The brief in the third annual contest staged by the Middleton Grove lighting design specialist was to design a high-end luminaire utilising Philips new 'Touch-dim' control gear with linear and circular TL5 fluorescent lamps technology. The competition has been designed to encourage innovation and awareness of the potential the lighting sector can offer and to recognise and reward good ideas.
A total of 14 third year BA (Hons) design students in Leeds Metropolitan University's School of Architecture, Landscape and Design entered this year's competition, with Chris judged the victor with his entry Luminous Attitude, a bespoke low energy lighting solution designed for use in high-end residential developments.
Chris explained: "A bullet fired through an apple was my inspiration for this light. The clear hand-moulded globes have been worked to reflect the impact of the explosions, utilising a circular luminaire in the base and capturing a moment in time."
Chris said much of the influence for his work came from a three-month Erasmus exchange project in Finland last year and he had since been experimenting with organic forms of lighting. He now hopes to take his award-winning entry into production. "I regard this success as a major stepping stone to a future career in the design industry," he said.
Chris, who also designs furniture, would appear to have every chance of making these dreams come true should he follow in the footsteps of the inaugural winner of the competition in 2006, Jamie Norris-Green, 24, of Bradford, one of this year's judges.
As a direct result of his success Jamie was offered at job with London-based lighting design consultancy Sutton Vane Associates and has since returned to Leeds to work as a lighting designer with another leading international consultancy Faber Maunsell.
The judging panel also comprised High Technology Lighting's joint managing director Thomas Holgeth, the company's lighting designer Richard Whawell, and David Williamson, northern key accounts manager with Philips Lighting, who have been involved with the competition since its inception.Holgeth said: "The Enlighten Award, which is always based around an energy efficient source, is designed to raise awareness of the industry sector and help identify the potential lighting design stars of the future.
"We are seeking to develop key skills and improve the lives of young people. These students represent our industry's future workforce and many hold the key to ensuring that our region competes effectively in the years to come."
Holgeth added that based on the success of the Enlighten Award to date, entry would be opened up to other universities across the region in 2009, with interested parties invited to contact High Technology Lighting on 0113 277 8077 for full details.
(Claire Beeson)
