A trip to California in late August for the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Annual Conference proved to be inspiring and educational for a pair of Humber Polytechnic students. 

Rozlyn Mead, who’s in the final year of the Architectural Technology program, and fourth-year Bachelor of Interior Design student Dayanna Lopez Buitrago found the experience rewarding. Lopez had attended the conference the previous year and, if the opportunity arose to go again, she would jump at it. 

Highlights of the three-day trip included a private tour of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa that featured presentations from the project’s architect and lighting designers. Mead and Lopez gained first-hand insight into the integration of lighting and design at a popular tourist destination through the opportunity. 

“Getting to speak with the lighting designer who reflected on the projects they’ve worked on was really valuable in my opinion,” said Mead. 

The gala also offered important networking opportunities with industry professionals and exposure to innovative new lighting products. 

Mead met people from around the world at the conference and took in several talks and workshops on topics ranging from the impacts lighting can have on an aging population to the ongoing rise of Artificial Intelligence in the industry. 

The first day was dedicated to emerging professionals where the conference brought in people with experience in the lighting industry to share the experiences, challenges and opportunities they’ve dealt with in their careers. 

Lopez also enjoyed the seminars and the networking and was happy she was able to attend the Illumination Awards ceremony. It featured innovative lighting projects from across the world, including at home here in Toronto and overseas in China, and left Lopez feeling inspired. 

Lopez even reconnected with people she had met at the previous year’s conference. 

“It was great to share in everyone’s passion for design and lighting,” said Lopez. “I was able to learn from their experiences while also meeting new people with this shared interest. It was a great networking opportunity without a doubt.” 

This conference expanded their professional networks and deepened their understanding of the evolving role of lighting in architecture and interior design. Mead appreciated that the trip was an opportunity to take learning beyond the classroom while Lopez added that the networking showed her career paths in the industry she hadn’t previously considered.