikhail set the stage from the outset, reminding the audience, “Your digital journey begins the second you hold an iPad or sit in front of a computer.” From software suites like Adobe and Microsoft to more specialized platforms such as AGi32 and LightStanza, these tools form the backbone of a digital practice. The question that each firm must answer is the extent to which the myriad of tools on offer will be utilized, and how they will go about successfully implementing these tools into their design practice. Gone are the days of receiving blueprints in the mail. The pen and the pencil have been replaced by the stylus. Rachel Fitzgerald recounted Stantec’s shift from a two-dimensional AutoCAD world to the 3D realm incorporating BIM (Building Information Modeling)