“The EcoVadis Platinum rating confirms the Zumtobel Group’s consistently pursued path: for us, sustainability is not a single project, but an integral part of our business. This success is only possible thanks to the joint commitment of our teams and the continuous implementation of our sustainability strategy. At the same time, we see this award as an incentive to continue advancing our ambitions – in the interests of our customers and partners, our employees and the environment,” says Alfred Felder, CEO of the Zumtobel Group.

Measurable sustainable development

The Zumtobel Group’s progress to the Platinum level demonstrates one thing above all: sustainable development always goes hand in hand with transparent reporting. Throughout the entire value chain, the company is implementing concrete measures with quantitative targets as part of its sustainability strategy – consisting of the Net-Zero, Circular Economy and Partner of Choice goals. Regulatory frameworks, such as the ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards), under which the Zumtobel Group reports on its progress in sustainability, are a significant catalyst for creating transparency.

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Luminaires from the EDITIONS series by Zumtobel have been recognised at the recent prestigious design awards: The compact TALUNA table lamp won the “Red Dot: Best of the Best” Award 2026 in the “Lighting and Luminaires” category. Only the best products in each category receive this quality seal. In the same category, the SKENA free-standing luminaire was awarded the Red Dot Award 2026. At the Austrian State Prize for Design 2026, on the other hand, the SOLENA glass tube luminaire was one of three nominated favorites in the running; SKENA received one of 14 special recognitions. With THE EDITIONS, Zumtobel offers a curated series of lighting solutions that are developed in collaboration with international architecture and design firms and lighting planners for exclusive architectural projects and set particularly high standards of design and functionality.

The TALUNA table luminaire impressed the jury of the Red Dot Design Award with its minimalist, forward-looking design, reliability and sustainability. At TALUNA, the design, construction, and number of components used are reduced to the absolute essentials. Timeless elegance, replaceable LED illuminant, recyclable materials such as sheet steel, and high manufacturing quality ensure the luminaire’s durability and substance. The housing made of bent sheet steel emphasises the minimalist style. The joints of the light housing are not welded. This reduces power consumption during production. Available soon in ten subtle pastel shades, TALUNA blends harmoniously into any room and makes a strong statement.

With the SKENA free-standing luminaire, another product from THE EDITIONS collection has received the Red Dot Design Award. SKENA is the result of a collaboration with the Hamburg-based office BAID Architektur and a customised answer to the requirements of modern working environments. The luminaire is perfect for open work zones or even double workstations. With the help of integrated sensors, it permanently adapts the light to the daylight and the presence of people in the room. With the optionally available swarm function, several luminaires can also be connected to form a so-called light cloud in order to create optimal workplace lighting as well as a pleasant atmosphere.

SOLENA made it into the top three products in the “Capital Goods” category at the Austrian State Award for Design 2026 and was thus nominated for the winner’s podium. The suspended luminaire was developed together with the architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron and the lighting designer Reflexion AG for the sustainable office building HORTUS. The luminaire combines design, function and aesthetics with a distinctive signature and radical simplicity. The result is high-precision light, efficient illumination and a fine shimmer of light that accentuates structures and gives the room atmospheric depth. SOLENA combines sustainability and design quality in one luminaire: designed to be modular, maintenance-friendly and recyclable, it impresses with maximum efficiency and visual excellence. In 2025, SOLENA was honored with the “Red Dot: ‘Best of the Best’” design prize for its outstanding product design.

“THE EDITIONS embodies our aspiration to rethink light, developed for exclusive projects in forward-looking design. We bring enthusiasts together and empower creative minds to realize visionary ideas, push boundaries and inspire others,” said Matthias Menke, Vice President Atelier at Light Zumtobel.

Photo credit: Isabel Bechter.

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The Silhouette Awards, co-founded by Eve Gaut and Katia Kolovea, marked its fifth milestone anniversary year on 4th June 2026 with an in-person celebration at the BDP in London, bringing together more than 85 lighting professionals alongside a global programme of speakers, mentors, mentees, and international contributions from across the lighting industry.

