Enhance Certificate in Lighting Design: RYNESS ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES LTD
Not coming from a lighting design background, the pair wanted to gain a stronger understanding of effective lighting schemes.
They chose The LIA’s Enhance Certificate in Lighting Design to build that knowledge and develop their confidence when discussing lighting with customers and colleagues.
Coming from an electrical sales background rather than lighting design, we asked them about their experience and what they took away from the course.
- Which course did you attend through LIA Knowledge and how did you find it?
Caitlin: I attended the Enhance Certificate in Lighting Design and found it extremely valuable. It was great to have the opportunity to learn a new skill that complements my role so well. I enjoyed the combination of self-paced learning alongside the facilitated learning, and it was great to get an understanding of the content before then discussing my thoughts with others enrolled on the course.
George: I attended the Enhance Certificate in Lighting Design course online, which I thought was great. As someone with no experience in the lighting design field, the course started with the fundamentals and gradually became more complex and in depth. I feel I finished the course with a strong foundation on which I plan to build on.
- What advice would you give to someone else who is really keen to complete this course?
Caitlin: I would tell them to absolutely go for it! I don’t have a design background or any experience with lighting design software, yet I still found the course suitably accessible and challenging. I would also advise them to pay attention to the online modules, the information given during the videos really helps when it comes to the final project and nailing the key principles of lighting design.
George: My piece of advice would be to take your time familiarising yourself with the various modules and not to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the project. While there is a lot to learn and do, the fundamentals are not overly complex and once you are comfortable with them it is easier to build your understanding of the more in depth topics. The course is designed so that you can always return to a topic if you need to.
- What would you say was your favourite module or favourite part of the course and why did you enjoy it so much?
Caitlin: For me, the final assessment was my favourite part of the course as I enjoyed putting what I had learnt during the video modules into practice. I felt like the final submission was a great opportunity to bring everything I had learnt during the course together and reflect on how much I had learnt. It was particularly rewarding to apply what I had learnt to a real design, and I enjoyed having the freedom to make creative decisions and see my ideas come to life.
George: My favourite part of the course was definitely the summative assessment at the end of the course. While I had never used any lighting design software before, I found getting to grips and experimenting with it was loads of fun. The scale of the project felt very daunting at first but I really enjoyed learning how to use the software, and once I was confident with it the project became really enjoyable! I’d like to give a shout out to Dan Griffiths as well, as he was always happy to help and offer support with the software.
- How do you feel this course will help you in your role at Ryness now you have completed it?
Caitlin: This course will definitely help me in my role at Ryness as it has given me a much better understanding of how lighting can be used in different spaces. Working in B2B sales, particularly with hotels, it is valuable to understand how lighting can affect the look and the feel of a space. The course has improved my confidence in speaking to customers in regard to understanding design ideas behind a project and focusing on overall atmosphere rather than induvial items.
George: As a company, we supply a massive range of lighting solutions to different commercial and hospitality businesses across the country, so having a deeper understanding of the reasons behind the choices our customers make will help me to better meet their needs and provide a higher level of service whenever possible. Looking to the future, I’m hoping to further my Lighting Design qualifications with a view to providing it as a service to customers, and broaden the value I can add for my business.
- Where does your passion for lighting design and working within the lighting sector come from?
Caitlin: I think my passion for lighting design comes from seeing how much of a difference lighting can make to a space. I enjoy learning about how different lights, colours and designs can change the feel of a room and create different atmospheres. Working within the lighting sector has also given me the opportunity to learn more about the products and how they can be used, which has made me want to continue developing my knowledge and skills within lighting design.
George: I have been working in the industry for just over a year now and throughout this time my interest in lighting has grown exponentially. I think working with luxury hotels in London has helped nurture this interest, as I’ve been lucky enough to see the effect that lighting can have on a space inside and outside of some beautiful buildings. This helps to appreciate the power of lighting and how important a role it plays. I am still fairly new in the lighting design industry, but I am very keen to progress further and build on my passion for the industry.
Completing the Enhance Certificate has given Caitlin and George a stronger foundation in lighting design and greater confidence when engaging with the subject.
Their experience demonstrates that the course can be a valuable next step for professionals looking to extend their existing electrical knowledge into lighting, even when lighting design has not been their original area of expertise.
George Onoufriou, Manager for both Caitlin and George said,
This Lighting Design course has been a great addition to George and Caitlin's development and will certainly go on to support their roles within our business. Working in a technical sales environment, having a good understanding of the principles of lighting design allows them to provide customers with more informed and effective solutions, rather than simply supplying products. I have already seen both of them apply what they have learned to their day-to-day activities and discuss how they can utilise their new skill to maximum effect for the business. Overall, this course has helped them both continue to develop into more confident and knowledgeable lighting professionals.
Dan Griffiths, Technical Operations Manager at The LIA, leads on the technical expertise behind the course and understands the importance of making lighting knowledge accessible to professionals from different backgrounds, said:
One of the real strengths of the Enhance Certificate in Lighting Design is that it is designed around how people actually learn to design. Learners can build their technical knowledge at their own pace, before applying that understanding to real-life lighting design challenges through our facilitated workshops. The final project then gives them the opportunity to bring everything together independently and demonstrate what they can achieve.
Dan continues,
The aim is not simply to teach people the principles of lighting design, but to give them the knowledge and confidence to apply those principles for themselves. Caitlin and George are great examples of this. They came into the course with strong electrical backgrounds, engaged with the learning, challenged themselves through the practical work and ultimately demonstrated that they could develop effective, compliant and responsible lighting designs of their own.
The Enhance Certificate in Lighting Design forms part of The LIA Profession Map, providing learners with a clear pathway for continued professional development.
Following completion, learners can progress to the Advanced Certificate in Lighting Design – Interior and Advanced Certificate in Lighting Design – Exterior, as well as becoming eligible to apply for membership of the Society of Light and Lighting (SLL).
For professionals like Caitlin and George, the course demonstrates that developing lighting expertise doesn’t necessarily mean starting from scratch. With the right foundation and a willingness to learn, existing electrical knowledge can become the starting point for a deeper understanding of lighting design.
