Each year—in addition to its celebration of world class architecture, technical achievement and aesthetic brilliance—the IES Illumination Awards program makes the case for professional lighting design… emphasis on professional. To put it another way, the IA demonstrates skilled craftspeople showing what their years of training can produce.
This idea of professionalism came to mind as I was reading a Father’s Day essay by Taylor Plimpton, son of the legendary sportswriter and author George Plimpton. Plimpton was the dean of “participatory journalism,” strapping on the shoulder pads to play for the Detroit Lions and the gloves to take on a world-champion boxer. The results were not pretty. The younger Plimpton writes, “Interestingly, part of what my father’s experiment in participatory journalism proved…[was that] there was a huge chasm between the professional and the fan, and it wasn’t just the size of these guys, or their athleticism, but the work—the years of practice or sacrifice.”
The same goes for the designers receiving Illumination Awards. Gifted, of course, but that gift has been honed through practice and hard work—the hallmarks of professionalism. Congratulations to the winners. Your awards are well-earned.
* * *
Speaking of professionalism and professionals, I want to close this Editor’s Note with a heartfelt thank you to LD+A Managing Editor Samantha Schwirck, who left the IES in June. Over the past 10 years, Samantha was a critical member of the editorial team, a trusted sounding board and colleague, and a wonderful ambassador for LD+A within the industry. Thanks, Samantha, for making us all look good. We wish you nothing but the best.