Established in 2021, the Silhouette Awards were created to address a gap within the lighting industry: while many awards recognise completed work and established practice, few focus on the people shaping the profession – particularly those at the beginning of their careers. Built as a global mentorship platform, the programme connects emerging lighting designers with experienced practitioners to build guidance, knowledge-sharing, and long-term professional development. Now in its fifth year, the initiative has grown into a truly international community spanning 100 mentor-mentee pairings, 42 countries, and a continuously expanding network of practitioners committed to supporting the next generation of lighting designers.

The celebration event was structured as a two-part experience, beginning with a conference programme that featured keynote talks, mentor + mentee conversations, emerging voices, and international contributions from across the Silhouette Awards network. This was followed by a celebration and networking reception where guests gathered for drinks, food, meaningful conversations, and entertainment.

A key moment of the conference element was the contribution of the Silhouette Awards ‘Global Voices’, featuring recorded reflections from lighting professionals across India, the UAE, Hong Kong, Australia, Greece, Costa Rica, Bangladesh, the United States, Russia, and beyond. These voices reinforced a central message that while careers unfold across different countries, cultures, and time zones, the challenges, ambitions, and opportunities within the lighting industry remain remarkably similar. Contributors included Iftikhar Ilyas, Siddharth Mathur, Eugenia Cheng, Dr Emrah Baki Ulas, Petros Kitsantas, Sudipti Varadharajan, Valeria Coghi, Sam Koerbel, Farahbee Rahman, Anthony G., Valery Gorelova, Martin Klaasen, and Mashaarah Bhatia, each sharing personal insight, encouragement, and reflection for the next generation of designers.

Alongside this, the event featured a speaker programme shaped by the Silhouette community itself, including Michael Grubb (Year 1 Mentor) delivering the opening keynote, alongside Melissa Toasa and Sacha Abizadeh (Year 4), Tiago Winer and Fabiana Nery Pardhanani (Year 4), Gary Thornton (Year 2 Mentor), Marci Song (Year 1 Mentor), Xueqi Du (Year 5 Mentee), Maria Laura Polselli (Year 5 Mentee), Tiziana Regalado (Year 4 Mentee), Andra Munro (Year 3 Mentee), and Kristina Allison CEng FSLL MCIBSE (Year 2 Mentor). Each speaker contributed with perspectives shaped by mentorship, career development, and the defining experiences that shape a lighting design career.

Across both the conference and the networking celebration, the evening highlighted how mentorship within the Silhouette Awards extends beyond structured guidance, creating lasting relationships that support confidence, identity, and professional growth. What made the evening particularly special was the people who brought it to life. Mentors generously shared their experience, mentees openly reflected on their journeys, and speakers contributed with honesty, personal insights and courage. The celebration was further enriched by a live saxophonist – Stacey Westbrook from Parrot PR and Marketing, alongside a silhouette artist creating bespoke keepsakes for guests, adding to an atmosphere filled with food, drinks, laughter, and a strong sense of community.

At its core, the ambition of the Silhouette Awards remains unchanged: to embed mentorship as a fundamental part of professional life within the lighting industry, ensuring emerging designers have access to the guidance, insight, and support needed to thrive.

Eve Gaut, Parrot PR and Marketing, said, “Reaching our fifth year is a real milestone for the Silhouette Awards, but what matters most to us is the community that has grown around it. The honesty, generosity, and commitment of everyone involved continue to shape this programme in ways we could never have predicted.”

Katia Kolovea, Archifos, added, “The lighting industry is global, but what connects us is far deeper than geography – it’s shared challenges, ambition, and a willingness to support one another. The Silhouette Awards has always been about creating space for those connections to happen, and seeing mentors, mentees, and global voices come together like this was incredibly powerful.”

The Silhouette Awards extends a sincere thanks to the specific event sponsors for their invaluable support in making the 5th anniversary celebration possible. Conference Sponsor Signify Lighting Academy, Evening Reception Sponsor Studio Due, Entertainment Sponsorformalighting, Official Tote Bag Sponsor OneEightyOne, Official Press Partner darc media, and Venue Partner BDP.

