May 28, 2025
5 Big Questions: Why Fixture Lifespans Are a Design Priority
Anne Kustner and Rachel Fitzgerald explore challenges with short-lived LED fixtures and urge industry alignment on long-term performance
In this interview, architectural lighting designers Anne Kustner of AKLD and Rachel Fitzgerald of Stantec share expert perspectives on how LED systems are driving new sustainability expectations — and frustrations — in the lighting industry. With entire LED fixtures being discarded after several years of service due to short-lived components, they urge manufacturers, specifiers, and maintenance professionals to form a more collaborative and transparent ecosystem.
The duo outlines challenges such as component clarity, education gaps and maintenance barriers — and offers solutions ranging from driver standard reform to modular design labeling.
Hear it straight from Anne Kustner and Rachel Fitzgerald:
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5 Big Questions and other Lighting Interviews |
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Anne Kustner and Rachel Fitzgerald explore challenges with short-lived LED fixtures and urge industry alignment on long-term performance
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