The Professional Lighting Design Convention played host to Vox Juventa, a program of papers delivered by students (all under the age of 30) who are enrolled in a lighting design program, an architecture program, or a related discipline. The six student presenters come from around the globe and their work signals the diversity of lighting research topics that are being pursued today. Each student was given a half-hour to present, and then followed that presentation with a few minutes for a question-and-answer period. These sessions were some of the best attended through out the conference and often were standing room only.
Natalie Bell, a student at KTH, Royal Institute of Technology in Handen, Sweden, discussed her work on “Lighting and the Perception of Safety.” Kate Park, a student at Parsons The New School for Design in New York, then presented her project “Light Memorial: Memory in Light.” This was followed by Brianna McMenemy’s presentation,” Light as a Communication Tool within the Pervasively Developmentally Disordered Population.”
(McMenemy began working on this project while she was enrolled at the Parsons’ lighting design program, and the project is now the focus of her Ph.D. studies at Penn State University.) Mariana Novaes, a student at KTH, discussed her work onthe role of lighting design and how it impacts the elderly’s perception of space. Khah-Leang Choon, astudent at the University of Technology, Business, and Design in Wismar, Germany, gave a very lively presentation on light in nature and the impact of bio luminescence.
The program concluded with an engaging discussion by University of Wismar architecture student Paul Ehlert who spoke on communicating with dynamic lighting. If ever there was concern about the future of the next generation of lighting practitioners, Vox Juventa is a strong reminder that there is a great amount of talent and inquisitiveness waiting in the wings.
