STRUCTURES

PLACES

SPACES

ART

EVENT

KIT

THE AWARDS

The [d]arc awards is a unique concept utilising arc and darc magazines’ reputation as being the most widely read and respected lighting design publications in the world. In collaboration with creative consultants Light Collective, we have created a unique opportunity to get every practice involved in the awards process.

Anyone can enter (lighting designers, architects, interior designers or manufacturers), but here’s the exciting bit – once the shortlist has been chosen by an international jury of lighting designers, independent lighting designers, architects and interior designers will be invited to vote on their favourite projects and products making this the only truly peer-to-peer lighting design awards in the world.

All projects and the companies who have submitted them, will be present on the awards website so that, over time, it becomes a comprehensive online lighting design resource that can be used by designers and clients for inspiration.

“It was a really great evening. Everyone I spoke to said there was a real buzz about the whole event. You certainly shifted the paradigm!”

Mark Major, Speirs + Major

CATEGORIES

BEST EXTERIOR LIGHTING SCHEME

STRUCTURES

LOW BUDGET / HIGH BUDGET

Any type of exterior lighting scheme involving a structure such as building façades, monuments, sports stadia, bridges etc. Specified luminaires can be architectural and decorative. For Low Budget entries the total value of the luminaires must be less than £30,000 in value. For High Budget entries the total value of the luminaires must be more than £30,000 in value.

BEST INTERIOR LIGHTING SCHEME

PLACES

LOW BUDGET / HIGH BUDGET

Any type of indoor lighting scheme. Can include commercial, retail or residential venues. Specified luminaires can be architectural and decorative. For Low Budget entries the total value of the luminaires must be less than £30,000 in value. For High Budget entries the total value of the luminaires must be more than £30,000 in value.

BEST LANDSCAPE LIGHTING SCHEME

SPACES

LOW BUDGET / HIGH BUDGET

Any type of urban or rural landscape lighting scheme involving an area such as parks, plazas, streets etc. Can include commercial, retail or residential venues. Specified luminaires can be architectural and decorative. For Low Budget entries the total value of the luminaires must be less than £30,000 in value. For High Budget entries the total value of the luminaires must be more than £30,000 in value.

BEST LIGHT ART SCHEME

ART

LOW BUDGET / HIGH BUDGET / BESPOKE

Low Budget and High Budget: Any type of art installation where the main medium of expression is light. Can include permanent or temporary projects (such as installations in festivals of light or guerilla lighting events). Specified luminaires can be architectural and decorative. For Low Budget entries the total value of the luminaires must be less than £30,000 in value. For High Budget entries the total value of the luminaires must be more than £30,000 in value.

Bespoke: Any type of bespoke sculptural lighting installation. Can include permanent or temporary projects. There is no Low or High budget criteria for this category.

BEST CREATIVE LIGHTING EVENT

EVENT

Any temporary event or temporary collection of installations where the main medium of expression is light (such as festivals of light, workshops or guerrilla lighting events). Events should be entered by the event organisers (There is no Low or High Budget criteria for this category).

BEST LIGHTING PRODUCTS

KIT

EXTERIOR / INTERIOR / DECORATIVE / TECHNOLOGY

Split into four categories. Any exterior architectural lighting product. Any interior architectural lighting product. Any type of decorative lighting product – both interior and exterior products are eligible. And any light sources and gear; control and power systems; and Internet-based systems where a luminaire is not part of the product offering.

“I just wanted to congratulate you on the [d]arc awards last night! The chilled, cool atmosphere is where awards should be.”

David Atkinson, David Atkinson Lighting Design

THE EVENT

Following the peer-to-peer voting process the awards ceremony will take place as part of [d]arc night where we reveal all the winners at Fabric in London on 31 March, 2022.

[d]arc night will be an atmospheric party in an iconic venue in London.

A series of exclusive light installations from collaborations between manufacturer partners and lighting designers will create inspirational interest.

Imagine light art, street food, lighting installations… this breaks all the awards rules and what’s more, there’s a free bar!

How to attend

Only independent architectural lighting designers, or light artists that vote in the [d]arc awards are entitled to come to [d]arc night free of charge! But beware tickets are limited and available on a strictly first-come first-serve basis.

Voting is scheduled to open on 31 January.