Beyond the Bulb - Thomas Paterson - Defining Hospitality
"Lighting design is an editing tool. Emphasize, de-emphasize, reveal, conceal."
Audio Links:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386
Dan Ryan talks with Thomas Paterson, founder and lighting designer at Lux Populi, about one of hospitality's most overlooked design disciplines… light. Thomas explains why lighting designers need a seat at the table from day one, not after the drawings are done, and shares his take on how light shapes a space's emotional experience. The conversation covers the gap between the 2% of projects that engage a true lighting specialist and the 30-50% that probably should, what it means to design from the inside out, his unconventional path from Australia to Mexico City, the sustainability case for old-school screw-in bulbs, and why asking the right question at the right moment is the smartest move a lighting designer can make.
Takeaways:
Bring your lighting designer in early, even before architectural drawings exist. You’ll get more value from questions about the experience and atmosphere than from someone reviewing finished plans.
Think about lighting in terms of contrast and tone rather than fixture types. Ask how much contrast the space needs and how warm or cool it should feel for its purpose.
Choose screw-in light bulbs over integrated LED fixtures whenever possible. When integrated systems fail, you have to replace the entire fixture instead of just the bulb.
Use lighting as an editing tool to emphasize what you want guests to notice and conceal what you don’t. Small choices like dimming over mechanical ducts can transform how a space feels.
Render your spaces in both day and night mode during design. If you only see one, you’re probably missing how lighting will shape the guest experience at different times.
"Lighting design is an editing tool. Emphasize, de-emphasize, reveal, conceal." - Thomas Paterson
Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on.
Impact estimates vary by project. For the most up-to-date figures, please refer to the transcript
Connect with Thomas:
Thomas’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tpaterson/
Companies Website: https://luxpopuli.com/New/
🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by BERMANFALK
Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/