Scenes from Light! Design Expo 2024: San Francisco
On Thursday, June 20, the Embarcadero was abuzz with excitement as Pier 27 welcomed nearly 1,500 lighting people for the annual Light! Design Expo. Organized by the San Francisco Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), this event, now in its sixth iteration, has become one of the foremost regional lighting showcases in the country.
Light! Design Expo, which debuted in 2017, attracted participants not just from Northern California but also from Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Southern California. Personnel from the three largest lighting agents in Seattle were in attendance, bringing customers along with them. Seattle design and engineering professionals from NBBJ, Salas O'Brien, and Dark Light Design were reportedly present. Reports even mentioned a limo service transporting lighting professionals from Sacramento to the event.
This year, an impressive array of approximately 143 exhibitors — nearly the same as last year — dazzled attendees with their state-of-the-art lighting and lighting controls products on display. The vast expanse of the venue, framed by soaring floor-to-ceiling windows, offered breathtaking views of the water, passing boats, and the iconic Bay Bridge, setting a picturesque backdrop for the event.
An Expo for the Design and Construction Community
Event Director Linda Carrillo, also a specification sales professional with Lighting Systems, shared that the expo is curated for the design and construction community. She explained that the Interior Architecture and Design community attended thanks in part to a collaboration with IIDA (International Interior Design Association). The expo's success can be attributed to its far-reaching approach, drawing individuals from diverse lighting-related fields, including architects, lighting designers, engineers, general contractors, and electrical distributors, among others.
Proceeds from the event help fund IES initiatives, including scholarships, education, section events, and the annual holiday party, according to Carrillo. As of 7:52 p.m. on show day, eight minutes before closing time, over 2,000 people had registered, with nearly 1,500 making actual in-person appearances. Brandon Thrasher, Senior Principal at HLB Lighting Design, mentioned that all designers from his San Francisco office were encouraged to attend the event.
Strong Support from Northern California Lighting Agents
One important enabler of Light! Design Expo’s success is the widespread support from eight Northern California lighting agents. Major players like ALR, sixteen5hundred, CAL Lighting, and Lighting Systems had a dominant presence. Other agents, including Archetype, Healy Mattos, Wunder Lighting & Controls, and DZ Cook, also had a presence with their manufacturer partners.
Beyond lighting displays, the event featured four free AIA and IES accredited seminars. Attendees also enjoyed continuous food service throughout the day, with local food trucks stationed among the lighting brand booths, offering a variety of culinary delights at any time.
The Light! Design Expo has solidified its reputation as a premier event in the lighting industry, drawing a diverse crowd from across the region and beyond. With strong support from Northern California lighting agents and a focus on the design and construction community, the event continues to grow in both size and influence. As the expo evolves, it promises to remain a pivotal gathering for industry professionals, fostering innovation and collaboration in the world of lighting.