Getting started: choosing the right installation type

Which type of mounting suits your project best? Walls, floors, and ceilings offer a wide range of possibilities for lighting design.

Decide early on what you want to achieve. Do you want flexible light sources or unobtrusive lighting? Or a combination of everything?

Talk to your architect by the detailed design phase at the latest. You will find a checklist for this at the end of the lessons.

Lighting design is always about shaping perception.

Ask about the lighting concept early on. Clarify whether the light is part of the architectural design. Have them show you what light mood you will later experience in the space. Check whether the lighting works in everyday use. Pay attention to orientation, visual comfort, and atmosphere. Ask how architecture and light work together.

Insist on professional design. This gives you long-term certainty.

Here, too, the checklist at the end of the lessons will help you.

1 Basic understanding and approach (How much importance does the architect actually place on light?)

• What role does light play in your design?
• Do you factor light in from the outset – or is it added later?
• How do you ensure that light works not only functionally but also as a design element?

2 Effect and atmosphere (What will I actually experience later on?)

• How exactly is the desired atmosphere achieved?
• Which areas are given particular emphasis — and why?
• How do you avoid uniform, "flat" illumination?
• Can you demonstrate the lighting effect using references or projects?

3 Usage and everyday practicality (Does the lighting work in real life?)

• How do you account for different uses and times of day?
• Can the lighting be flexibly adapted (e.g., dimming, scenes)?
• How is orientation within the space supported?
• Are there typical mistakes you avoid in similar projects?

4 Integration into the architecture (Is light truly part of the design?)

• How is the light integrated into the architecture?
• Are luminaires visibly showcased or installed more discreetly?
• How do light and materials complement each other?
• At what point in the design process are lighting decisions made?

5 Quality of the light (How do I recognize "good lighting"?)

• By what criteria do you measure the quality of the lighting?
• How do you ensure glare control?
• What role do contrasts and color effects play?
• How do your solutions differ from standard lighting?

6 Daylight and artificial light (How do the two interact?)

• How do you use daylight in the concept?
• How is the transition between daylight and artificial light designed?
• Are there strategies for control or shading?

7 Technology, costs, and operation (What does this mean for me in the long term?)

• What is the budget for the lighting design?
• What impact does the design have on energy consumption and operating costs?
• How maintenance-intensive is the system?
• What is the service life of the solutions used?

8 Planning process and collaboration (How professionally will this be carried out?)

• Do you work with specialized lighting designers?
• What planning steps are envisaged?
• Will I receive visualizations or samples in advance?
• How are decisions documented and coordinated?

9 Certainty and decision-readiness (Can I rely on the design?)

• What risks do you see in the lighting design for this project?
• Which decisions are critical early on and should not be postponed?
• How do you ensure that the intended effect is actually achieved?
• Key questions in brief (for clients without expert knowledge)
• How will light shape the impression of my building?
• Where will my eye be intentionally guided?
• How can I tell that the lighting is genuinely high quality?
• How does it differ from a standard solution?
• How certain is it that the final result will look exactly as planned?

10 This perspective is decisive

A good architect can answer these questions clearly, concretely, and vividly—not only in technical terms, but also in images and effects.