Applications for the next round of the Silhouette Awards open mid-September 2026 for mentees, with the Mentor Open Call for the 2026–2027 cohort already live. The programme welcomes emerging lighting designers with up to 8 years’ experience as mentees, and experienced practitioners with 15+ years in the field as mentors.

The Silhouette Awards is a collaboration between Parrot PR and Marketing and Archifos. Further information and updates are available at silhouetteawards.com.

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Run in association with LSi, the awards are independently judged by a team of trusted industry experts. Entrants will have the opportunity to present their products to the judges on-site at PLASA Show 2026, with the winners announced at the show on the evening of Monday 7th September.

All shortlisted products will be showcased on the Innovation Gallery, at the heart of the PLASA Show, from 6th – 8th September, and online in the show’s Virtual Innovation Gallery.

The Awards for Innovation are open to everyone, whether you’re a PLASA member, exhibiting at PLASA Show, or simply have something truly innovative to share.

If you submit your entry by Friday 31st July, you could save up to £220 with the Early Bird rate. Plus, your entry will benefit from inclusion in LSi’s PLASA Show Preview in the bumper September issue. Winners will also receive coverage in the October issue.

“Winning a PLASA Award for Innovation was a proud moment for our team, giving real recognition to the creativity behind our product and raising its profile across this unique industry,” comments Lois Williams of Luminous Showtech, who took home an award in 2025 for the innovative Hydra-Storm Rain Machine. “Launching the Hydra-Storm Rain Machine at PLASA Show 2025 and being able to call it ‘award-winning’ from the start was the perfect introduction.”

He continues: “We’d highly recommend entering the PLASA Awards for Innovation. It’s one of the few platforms that truly celebrates innovation in our industry and gives new ideas the spotlight they deserve. Beyond the recognition, it’s a unique chance to showcase your product in the Innovation Gallery, letting visitors see the product for themselves and sparking conversations.”

Up to eight products will be selected for a coveted Award for Innovation, and one standout could be honoured with the Gold Award. There’s also a dedicated Sustainability Award available for products that demonstrate meaningful environmental impact.

2025’s winners included a mix of boundary-pushing brands from across the industry – including Sennheiser, which won Gold for Spectera – the world’s first wideband, bidirectional wireless ecosystem. Other winners included:

• Disguise for its AI-powered Ask Ald3n software

• Powersoft for its NOTA 142 lipstick-size amplifier

• Doughty Engineering for its UK-manufactured Light Weight Quick Trigger

• Robe for its hyper-innovative ProFrost

• Vari-Lite for its next-gen luminaire, VLHive 151 Digital FX

The final deadline for entries is Friday 21st August 2026. 

To find out more and submit your entry, head to: www.plasashow.com/awards

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The Awards provide a great opportunity to share best practice, promote electrical safety, gain recognition, and give clients and customers confidence in products and services.

Award categories to enter include: 

Product of the year:

This category is open to products launched on or after June 1st, 2024, that enable a safer way of working on or near electrical systems.

Paul Skyrme Electrical Safety Initiative of the year:

This category is open to organisations, charities, individuals, and other industry stakeholders who have enhanced electrical safety through an outstanding initiative. The initiative must have started after June 1st, 2024. For example, this may be a marketing or awareness campaign, workplace safety initiative or resident engagement exercise.

Changemaker of the year:

This category is open to an individual who has gone above and beyond their legal requirements to have a positive impact on electrical safety within their workplace. Entrants should provide evidence of this positive change in the workplace from 1st June 2024.

Derek Thompson Industry Service Award:

This award is for an organisation or individual who has contributed to enhancing electrical safety for a sustained period of typically over five years. You must not have previously submitted this application as an entry for the awards.

Who can enter

The Awards are open to all individuals and organisations based in the UK with a notable interest in electrical safety.

