LEDucation 2026: Thoughts & Takeaways from Our Designers
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Each year, LEDucation creates an opportunity for our offices to gather and spend time together, while furthering our lighting education, discovering the latest products and trends to bring to our projects, and connecting with other members of the AEC industry. After reflecting on the trip, we're excited to share our takeaways.
This year, our team recognized a strong blend of design innovation, performance, and sustainability. Manufacturers like Modular Lighting Instruments continue to offer distinctive fixtures at accessible price points, and Trans Globe Lighting stands out as a practical source for high-quantity multifamily applications.
LightArt emphasized material sustainability, and Lighting Services Inc impressed with exceptionally rich color quality. Advancements in linears remain surprising, with systems like KKDC’s KIISS system introducing linear extruded housing with replaceable LED boards–which can be sent back and recycled by KKDC–for easier maintenance and reduced waste.
Similarly, Lucetta provided a fresh take on familiar materials with a smart approach for backlighting countertops. This product increases the accessibility of the light source while still fully illuminating the surface, making it easier to maintain and extending its lifespan.
In keeping with this theme, our team members were particularly interested in products that utilized sustainable materials. Our designers shouted out Lightly which uses wood, Light and Green, whose products are made with gypsum, and others such as LightArt and Eureka, with 3D printed fixtures with recycled filament.
Taking the time to explore brands we were not as familiar with revealed strong performance by allowing us to get a better visual and tactile sense of their lighting products.
Innovation stood out in small details, like QTL’s wall dimmer with an integrated driver—an efficient solution for tight spaces. And broader trends included growing interest in light and health, AI-integrated controls, improved glare management, refined optics, and a continued presence of thoughtful, decorative fixture design.
This year “Designer Hours” improved conversations and connection, creating a lighter and more intentional environment. Educational sessions highlighted lighting’s role in code compliance and wellness beyond specification, with quantitative research supporting the physical, neurological, and mental impact directly associated with lighting.
Tabling space gave platforms to important lighting organizations such as ALC, BUILD, EIL, Light Justice, NACLIQ, and WILD, providing an extra sense of belonging to the industry for all, no matter the length of our careers. All industry events feel a little bit like a reunion, reconnecting us with each other, former colleagues, classmates, and friends we've gained over the years. You just can't replace that with an online presence, and the HLS crew enjoyed every moment.
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