The LIT Lighting Design Awards, a program under the 3C Awards—known for diversity and innovation in lighting design, furniture design, interior design, and architecture—are an annual celebration of creativity and innovation in the fields of lighting products and applications. The LIT Awards, now in their sixth edition, continue to recognise efforts of talented international lighting product designers and lighting designers. The awards program held in Zurich, Switzerland, saw participation from 51 countries, with winners selected from 650 submissions, by an illustrious jury of 43 professionals, architects, interior designers, academics, and media representatives of the lighting industry.

“At the LIT Lighting Design Awards, we strive to support and promote inspired projects and innovation by professional and emerging designers from around the world; assembling in one platform outstanding projects from Brazil to Canada, Germany and Thailand,” said Program Director, Astrid Hébert.

Judged across parameters of innovation, aesthetics, functionality, ergonomics, durability, impact, utility, ecological compatibility, the reality of production, and emotional quotient; the winners of the 2022 LIT Lighting Design Awards reiterate LIT’s belief that lighting is both an art and science, making it a crucial aspect of design.

Lighting Design of the Year

L'Observatoire International was awarded the Lighting Design of the Year for Hermès’ collections at Milan Design Week 2022, with lead designer Hervé Descottes accompanied by a team of designers—Etienne Gillabert, Elie Nespoulous, Francesco Secone, Giuseppe Bini. Themed Looking for Lightness, the four grand pavilions were designed in the shape of water towers, creating an ironic impression of lightness owing to their structure constructed of wood featuring a translucent skin of coloured paper, radiating light.

Lighting Product Design of the Year

Expolight won the Lighting Product Design of the Year award for the chandelier located in Campus B14 in Unit City, Ukraine. Designed by lead designers Mykola Kabluka and Victoria Yakusha, the product design of the chandelier comprises a series of glass tubes that were specially developed to afford the chandelier a concise form and incorporate a play of lights. Intending for the chandelier to be visible from outside, the angle of incidence of the sun’s rays on the placed glass prisms were analysed to maximise its shape during the day.

Lifetime Achievement Awards

The Lifetime Achievement Awards were handed to Patrick Woodroffe, Woodroffe Bassett Design (WBD) and Dave Kavanagh, Planet Lighting Australia. Patrick Woodroffe has contributed to the lighting design industry for 40 years; a revolutionary lighting designer, he began his career in 1973, and has designed and directed productions for operas, rock concerts, ballet, architecture, and more. The roster of artists that he has lit and directed productions for include—AC/DC, Paul McCartney, The Police, Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart, The Eagles, Donna Summer, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Elton John and more. Making his contributions to the evolution of entertainment lighting indispensable.

Senior lighting and industrial designer Dave Kavanagh has contributed to Planet Lighting Australia, a century old manufacturer, for his 44-year-long career. With an impressive design contribution to the Australian and international lighting community, he has successfully managed to navigate the extensive technological changes of the lighting industry.

Spotlight 2022 Prize

The Studio School of Design in New York City received the Spotlight 2022 prize. The not-for-profit organisation set up in 2021, provides equitable and inclusive low-cost classes in the field of lighting design, in both online and in-person formats for talented students. They received the prize for their engagement towards inclusivity, accessibility, education, and diversity.

2022 Emerging Winners

Under the Emerging Lighting Designer and Emerging Lighting Product Designer category, the winners were Owen Fernando Patia, a student at California College of The Arts forAQUA, and Elsa Gil Benitoa, a student of ESNE, Escuela Universitaria de Diseño for Ma-Ka Lighting System, respectively.

Winners in Lighting Product Design Sub-category

Winners in the subcategories of the Lighting Product Design category included—John Cullen Lighting in the Deck and Step Lights category with Lecco Floorwasher, BuzziSpace with BuzziChip in Pendant Lighting, Pharos Architectural Controls for Full management of lighting installations from anywhere, with any device in Lighting Control Systems, Maytoni with Maya in Decorative Accent Lamps and ambience with the LEGO Linear Luminaire in Illuminated Home Decor.

Other honorees in the Lighting Design category

Other honorees in the Lighting Design category were Liska with Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík, Iceland. Concept Lighting Lab was awarded for the One & Only Mandarina Hotel, SEAM Design was awarded the MahaNakhon Tower: Ritz-Carlton Residences. Light is More and Bruno Ribeiro won with Pavilion of Moonlight Horizon and Vibrance respectively.

The winners will get an opportunity to present their achievements globally over the next year, with their designs featured in the annual Book of Design, along with a certificate and badge.

Also read: LIT Lighting Design Awards announces winners of the fifth edition

(Text by Aaryaa Joshi, intern at STIRworld)