Celebrating excellence: highlights from the 8th LIT Lighting Design Awards

Once again, this year’s LIT Lighting Design Awards celebrated the creative brilliance of designers who pushed the boundaries of lighting design, transforming spaces and performances with their visionary work. Alongside honoring these exceptional projects, the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Allen Lee Hughes, a pioneering figure in lighting design.

With a career spanning five decades, Hughes profoundly influenced the worlds of theatre, opera, and dance. His work set a global standard for lighting design, and this recognition underscored his enduring impact on the industry.

Astrid Hébert, Director of the LIT Lighting Design Awards, said, “With over 800 submissions this year and our 10th anniversary coming up, it’s exciting to see how lighting design continues to transform spaces and inspire change. Honoring Allen Lee Hughes for his exceptional career is a celebration of his immense influence and the lasting impact he’s had on the industry.”

With over 800 submissions from 58 countries, the event highlighted groundbreaking innovation, creativity, and sustainability in lighting. A distinguished jury of 35 professionals, including architects, interior designers, academics, and media representatives, evaluated the entries and recognized exceptional contributions to the field.

Studio ZNA, led by Zerlina Hughes, earned the top honor in Architectural Lighting Design for Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The lighting design beautifully reflected themes of time and texture, enhancing the exhibit’s narrative. In Entertainment Lighting Design, Takahiro Matsuo of Lucent was celebrated for The Creation, an awe-inspiring installation featuring 20,000 suspended acrylic spheres illuminated to evoke the origins of the universe. In Lighting Product Design, Evgenii Vetlugin and Eduard Bochanov of Pipe Lighting GmbH were recognized for their innovative, eco-friendly LED system designed for film sets, blending portability with high efficiency.

In the Emerging Designer categories, Vaida Atkocaityte-Dalisanskiene from Vilnius Academy of Arts won in Lighting Product Design with MOOD, a modular lamp crafted from sustainable materials that allows users to create light compositions reflecting emotions and daily rhythms. In Lighting Design, David Yang and Margo Majewska from the California College of the Arts stood out with Light in Motion, a gallery installation inspired by Southwest canyons, blending dramatic contrasts and ambient effects to create an immersive naturalistic lightscape. Both Emerging Designers were awarded a cash prize of CHF 1,000 and a 6-month mentorship through the Silhouette Awards program, offering a valuable opportunity to advance their promising careers.

Other remarkable projects included Nebula by Patrizia Volpato Srl, a stunning artisan glass-blown hanging light, and Whiz 2.0 Bi-directional by Meteor Lighting, a refined asymmetric indirect floodlight. CMA Lighting Design’s work on the Silk Court Apartment and Kabluka Light & Digital Sculptures’ captivating installation, The Soul, also received accolades. L’Observatoire International was recognized for Coqodaq, showcasing excellence in bar and restaurant lighting, while the China Pavilion at the 2023 Venice Biennale, designed by Brandston Partnership Inc., was a standout in the “Visitor Experience & Museum Exhibition” category.

Licht Kunst Licht AG earned honors for their work on the Casals Forum – Music Quarter in Kronberg, seamlessly blending cultural heritage with contemporary lighting techniques. dpa Lighting Consultants transformed London’s Masala Zone at Piccadilly Circus with innovative bar and restaurant lighting, and Eleftheria Deko & Associates Lighting Design illuminated history with their breathtaking work on the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion, a masterpiece in cultural and heritage lighting. These projects, among others, demonstrated the diverse creativity and technical excellence celebrated in this year’s awards.

Each year, the LIT Lighting Design Awards recognize a visionary lighting designer with the esteemed Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2024, this honor was presented to Allen Lee Hughes, a trailblazer whose five-decade career has significantly shaped lighting design in theatre, opera, and dance. His unparalleled artistry and technical expertise have set a benchmark, inspiring countless designers and advancing the field’s global stature.

Allen Lee Hughes commented on receiving the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award, saying, “Thank you so much for this LIT Awards lifetime achievement award. It is great to have recognition for some fifty-six years of professional work. The award means a great deal to me and all of my many collaborators. Over the years, I have attempted to help tell hundreds of stories through my work as a lighting designer. There is a glorious feeling when we are rewarded with an audience that reaps pleasure and knowledge from our work. I appreciate you giving the efforts public attention.”

To explore the complete list of LIT Lighting Design Awards 2024 winners and delve into their remarkable achievements, check out the official website. These exceptional talents are redefining the future of lighting design, driving innovation, and inspiring creativity worldwide.