The ESR Above and Beyond Awards are free to enter and open to all. You can nominate yourself, another individual or an organisation. Entrants may enter multiple award categories and submit multiple applications to the same award. However, all submitted entries must be tailored to each category.

Commenting on the ABA, Fraser Herd, Chair of the ESR Workplace group, said: “The Above and Beyond Awards are a fantastic opportunity to showcase some of the incredible work organisations and individuals do to enhance electrical safety. We look forward to a great Awards year!”

Applications close at 23:59 on 1st August 2026. Winners will be announced in autumn.

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The Michael Northen Award
This award is sponsored by the Go Live Theatre Projects (previously the Mousetrap Foundation) and ETC.   The winner of this award will receive a £500 voucher prize, and a 512 ETC nomad™ Package. The winner will also receive a copy of Michael’s book – “Northen Lights”.

Applications are welcome from current students (not just those on vocational theatre courses), Affiliate members of the ALPD, and recent graduates (who graduated no earlier than 2024) even if they are not currently a member, who have demonstrated strong, imaginative and creative lighting designs, detailed production documents or thorough programming files.

The Fred Foster Production Electrician Award
This Award is sponsored by ETC and dedicated to the late ETC CEO, Fred Foster.

The winner of this award will receive an engraved trophy sponsored by ETC

In a change to previous years this award is open to nominations rather than applications. Nominees will be pursuing full-employment in a production electrics career; they will have predominantly worked in the presentation of live performance in places of entertainment: i.e. on theatre, dance or opera productions in theatres and opera houses or on theatrical experiences in non-conventional spaces either in house or as a freelancer. They will have achieved a mastery of their chosen discipline. They will have consistently delivered at a level of excellence throughout their career. They will have sought to promote best practice and technical excellence while delivering world class performance. They will be a great collaborator. They will be worthy of recognition.

The Anne Valentino Award for Excellence in Programming

This award is sponsored by ETC and dedicated to Anne Valentino, who has been a key contributor to console development and design for both Strand and ETC.

The winner of this award will receive an engraved trophy sponsored by ETC

The criteria for nomination are:

They will have been pursuing full-employment as a programmer; they will have predominantly worked in the presentation of live performance in places of entertainment: i.e. on theatre, dance or opera productions in theatres and opera houses or on theatrical experiences in non-conventional spaces either in house or as a freelancer. They will have achieved a mastery of their chosen discipline. They will have consistently delivered at a level of excellence throughout their career. They will have sought to promote best practice and technical excellence while delivering world class performance. They will be a great collaborator. They will be worthy of recognition.

The Awards will be presented at the RCSSD/ALPD New Technology Showcase in January 2027.

Further Information, terms and conditions and details of how to apply are available on the ALPD website at: www.thealpd.org.uk/the-alpd-awards-for-excellence-2026

All submissions for the Michael Northen Award MUST be received by midnight on the closing date – Thursday 31st October.

Nominations for the Fred Foster and the Anne Valentino Awards must be received by 6 pm on Wednesday 16^th December.

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Now firmly into its fifth year, the Silhouette Awards is a global mentorship programme dedicated to identifying, celebrating, and supporting the next generation of lighting design talent. Launched in 2021 through a collaboration between Parrot PR and Marketing and Archifos, it has evolved into a vibrant international community that champions creativity, knowledge-sharing, and forward-thinking design across the lighting industry.

Over the years, the programme has supported and helped transform the careers of participants worldwide, and this year also marks a significant milestone of 100 mentor–mentee pairings, reflecting the scale and impact of the growing network.

Bringing together mentors, mentees, sponsors, and contributors from across the programme, the event represents a key moment of reflection and celebration – recognising five years of mentorship, creative exchange, and professional development within the lighting design industry.

Taking place from 16:30–21:30 (UK time), the programme will explore the impact of the Silhouette Awards community to date, whilst looking ahead to the future of emerging talent and the evolving role of mentorship in shaping creative careers. This flagship event is designed as a curated evening of talks, dialogue, and global contributions that reflect the breadth and depth of the programme’s network.

