Industry News

The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America is pleased to announce the publication of LEARNING TO SEE: A Matter of Light by Howard Brandston. Well-known to lighting designers, the author brings to his book over 50 years of experience designing illumination for more than 2,500 commercial, institutional, governmental, and residential projects worldwide.

In writing for lighting designers and the educated reader, Brandston uses an easy-to-understand writing style to talk about lighting as an art form. He writes to inspire and to challenge, emphasizing the need to go beyond being literate about the science of lighting. To the designer he asks, "What is it that you wish to see? Is the lighting creative? Innovative? Does the lighting enhance our quality of life?"

Brandston uses these questions to weave together a discussion of four elements to execute designs: Learning to See, Taking Responsibility, Creativity and Communicating. These sections are as much about the art of lighting design as they are the art of thinking. Supplemented with color photographs and hand-drawn illustrations from the author's many sketch books, they also provide valuable insights into how Brandston approached his projects. Where possible, illustrations of concepts are positioned next to photographs to compare concept with reality. Vignettes from luminaries such as Oliver Sacks, Dan Ciampa, and Peter Boyce enrich the discussion. The book closes with Explanations of Popular Lighting Terms, Ethics and Design, and Wit and Wisdom.

Watch Brandston discuss his book: Visit the IES home page at www.ies.org. On the right is an announcement for LEARNING TO SEE with a link to the video or to order the book.

138 pages | Hardcover | Color Images | ISBN 978-0-87995-225-9
List Price: $65.00 | IES Member Price: $50.00 | Available May 28, 2008

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Howard Brandston studied theatrical illumination at Brooklyn College and began his career in lighting in the New York theater. Prior to founding his own firm in 1966, he was a designer at several manufacturing and lighting design firms including Century Lighting, Inc., where he served as assistant to Stanley McCandless, one of the pioneer figures in lighting design.

Mr. Brandston received two major awards in 1999. For his contributions to architecture, he was awarded the AIA Institute Honors award. Also, for his outstanding leadership in the lighting industry, he received the Illuminating Engineering Society Medal, its highest honor-he is the just the fourth designer to be so recognized by the IES.

In 1992 he was inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame, the only lighting designer ever to be awarded this honor. Mr. Brandston was honored as an initial inductee of the Lighting Design Hall of Fame and also received the International Association of Lighting Designers Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2006 Mr. Brandston received the IES Louis B. Marks award for Exceptional Service to the Society. He is one of six people in the 100 year history of the IES who has received all of the highest honors awarded by the Society. Mr. Brandston was also the recipient of a special Richard Kelly Award in 2006 for his outstanding contributions to education.