Lighten Up was an illuminating exploration of 64 switched-on domestic lighting solutions from the UK. The quest for sustainability is driving the evolution of new technologies, aesthetics, materials and interactions. Shedding light on the stories behind the products, Lighten Up offered insight and inspiration for the next generation of lighting.

Ranging from new graduates to long established companies, the Lighten Up designers explored diverse routes towards sustainable lighting design. The approaches included:

A focus on efficiency: new uses and looks for energy-efficient lighting technology, renewable energy sources, monitoring energy use and motivating behaviour change.

Awareness of material choices: sustainably produced natural resources, local production, reclaimed or recycled materials.

Consideration of the relationship between product and user: adaptability and responsiveness, user as maker, and designs that recall past times.

Long-term thinking: products that last a lifetime, and design with future lifecycles in mind.

Click here to find out more about the LIGHTEN UP book...

or here to read more about the exhibition...

Kate Goldsworthy

Exhibitions > 2008-09 Lighten Up @ 100% Futures