The First Three Steps to Lighting Design Success
In the intricate world of architecture and interior design, lighting design plays a crucial role in shaping spaces, yet it often presents unforeseen challenges that can compromise a project’s success. Common pitfalls include ignoring layered lighting, poor fixture placement and spacing, mismatched color temperature and CRI to name a few.
Compounding these challenges is the overwhelming array of lighting fixtures available in the market, making the selection process daunting. At Ardd + Winter, we recognize these complexities and have developed a proven process to navigate them effectively.
In this blog, we’ll share insights into the first three pivotal steps of our approach—Assess, Design, and Preconstruction—and how each contributes to aligning your vision, budget, and project outcomes seamlessly.
Step 1: Assess – Understanding the Project’s Needs
Before selecting fixtures, our Specification Sales (“Spec”) team takes the time to understand the project’s scope, objectives, and unique challenges. This phase involves deep collaboration with architects, designers, and specifiers to ensure that lighting supports the aesthetic, functional, and regulatory requirements of the space.
Pam Banister, a key member of our Spec team, describes the assessment phase as foundational. “It’s about understanding what the client envisions, the design intent, and any constraints such as city ordinances or project-specific requirements. The more we know up front, the better we can guide decisions.”
Assessing a project involves actively engaging with all stakeholders, from specifiers seeking design direction to contractors who may already have insight into project timelines and cost constraints. We also consider factors like compliance, energy efficiency standards, and long-term maintenance.
Step 2: Design – Crafting the Right Lighting Strategy
Once we understand the project, we shift into the design phase, where creativity meets precision. Our team works closely with clients to select fixtures and controls that align with the project’s goals. This is where expertise in lighting specifications and product knowledge plays a critical role.
“Lighting design involves understanding how the light interacts with the space,” Pam explains. “We help our clients make informed decisions by balancing aesthetic appeal, technical feasibility, and budget considerations.”
A major component of this step is collaboration with our Applications team, who specialize in photometrics and light calculations. They use advanced software to model how lighting will perform in real-world conditions, ensuring the selected fixtures give consideration for personal safety, code requirements, and performance standards. For instance, a university lecture hall might require specific foot-candle levels at desk height, while a hospitality project may focus on achieving the perfect ambiance.
By running calculations early, we help avoid costly changes down the line, ensuring that lighting selections meet the intended design and comply with necessary regulations. This level of proactive planning is one of the key differentiators that sets Ardd + Winter apart.
Step 3: Preconstruction – Budgeting and Feasibility
Once the lighting design is finalized, we move into the preconstruction phase, where our Quotes team steps in to bring financial clarity. Their role is to ensure the selected lighting solutions align with the project’s budget while maintaining design integrity.
Franklin Smith, a leader in our Quotes team, highlights the importance of this step: “We go beyond providing numbers—we provide solutions. If a fixture is outside the budget, we work with the specifiers to find alternatives that achieve the same effect without compromising the design aesthetics and overall quality of the fixtures.”
This step involves meticulous planning to ensure every detail is accounted for before orders are placed. Our team helps mitigate risks by providing insights into product availability, lead times, and potential supply chain challenges. “One of the biggest hurdles in construction is ordering fixtures too late and running into backorder issues,” Franklin notes. “We stay ahead of this by proactively monitoring manufacturer lead times and offering alternative options when necessary.”
Collaboration Makes the Difference
A unique aspect of Ardd + Winter’s approach is our emphasis on collaboration across departments. Specification Sales, Quotes, and Applications teams work in tandem, ensuring a seamless transition from one phase to the next. This internal synergy minimizes miscommunication and allows for a streamlined decision-making process that ultimately benefits the client.
One recent example of this teamwork involved a contractor facing an unexpected specification challenge. Instead of pointing fingers, our team quickly facilitated a conversation between the specifier and contractor, identified the issue, and provided an alternative solution—eliminating the need for a costly redesign and keeping the project on track.
What Sets Our Process Apart
Unlike some competitors who simply supply light fixtures, Ardd + Winter provides a complete lighting solution from concept to installation. Our structured process ensures:
- Proactive problem-solving to avoid costly delays and redesigns.
- Budget-conscious design support that balances aesthetic and financial feasibility.
- In-depth expertise in lighting applications, photometrics, and industry trends.
- Consistent communication and project tracking to keep all stakeholders informed.
And we know that our job isn’t done once the lights are selected. In our next blog, we’ll explore the final two steps in our process—Project Management and On-Site Solutions—and how we ensure a smooth installation and long-term project success.
When you work with Ardd + Winter, you’re getting a trusted partner who will guide your project with expertise, clarity, and care from selection to installation and beyond.
