Published January 26, 2018

Lighting has great impact on the human body and ways of perceiving the environment. Yet beyond the individual human body and psychology, lighting also takes part in shaping ways of being together, enabling a sense of community, conviviality and atmospheres, which rests on culturally diverse visual norms. Lighting designers are central in shaping such sense of place and belonging, but at times designs rest more on intuitive than academic knowledge. A trademark of social sciences and humanities on the other hand has long been to contribute with historical facts, critique and concepts to understand urban spaces and processes of change, but often with little connection to lighting designers. In Social Science in particular, it is only more recently that focus has been on the role of lighting, or lack of such, in shaping social life, ideas about neighborhoods, class, identity, and urban spaces. How can lighting design gain from social science and humanities knowledge on social aspects of lighting? And what can social scientists learn from lighting designer and the challenges they face?  What kind of social challenges do lighting designers aim to solve? And how can such lighting strategies and designs be politically motivated?

This conference aims to connect and engage social science and humanities scholars with lighting designers and industry to discuss how both scholars and practitioners might gain a better and more holistic understanding of lighting as a central feature of social life by collaborating.

Speakers:
Mark Major: Speirs + Major
Roger Narboni: Concepto
Allan Ruberg: ÅF Lighting
Elettra Bordonaro: ‘London School of Economics and Configuring Light research group’, Co-Founder of Social Lighting Movement
Don Slater: ‘London School of Economics and Configuring Light research group’
David E. Nye: University of Southern Denmark
Mikkel Bille: Roskilde University

Text and more information on Roskilde University > here
In cooperation with Copenhagen light festival and Velux foundations .