The event will open with a welcome – addressing the journey of the Silhouette Awards, its community impact, and the structure of the event, alongside acknowledgements of supporting partners and sponsors, leading into the evening celebrations.

The Silhouette Awards event is supported by a range of industry partners and sponsors whose involvement helps bring the programme to life, including Signify Academy as Conference Sponsor, Studio Due as Evening Reception Sponsor, formalighting as Entertainment Sponsor, and One Eighty One as Tote Bag Sponsor, alongside continued media support from darc Media as official press partner.

In addition to the conference programme and evening reception, attendees can also expect a few carefully curated entertainment and community moments throughout the celebration.

A carefully curated programme of talks, conversations, and global video contributions will follow, moving between keynote reflections, mentor and mentee dialogue, and international perspectives. Together, these moments are set to highlight the depth of experience within the Silhouette Awards community and the shared values that continue to shape it.

Following the structured programme, guests will be invited to continue conversations at an evening networking reception with drinks and entertainment, offering further opportunity to connect and celebrate five years of the initiative. This milestone event reinforces the Silhouette Awards’ ongoing commitment to mentorship, inclusion, and the development of emerging talent across the industry.

Eve Gaut (Co-Founder) of the Silhouette Awards said: “Reaching five years feels like a defining moment for the Silhouette Awards. What began as a commitment to mentorship has grown into a living, evolving community shaped by the voices, journeys, and generosity of everyone involved. This event is about recognising that shared journey, while continuing to open doors for the next generation of talent.”

Katia Kolovea (Co-Founder) added: “The strength of the Silhouette Awards has always come from connection – between mentors and mentees, but also across cultures, disciplines, and stages of career. This milestone event is a reflection of that collective energy. It’s a moment to reflect on what has been built, and to look ahead with intention, confidence, and care for the future of the industry.”

Attendance and registration

The event is open to the wider lighting and design community, and all attendees are kindly requested to register in advance through the RSVP platform due to limited capacity.

Attendance is complimentary for independent lighting designers, mentors, mentees, students, and invited guests of the Silhouette Awards community.

Manufacturers and industry professionals wishing to attend are warmly welcome to join through the available industry support tickets via the RSVP platform, helping support the delivery of the conference programme and evening celebration together with our event sponsors.

Spaces are limited and early registration is strongly encouraged.

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Commenting on the award, the outgoing Society of Light and Lighting president Kristina Allison, said: “The honorary fellowship recognises a significant contribution not only of services to the Society but to the wider lighting profession. It’s sanctioned by the Executive Committee of the SLL. The work that both do with Recolight has a positive impact on the industry and is incredible.”

Usually, one award is given each year, but this year an exception was made. Previous recipients have included Kevin McCloud in 2010, Jonathan Speirs in 2003, and Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh back in 1959.

F Mark Ltd founder Simon Fisher FSLL and Circular Lighting Report editor Ray Molony gave the citations for Harvey and Castine respectively.

On accepting his award, Nigel Harvey said: “I’m absolutely delighted to receive the honorary fellowship of the Society of Light and Lighting. The recognition of professional peers, colleagues and friends is uniquely special. My sincere thanks to the SLL Executive Committee for the award. But I’m only the helmsman at Recolight. We’ve an amazing team, who all play vital roles and this award belongs to us all.”

And Suzanne Castine said: “Thank you to the SLL executive committee for recognising the work I do. Marketing is an overhead, so we’re constantly looking at ways to reduce cost. And as a not-for-profit funded by our WEEE Scheme Lighting manufacturer Members, it’s even more critical for me to be mindful of spend. Therefore, I keep our work in house and don’t use agencies. We were recognised for going above and beyond and were in a room full of lighting professionals who do that too. So many have helped Recolight along the way, presenting at webinars and conferences, offering support, guidance and help.”

As a Sustaining Member of the SLL, Recolight are part of a network of businesses who collaborate to give financial, technical and practical support to a wide range of Society initiatives.

