What if, in the next 3 to 5 years, designers could not only specify the products in their projects, but actually take a more active role in delivery from start to finish?

This talk explores a major shift in the role of the designer or specifier. Instead of simply making recommendations, they may soon be able to guide the entire process through to final purchase.

With emerging tools powered by AI, better access to structured product data, and direct integration with quoting systems, the landscape is changing quickly.

Designers will soon be able to:

• Start projects by defining design intent, without searching across hundreds of websites or sending dozens of emails
• Use AI to determine the best products based on application, performance, and budget.
• Collaborate directly with manufacturers to build product codes and confirm availability, connected to their inventory and configuration tools
• Generate a bill of materials and send it to approved manufacturers for pricing
• Deliver a quote to the GC or owner that can be acted on immediately

This brings forward an important question. As better procurement and product recommendation technology takes hold, and designers can better carry the spec all the way to order, do they become competitors to traditional agents? Or are we seeing the rise of a new hybrid model, where roles shift and new value is created?

We’ll look at where the industry is now, what’s around the corner, and how different players in the supply chain need to respond. Whether you’re a manufacturer, rep, distributor, or part of a design team, this session will help you understand how your role is evolving and what new opportunities are emerging.

Learning Objectives

• Obtain an awareness of potential changes with specifying projects as well as the tools available to help navigate these coming changes.
• Embrace the changes within the lighting industry and arm oneself with knowledge to stay ahead of said changes.
• Explore new procurement and product recommendation technologies and how they can help with your projects.
• Understand how the specification and supply chain will be impacted by new technologies and software.

This session features two renowned lighting professionals who will discuss their approaches to career advancement, effective networking, building a team, and mentoring others. The presenters will share their expertise from both design and manufacturing sectors, offering best practices for career development and personal growth at all stages of your career.

Learning Objectives

• Articulate an overview of the variety of expertise, skills, and occupations in the lighting industry via network development example
• Be able to discuss how effective networking skills are the foundation of building a team and mentoring others.
• Understand the coordinated application of diverse expertise diversity to the products, usage, and standards available and trending topics.
• Learn how to identify personal career goals through evaluation and alignment.

SWOT – Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. We will talk with 2 award winning lighting designers and an expert in disruptive technologies and have an unscripted discussion on where we are and where we want to be going forward. “Getting ahead of the curve”, has never been more important.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the variety of expertise, skills, and occupations in the lighting industry via network development examples.
• Analyze the skill sets that will still be required using AI: Human judgment. Complex problem-solving. Emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking.
• Understand the pros and cons, ups and downs, threats and opportunities that AI can provide the lighting specifier industry.
• Embrace the professional opportunities AI can provide the lighting design community.

Navigating LED specification sheets can be overwhelming due to the abundance of choices and technical details. This workshop is designed to demystify the process for specifiers, contractors, builders, and sales representatives, guiding you through the complexities of multi-page lighting cut sheets to ensure accurate and effective specification. In this practical seminar we will showcase project examples and real-life challenges that highlight why specific options are chosen, emphasizing the importance of context in decision-making. You will gain a clear understanding of how to interpret and utilize lighting specification sheets, making the selection process more straightforward. Pre-registration is required to receive the package that you will need to participate in the workshop. Learning objectives:

Learning Objectives

• Understand the information available on specification sheets
• Appreciate the importance of the fine print
• Identify the range of products available in a product family
• Recognize when more information is needed.

The panelists will guide us through a clear and accessible overview of smart lighting system integration with building management platforms, highlighting how these technologies optimize energy efficiency and enhance occupant comfort.

We’ll explore how advanced controls and sensors contribute to sustainability goals and support certifications such as LEED and WELL, while also delivering strong returns on investment.

We’ll discuss trend applications in both residential and commercial environments, emphasizing human-centric lighting and intuitive interfaces that improve accessibility.

As technology continues to evolve, adaptive lighting is emerging as a cornerstone of sustainable design.

Learning Objectives

• Learn to embrace lighting controls and feel comfortable with the terminology and technologies.
• Develop an awareness of the lighting control trends in both residential and commercial and their strong return on investment.
• Identify the sustainability goals adherent with LEED and WELL certifications.
• Articulate to you customer the symbiotic relationship between lighting controls and energy and financial savings.

Join three leading experts in lighting research and design as they reveal how syncing with nature’s rhythms can improve our health, enrich our environments, and transform the spaces where we live and work. At its core, this interactive discussion focuses on reconnecting with nature—using what we now know about light’s impact on well-being, applying technology wisely, and recognizing when less is more.

Learning Objectives

• Understand how artificial lighting can, or cannot, replicate natural conditions, and the potential risks and benefits of relying on artificial lighting.
• Analyze new findings in lighting science should prompt us to reconsider our current approaches to lighting, considering their impact on energy and our overall well-being.
• Identify simple solutions are the best solutions for our human condition, yet they are frequently overlooked or underutilized.
• Be aware of how widely divergent interests often create tensions, and why it’s essential to educate ourselves on these topics.