WHAT THE LIGHTING FIXTURE PACKAGE AND TV CABLE HAVE IN COMMON

We recently made the painful switch from cable to streaming. We ended up piecing different streaming services together giving us better channel options and providing more control over our household budget. No one likes feeling that in order to get the channels you want, you have to buy a package that includes channels you will not watch. Don’t we all wish we could select channels independently?

This is exactly the conversation we have been having with architects, developers, and interior designers concerning independent lighting fixture selection vs a lighting package. There are two problems with a lighting package. The first is that it will limit your choices and likely increase costs. The second problem—an even greater problem--is the loss of control of the lighting design that occurs during the bid process and the VEs that follow. We have all been there; after months of design and fixture selection, the project is bid and consequently VEd, and all of a sudden, the original design intent is gone. The architectural industry has been told for too long that a lighting package benefits the client. It does not.
 

There are a few considerations for independent fixture selection: 

• The best lighting solution for the application. Selections from a single lighting agent or a package will rarely accomplish this. Avoiding a package solution will allow each fixture to stand on its own merit because each one was selected for a specific purpose. The lighting package limits selection and leads to design compromises.
   
• Project support. Use your local rep as a resource for project samples, and assistance with mock-ups and budget prices.
   
• Manufacturers with solid reputations. We have seen some manufacturers leave the client in a bind. Knowing which manufacturers stand by their products is invaluable.
   
• Previous installation experience and vetting the fixture through samples and demonstrations. We have been called to correct installations from others that have gone badly, leaving the owner and architect frustrated. Again, you need to know which manufacturers will stand by their product and by you. Also keep in mind that when a new fixture is being considered, it is always best to see a working sample.  

As we have selected lighting for projects over the years, we have noticed that we typically work with multiple agencies to find the right fixtures that fit the purposes of the various design needs. A wider selection usually yields a better solution. 

We mentioned above that making the switch from tv cable was a painful one, but making the switch from a lighting package to independent lighting selections doesn’t have to be. This is what we do every day. Our first allegiance on any project is always to the client with a good, solid lighting design as well as independent lighting fixture selections based on the best solution for the application, ensuring that your design intent is delivered to the finished project. 

In our next article, we will discuss the need for unit pricing on each fixture so that you know the total lighting fixture cost before the project goes out for bid. If you would like to find a better way to light your projects, give us a call at 615.596.3001, or reach out to us at shine@dhslightingdesign.com. 

Previous articles from this series can be read at www.dhslightingdesign.com. Feel free to share our articles with your co-workers, or they can sign up on our website at www.dhslightingdesign.com.