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Glamox has received a prestigious Red Dot Design Award for its newly launched Luxo Align office light. In recognition of its high design quality, the stylish free-standing office light received the Red Dot Award 2026 in the Product Design category. This latest award is the second major design award for Luxo Align, following its Best Industrial Design award at the IDC.25 Awards last year in Norway.

Luxo Align is a family of free-standing and pendant luminaires designed to integrate into any modern office space. With a minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic and flexible configurations, the Align range allows you to personalise your lighting to suit any office layout.

“Winning the Red Dot Award for Luxo Align is a strong validation of our focus on high-quality design and continuous innovation,” said Astrid Simonsen Joos, Group CEO of Glamox. “We supply lighting solutions to commercial office buildings all over the world and we are seeing demand for products that are not only aesthetically pleasing but are also highly energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and durable.”

“At Glamox, the research and development of our lighting products are led by the needs of our customers. Through our range of quality lighting brands, we create comfortable, flexible and stimulating working environments. Our office lighting is also built with sustainability in mind, helping our customers to reduce their energy footprint, as well as costs.”

The collection features a slim, free-standing single-arm model suitable for 1-2 desks and a double-arm model for 2-4 desks. The Pendant variations use clean line design principles and seamlessly blend into any office environment.

Built to be highly energy-efficient and sustainable, the Align family is created using circular-economy design principles. All models are constructed using 75 percent recycled aluminium and are equipped with presence sensors and support daylight harvesting to reduce energy consumption when natural light is available.

The environmentally friendly LED luminaires provide an energy-efficient 144 lm/w, while an innovative reflector design provides comfortable light with good distribution, upwards (Ca. 70 percent or 80 percent) and downwards (Ca. 20 percent or 30 percent), eliminating the need for ceiling lights.

Smart technology is incorporated into both the free-standing and pendant designs. In the free-standing models, light output is easily adjustable via built-in controls on the pole or remotely through Bluetooth via an app. The pendant version uses an IR switch for individual light control. The luminaires are matte powder-coated and available in white, grey, or black. Users can personalise their light by dimming it and selecting the light temperature that’s best for them.

“When designing the Luxo Align, we wanted to create a lighting solution for the modern office environment that combines style with long-term usability,” said Hans Bleken Rud, Industrial Designer at Glamox. “The project builds on Luxo’s heritage in task lighting, where ergonomics and visual comfort are fundamental. By rethinking how one luminaire can serve multiple workstations while maintaining performance and simplicity, Luxo Align represents a more resource-efficient and human-friendly approach to office lighting. This is especially important given that the luminaire could last 40 years, while offices are normally refurbished every 10-15 years.”

The Red Dot Design Awards is one of the world’s largest design competitions. Glamox has received numerous Red Dot Design Awards in previous years. This year’s Red Dot award ceremony will take place on 7th July at the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen, Germany.

Image credit: Glamox.

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The winners were unveiled during a prestigious black-tie gala dinner held on 26th March 2026 at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead. This accolade follows a rigorous judging process by an independent panel of industry experts, recognising Tridonic’s excellence in manufacturing and its commitment to innovation at its Spennymoor facility.

Its Spennymoor site manufactures for both the domestic UK market but also exports almost 46 percent of production to Europe and beyond. The judges were especially impressed that the R&D team, part of the 150-person strong team at Spennymoor, is responsible for generating about 12 patents per year, which solidifies Tridonic as a technology leader in intelligent lighting systems.

Richard Strode, Managing Director Tridonic UK, who attended the event, said “We are delighted to receive this recognition. It’s testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team in delivering high-quality, sustainable lighting solutions that meet the evolving needs of customers across the globe. We now look forward to attending the final later in the year.”

As a regional winner, Tridonic has now advanced to the national Made in the UK Awards final. There, the company will compete against premier manufacturers from across the country who have succeeded in their respective regional heats.

The Made in UK Awards final takes place on 19th November at the Science and Industry Museum, in London. The black-tie gala dinner will bring together the winners of Insider Media’s regional Made in Awards, at one of the largest national manufacturing award dinners.

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