Scientists estimate that seven-eights of all our perceptions are made through sight. Since sight is not possible without light, it follows that a lighting designer has an incredible impact on how an architectural project is perceived. But lighting designers do more than simply make buildings, and their architects, look good. Their input, if sought early enough, can end up making a big difference in the mood evoked by the space, the productivity of the people in it, the energy costs, and even sales, in the case of retailing. For example, lighting should not merely illuminate architecture, it should reinforce the creative concept. When planned early enough, lighting can make a building more attractive, safer, more energy efficient, and easier to maintain - important criteria to its owners. The users of the space will find that well-planned lighting not only makes their jobs easier, it makes them feel better.

At Gabriel Mackinnon, we strive to get involved in projects at the earliest possible planning stage, because what we learn will ultimately benefit the architect, the owners, and the occupants. Ideally, the lighting should be designed before it is engineered. The closer the project is to completion, the fewer options the lighting designer has.


Gabriel Mackinnon considers three issues at the outset of a project:

What do we want the light to do? That is, what are we trying to see or create?
Where should the light come from? The ceiling? The floor? In between? Directly? Indirectly?
What should the fixtures look like? Should they be a feature of the design, or unobtrusive?

To properly address these issues, we need to study the architect's plans, find out what the budget is, why the space is being built, who is going to use it, and for what purposes.


The functional aspect of the space will help us design a lighting system which can make people's performance in that space easier, safer, and more pleasurable.
The formal aspect of the space will help us decide what kind of lighting is most appropriate to complement an architect's concept.
The emotional aspect of the space will enable us to judge the type of mood and character the lighting should evoke.


Because the ideal working relationship between the designer, the architect and the electrical engineer is a close-knit one, successful lighting designers have a good understanding of the other disciplines. Philip Gabriel’s formal training and experience in architecture helps him appreciate the concerns of his project partners, and facilitate a good working chemistry. To perform their task successfully, the group must meld science and aesthetics. And for the job to proceed smoothly and efficiently, each party’s concerns must be addressed as soon as they arise, so compromises and repercussions are minor.

Overall, if the project is to be truly successful, there is a simple rule of thumb to follow: Don’t keep the lighting designer in the dark.