Philips and the Professional Lighting Designers Association (PLDA), a voluntary federation of lighting designers, have launched an architectural lighting design competition in a bid to identify fresh new talent.

The 2010 Architectural Lighting Design Competition aims to provide professionals under the age of 35 with a platform to showcase how they can create an experience of light that uniquely meets the needs of people.

From the initial field of applicants, a jury of international lighting design experts will shortlist four designers and set them a brief to design a temporary exterior lighting scheme for the St. Peter’s Church in Frankfurt, Germany, with each receiving a Eur 1000 ($1380) grant to develop their designs.

The winning design will be judged on a number of criteria, including creativity of the scheme, the response to the context and architecture of the church, the potential energy consumption of the scheme, and scheme’s feasibility as a temporary installation.

The overall winner will receive a Eur 9000 prize, and will have the design installed at the church as part of the Luminale – the PLDA Celebration of Light taking place during the Light+Building trade fair taking place in Frankfurt from April 11 to 15.

"This competition represents an incredible opportunity for tomorrow's lighting superstars to showcase their creative skills on the international stage,” said leading lighting architect Mark Major.

“Luminale is now well established as a 'must-see' event at the world's most progressive lighting fair and this project will certainly be the main focus for the independent lighting community. It’s a must for young lighting designers,” he added.

Eduardo Mataix, Philips Lighting chairman Middle East, said: “Designers entering the profession today have a considerably greater creative palette to work with than any previous generation.”

“LED lighting technology, in particular, has provided lighting architects with the ability to apply a new design language with which to transform environments and truly enhance people’s lives with lighting,” he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service