We need your input in the Lighting Design Industry Census…

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

Equity in Lighting, recently teamed up with the Asian Lighting Community and WILD’s DEIR team to put forward a second round Lighting Design Industry Census. The purpose of this survey is to provide a rich portrait of the lighting design community through data collection and analysis of the personal, social, and economic characteristics of our group. To better equitably serve our community, we must first get to know our community – who are we, how does our group compare with others, and how has it changed over time.

Please see the following link https://lnkd.in/eQ-hczV5 to fill out the survey”

Heritage Months and Identity Recognitions Feedback Initiative – September

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

SEPTEMBER: Latin Heritage Month

Mariana Gutierrez

NYC Sales Director

Coronet LED

MONTH: September: Latin Heritage Month

Celebrating my Latin heritage means taking the platform and step up for future generations of girls and women in creative industries, who, like me, may have grown up looking to roles in other countries & cultures due to the lack of visibility and existing roles in our own.

Celebrating our 1st Full Year as a Membership Organization with a word from WILD Member – Megan Barclay

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

Congratulations to Megan for becoming a principal of the Canadian-based agency, Prolux Lighting and being a founding member of WILD’s Edmonton Chapter! 

“We wanted to build a support and network system primarily for women where everyone felt included, safe and recognized.”

Read more about her decade long journey in lighting here..

– How did you get into lighting?
I stumbled into lighting and never left! I previously came from the restaurant industry which sparked my passion for customer service/people. 

– Tell us about your career path
I started with Prolux in 2014 and was hired as a PO entry person. I was eager to learn from the people around me and picked up as much knowledge as I could. I was very fortunate to work with such a knowledgeable team that was willing to answers all the questions that came to mind. I quickly realized I had a passion for lighting and the technology behind it. It is such a fast paced industry and that was something I thrived in. I moved into project coordinating, sales and finally principal. I really enjoy working with people and solving problems and I think that’s what lead me to where I am today. Most importantly, I focus on building long-term relationships with clients, manufacturers, and staff. 

– What motivated you to start the Edmonton WILD chapter?
One of my good customers, who has become such a great friend, and I were talking one afternoon and she mentioned WILD and what the organization was doing in the states. It sounded like such a great opportunity to start a Chapter in Edmonton. As the current President of the IES(myself) and VP of the IES (Tanya) we realized that we wanted more support and recognition for all the amazing women we have met throughout the years. We wanted to build a support and network system primarily for women where everyone felt included, safe, and recognized. Our first few events were very successful and we cannot wait to see the Chapter grow.

Heritage Months and Identity Recognitions Feedback Initiative

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

JUNE: Caribbean American Heritage Month

Alexandria Rodriguez

Showroom Manager

Coronet LED

MONTH: June

Caribbean Heritage Month is special to me because it’s been a journey of discovering who I am within the black and Latin communities. My upbringing, influenced by Trinidadian, Haitian, and Jamaican cultures, taught me to appreciate our differences and how they bring us together to create beautiful things in all areas of life. Growing up, I was surrounded by the vibrant traditions, languages, and foods of the Caribbean. From soca music to Carnival celebrations, each aspect of Caribbean culture connected me to my roots and made me feel part of a larger community. As I learned more about my heritage, I realized that despite the differences among Caribbean nations, we share a common history of resilience and pride. This unity inspires creativity and innovation across different industries. Caribbean Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of Caribbean people around the world, from literature and art to music and food. It’s also a chance to challenge stereotypes and promote understanding among diverse communities. For me, this month is about honoring the past, enjoying the present, and looking forward to a future of equality and cultural exchange. It’s a reminder of the enduring spirit and contributions of the Caribbean community.

Pilot Program Successful: Stay Tuned for the Mentoring Program Roll-Out!

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

Over 30 women from across the country helped us run a test pilot of WILD’s first peer-to-peer mentorship program throughout January, February, and March. The pilot program grouped women of various ages, backgrounds, experience levels, and locations, providing them with a mentoring committee liaison and a resource toolkit to structure the three-month test program. The feedback that has been received has been both encouraging and tremendously helpful in tweaking the program for the planned rollout this coming Fall. Stay tuned for more information and the call to join, coming soon!

We want to send a big shout-out to all of the cohort participants that helped kick the tires in the pilot program, and to all of our liaisons who helped keep things on track in the test phase. Our committee is looking forward to helping WILD make meaningful connections through mentorship through this program!

Want to get involved? Shoot a note to wildmentorshipprogram@gmail.com!

If you have any questions, please reach out to wildmentorshipprogram@gmail.com. We hope you take the chance to come grow with us!

WILD on Wikipedia: a Virtual Edit-A-Thon 

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

Building a Digital History of Women Lighting Designers

The WILD on Wikipedia initiative was introduced during Women’s History Month, and we are pleased to invite you to our first virtual Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon on May 22nd, 2024, from 6 to 8 PM!  

In this virtual Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon, we will focus on two individuals in our field to create and edit their Wikipedia pages. During the event, we will illustrate the process of building these pages for other chapters and individuals, and hopefully inspire others to host their own local Edit-a-Thons to build our online history. Every time we get a woman published on Wikipedia, we have successfully written a page in history! 

The WILD on Wikipedia (W-o-W) initiative aims to build an online record of women who have built and shaped the lighting design industry. We invite you to join us at this webinar and contribute to creating a page with your chapter, community, company, and more! Your participation is essential in making this initiative a success!

Heritage Months and Identity Recognitions Feedback Initiative

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

MONTH: Mental Health Awareness Month

Amanda Garcia Miranda

Senior Lighting Designer

HLB Lighting Design

MONTH: May

Every mental health awareness month, I reflect on how much softer and more empathetic I can be towards myself and others. This month is also a time to contemplate what the next best steps are towards breaking and healing from generational experiences woven from trauma, cultural/societal expectations, and the physical health patterns that manifest from that. Unfortunately, many of us are familiar with carrying transgenerational strain on our backs. But it doesn’t have to be this way. When we create space to listen compassionately and uncritically towards ourselves and our peers, we break cycles of shame and guilt. That shared space becomes more open, authentic, and trustworthy over time. We all have the power to heal, break cycles, love ourselves harder, and protect the peace of our bodies, hearts, and minds. We owe it to ourselves. Small steps are still progress. Surround yourself with those who see the positives in you. Sometimes, I think that maybe that’s why many of us are drawn to this ethereal field; we design light because a part of us yearns for it and believes that our communities deserve it. Maybe we want to make everyone’s world, especially those we love, just a little bit brighter.

Showroom tour for California College of the Arts students 

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

Sharing our passion for lighting and design — WILD Board member Haley Laurence worked with WILD Portland Committee member Julia Redfern (Lucifer) and WILD SF Committee members Maryanne Berger and Leslie Siegel (both ALR) and WILD SF members Margo Majewska and Margaux Schindler (both educators at CCA). Photo from CCA.

As part of our new student outreach initiative, WILD Board member Haley Laurence worked with Portland member Julia Redfern and San Francisco members Leslie Siegel, Maryanne Berger, and educator Margo Majewska to organize a tour of the Lucifer Lighting showroom for students from California College of the Arts. The students were able to engage with industry professionals while learning about lighting fundamentals in a fun and interactive environment. This was a wonderful opportunity to utilize the connections within our network to inspire the next generation of lighting designers!

For more student outreach opportunities contact Outreach Chair Haley Laurence at outreach@womeninlightinganddesign.org

Women in Lighting and Design want to celebrate all women on March 8th!

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organization specific.

Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively we can all #InspireInclusion.

Learn more here –

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