THE BUSINESS OF LIGHTING DESIGN™
People line up to buy a $100 'Bling' lanyard from Steven Rosen as he raises money for the IALD Trust Fund at Enlighten Americas 2023.
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stressed that the transition will be gradual over the next few years. “There’s a lot of untangling to do,” he said. “Clients, vendors, relationships—I want to ensure a smooth handoff. I’m intentionally stepping back from meetings and decisions to give the team more ownership, but I’m still here for support.” He also recognizes the emotional complexity of such transitions, noting, “Without a deadline, it’s easy to postpone these decisions indefinitely. I want this team to feel confident when I step away.”
made it increasingly difficult to hide how fixtures are priced. While better spec sheet formatting is helpful, pricing honesty is the heart of the transparency discussion.”
Beyond the firm, Steven remains deeply involved in the lighting design industry. He has played a significant role in launching the professional practice group for museum exhibition design within the Society for Environmental Graphic Design (SEGD), an initiative he began working on three years ago and continues to develop today.
When it came time to name the company, Steven convened a dinner with friends Glenn Heinmiller, his wife Cathy, and Susan to brainstorm ideas. After several hours— and a few bottles of wine—they couldn’t agree on a name. Only then did Steven share his idea of “Available Light.” His friends immediately endorsed it as the perfect choice.
Steven is also closely involved with discussions on transparency within the lighting industry, particularly regarding pricing and specification data. He has moderated several industry panels organized with the IALD and IESNYC that address the growing demand for transparency.
Looking ahead, Steven envisions a gradual but complete handoff. “Eventually, I’ll step back entirely,” he said. “There’s a lot that I do that others know I do, but don’t necessarily know how I do it. My role now is to help transfer that knowledge so they can ultimately improve upon it.”
I asked him about the importance of transparency in data, specifically specification sheets. “I think it is important for there to be consistency in the data presented,” Steven said, but emphasized that transparency in pricing is the more significant issue. “Technology and the Internet have
For Steven, Available Light has always been about telling stories through light. “The work we do enhances the stories our clients want to tell,” he reflected. “It’s incredibly gratifying to see what our team has accomplished—and will continue to accomplish long after I’m gone.” ■
designing lighting
The firm’s name itself is rooted in Steven’s personal experiences. He first heard the term “available light” in college, used by both an architect and a photographer to describe working with existing light sources rather than introducing additional artificial lighting.