We had an illuminating chat with Jarrod Fox, the interior design-educated lighting expert leading Acoustic Architects’ lighting division. Read our interview with Jarrod to learn about exciting trends in residential and commercial lighting design!
Describe your introduction to lighting design.
While I was pursuing a degree in interior design at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, I got the opportunity to work in a lighting showroom, and it was the entry into my over 16 years of experience in lighting technology, design, and sales.
How did your hands-on experience in lighting showrooms shape you as a lighting expert?
I got to start off in high-end residential on a small scale. This allowed me to gain insight into everything lighting and create great spaces for clients. For nine years, I honed my skills while working on mostly condos, with a few restaurants and single-family residences thrown in, all the while collaborating with and learning from talented lighting professionals.
How did those years shape your rapport with clients’?
I gained a great understanding of the client throughout those years by learning how to really listen, formulate a clear picture of their needs, and bring that vision to life.
Tell us about your move into a position with Power and Lighting Systems.
I made that move to work on larger scale projects, including restaurants, commercial buildings, offices, and residences. This raised my understanding of innovation, lighting control systems, and how things work on a much deeper level. It also gave me the chance to build my reputation and to see where the industry was going.
How did you team up with Acoustic Architects?
We have known each other over the years in the local market, working on the same projects, which gave me a chance to build my relationship with them. We collaborated so well that it was natural for me to join them and combine both our brands and skills. They have such a high level of expertise and talent, it was an easy decision to team up.
What is your audience excited about right now? What are they looking for in their smart home design?
Clients are looking for both quality and experience. They hear about being able to emulate natural light in their space, which has health benefits and allows the dialing-in of perfect illumination for an elevated interior design aesthetic. They are also looking for a clean aesthetic with minimalist to even non-visible lighting design. Clients look at a perfectly rendered image in a magazine or online and they want to emulate the experience they are admiring.
How does lighting design influence the interior of a space?
Lighting design and lighting fixture selections are one of the main requirements for creating the envisioned experience. Since there are so many options available in the lighting industry today, you need expert professionals to help design teams and clients navigate through the abyss of information. Innovative, high-quality lighting fixtures, design, performance, and controls are all required for the ideal outcome, and you need a well-seasoned, trustworthy guide to lead the way.
What is on the horizon for emerging technology?
With the rapid technological growth of LED’s, there seem to always be advancements in technology. Significant attention is focused on various control systems and making lighting systems smarter. Improvements in variable LED light fixtures—the ability to fine-tune experiences with light—is now more reasonable and perform better. Lastly, the data on lighting as a form of health improvement continues to grow and is an ever-expanding part of the wellness lifestyle.
Responsive Living, the term coined by Acoustic Architects founders, Aaron Flint and Spencer Hauldren, is the concept of seamlessly enhancing the client’s unique lifestyle using smart home technology. Responsive Living allows you to interact with your space via touch input, voice command, and predictive automation, placing you in full control of your home.
If you would like to learn more about lighting design for your residence or commercial space, feel free to connect with us. We will be happy to schedule a demo with you.
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