December 15, 2021
13 Lighting Predictions for 2022
Lighting organization executives and other industry thought leaders share their insights into the year ahead.
As the world enters the third year of Covid concerns, lighting business and technology continues to evolve in a way that may be hard to predict. We asked some business executives and other lighting industry thought leaders to share their perspecives on what may be in store for us in 2022.
"Supply chain challenges will continue to impact our industry in the coming year, but use of technology to enable better information flow and to offer product alternatives to meet customer needs will be critical to success and a continuing trend."
Trevor Palmer, President
Acuity Brands Lighting and Controls
"In the near future, users' awareness of the power of our work will increase exponentially. After experiencing disruptive times, when values such as comfort and well being have been understood from a different perspective, there's a great opportunity on our hands. We have the tools, the knowledge and the creativity to imagine and design this new and better world"
Mônica Luz Lobo, President-Elect 2022-2024
International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD)
"The pandemic has caused an unprecedented situation that we believe will fuel further innovation from manufacturers, creating a more differentiated marketplace. As the industry moves forward, optical innovation will be key instead of a quantitative lumen approach. A clear and fresh focus will be placed on the quality of light."
François-Xavier (FX) Souvay
Founder, President and CEO
Lumenpulse
"There will be more opportunities in 2022 to increase the awareness and appreciation of lighting technology and research. As an industry, we can take for granted our collective ability to provide quality lighting to improve the lives of people as they work, play and heal. We will engage with new communities in 2022, to learn and to share our passion for light."
Andrea Wilkerson, Ph.D., Researcher
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
"2022 market recovery will continue to sputter in the commercial market as we see pricing pressures and supply chain constraints impacting multiple channels in the construction industry.
Without any significant improvements in the supply chain, manufacturers will likely attempt to 'localize' production to get product to market faster and reduce cost. Additionally, I believe the companies that can continue to be versatile and adapt to the challenges the COVID era have created will be on the leading edge of growth and stabilization in the recovery."
John Palk, President & CEO
SESCO Lighting
"Except in special circumstances, chip manufacturers will make the decision to discontinue the fabrication of LED chips that are less than 90CRI. The efficacies are pretty strong already, and it seems that just like CW and WW of yore was discontinued, history will repeat itself. "
Matthew Tirschwell, Founder
Tirschwell & Co. Architectural Lighting Design
"2022 is going to be a year of the lighting industry trying to find its way in a 'new normal', as people seek to reconnect one-on-one instead of over a computer monitor. The construction industry is awakening and there is hope that this proves to be renewed growth for our industry with projects starting up. I see this year as an opportunity for the lighting industry to improve the way it does business from lessons learned over the last two years. "
Daniel G. Salinas, Interim Executive Director
Illuminating Engineering Society
"The lighting industry will come to terms with the fact that unpredictability is the 'new normal'. The effects of the pandemic are here to stay and will continue to change how we do business, to support customers while avoiding obsolescence. Agent-manufacturer partnerships and digital/e-commerce capabilities will become much more mature in 2022 – both are critical to stay resilient and nimble despite the shifting sands."
Christy Tilton
Vice President, US Professional Trade Sales
Signify
"Lighting, specifically illumination, is becoming a smaller and smaller part of photonics. Photonics is photons with a purpose, whether it is LiFi communications between automobiles or UV air disinfection or regulating circadian rhythms in submariners or maximizing THC in cannabis. Illumination is not where the new, exciting ideas can be found and therefore, not where investments are being made. If we follow the money – there will be more soul searching among our colleagues – some will leave lighting, some will stick it out, and a very small minority will find new purposes for their knowledge and expertise."
Mark S. Rea, Ph.D., Professor
Light and Health Research Center
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
"In 2022 we will see collaboration in the lighting industry like never before. Major companies, associations and accreditation agencies will work together to get the lighting industry under control again. New leadership may emerge as a result."
Greg Ehrich
Co-host, Get a Grip on Lighting Podcast
Vice President, Premier Lighting
"In 2022, the sun will rise and set every day. Humans will depend on light in many forms to regulate, rise, sleep, work, play and be. Lighting designers will continue to prove their value - sometimes noticeably, sometimes in a vacuum."
Andrea Hartranft, FIALD, Principal
Hartranft Lighting Design
"The leaders in the lighting industry consistently update their lines with new design innovations and solutions that pace alongside demand and respond to global issues, and the ability to experience these products in-person will be imperative moving into the new year. The industry clearly demonstrated at LightFair 2021 that its eager to get back to an in-person landscape and reconnect, and I predict we will see more recovery of the industry and face-to-face commerce resuming in 2022. As the world’s largest commercial and industrial lighting trade show, LightFair will be the catalyst in reuniting the industry"
Dan Darby
LightFair Show Director
"From an electrical distribution viewpoint, expect a repeat of 2021 ... supply chain issues continue through the year, some price inflation prompting more price increases, nominal revenue growth for the product category but brand names will outperform and take share through the channel as renovation work is strong and distribution prefers to migrate to 'trusted' brands that can perform.
Distribution and rep / agent consolidation continue, challenging many small and niche suppliers to find ways to market. Manufacturers with many brand names question the value of niche brands and move to promoting their company as the brand, diminishing product brands – all in the name of cost savings. Many non- differentiated manufacturers struggle without a value proposition."
David Gordon, President
Channel Marketing Group
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