Talks

When we’re not working with light, we’re sharing our knowledge. We have an true passion for anything to do with lighting design, and we’re keen to pass on that passion to others in the industry.

Our CPD talks are for architects, interior designers, engineers, project managers, quantity surveyors and other consultants who want to broaden their knowledge of lighting design and the built environment.

If you’d like us to create a customised seminar just for you or your company, get in touch using the contact page, or email info@michaelgrubbstudio.com

Alternatively, come and see one of our up and coming talks, which can be found all over the world. Details of forthcoming events and some of our recent talks can be found below.

Light Beyond Earth: Illuminating Life on Exoplanets

Upcoming

Anna will be presenting her topic “Light Beyond Earth: Illuminating Life on Exoplanets”. Her presentation will explore how exoplanets set the scene for discovering unusual lighting effects and consequent challenges to the human circadian rhythm. Sparking imagination, this presentation will explore the creation of a futuristic ‘Exoplanet Lighting Design Guide’, initially focusing on the closest exoplanet to Earth: Proxima Centauri b.

  • Anna Freiesleben
  • San Diego, United States

Enhancing Narrative with Light

Previous

Guest lecture on how to develop lighting that enhances a brand or experience by establishing a clear set of principles aligned with the narrative. Michael Grubb shared MGS experience and led a discussion on the value of having a clear vision from the outset and how this vision helps shape thinking, design development, and the challenges that naturally arise during the process.

  • Michael Grubb
  • Wismar, Germany

HTBB at Curating The Concept

Previous

Discover how to master the art of curating ideas and concepts in our forthcoming ILP ‘How to Be Brilliant’ talk.

  • Melissa Byers, Anna Freiesleben, Abbie Hill
  • Clerkenwell Design Week

Working. Together.

Previous

Panel of top industry voices gathers to discuss internal and external communication and working methods when working remotely by utilising digital tools for time and team management. Conversation about ways in which we can foster a positive team environment when communicating across offices. The panel is a part of annual [d]arc sessions, the invitation-only event that brings together specifiers and suppliers in the lighting design industry.

  • Rachael Flint
  • Lisbon, Portugal

The Why, How, and When of Lighting Design

Previous

“LIGHTS IN GOA” is an educational seminar and workshop series. Michael’s talk will explain the process of identifying the why, how and when of creating lighting design with a big impact.

  • Michael Grubb
  • Panjim (Panaji), India, Goa

Sustainability & Circularity in Design

Previous

An ever-popular topic, the panel of experts will delve deeper into the world of circularity and sustainability within lighting and the wider design set-up.

  • Rachael Flint
  • LiGHT 23, Business Design Centre, London

Young Lighter Final from the SLL - Light Beyond Earth: Illuminating life on exoplanets

Previous

Each year, the Young Lighter competition provides a high-profile opportunity to help younger lighting professionals in the early stages of their careers. This year, LiGHT 23 will host the final presentations which includes Anna’s talk on Light Beyond Earth: Illuminating life on exoplanets.

  • Anna Freiesleben
  • LiGHT 23, Business Design Centre, London

Landscape Lighting in the Public Realm

Previous

Light is a crucial component in placemaking after dark. It plays a vital role in transforming what could be a threatening environments into safe, vibrant and delightful spaces with real economic benefits. Here Melissa Byers, Head of Bournemouth Studio, Michael Grubb Studio, explores some of the practice’s exemplar projects where light has been transformational.

  • Melissa Byers
  • Lighting Zone theatre at FutureScape, ExCeL London

5 Questions to Ask When Specifying

Previous

We are all trying to be “more sustainable” in both our personal lives and in business, but when it comes to commercial projects what does this look like? Through this session, our experts will leave audiences with key pointers, or ‘questions’ to consider when working on a project for it to be as green as is realistic.

  • Mike Cascarino
  • [d]arc thoughts at Clerkenwell Design Week, London

Enlightening Spaces: unveiling the latest lighting design trends for architects and designers

Previous

Lighting design plays a crucial role in creating the desired ambiance and atmosphere for any space, be it residential, commercial, or public. With rapid advancements in technology, lighting design has evolved to become more than just a functional necessity but a critical aspect of interior and exterior design. Architects and designers must stay up to date with the latest trends in lighting design to create visually appealing, energy-efficient, and sustainable spaces that meet the needs of their clients. This panel discussion will explore the latest trends in lighting design and how architects and designers can leverage them to create spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional.

  • Michael Grubb
  • INDEX, Dubai World Trade Centre

The Future of Lighting

Previous

Join Michael Grubb as he offers thoughtful insights into the future of lighting and how lighting designers can steer the course of the industry towards energy saving and sustainability.

These key topics are showcased through the innovative and award-winning West Downs Campus, University of Winchester project, a state-of-the-art facility for learning and teaching. Michael Grubb Studio’s lighting design created a welcoming environment that supports wellbeing, celebrates the architecture of the building and enhances the use of the space through thoughtful design and smart technology. Each space is fully configurable via the lighting control system, sensors and dimmers transition lighting from bright daylight to evening use, and pre-set and customisable scenes bring lectures and presentations to life.

  • Michael Grubb
  • ExCeL, London

Garden and Landscape Lighting: a collaborative approach

Previous

As the founder and managing director of Michael Grubb Studio, Michael Grubb has worked on a wide range of landscape projects across the world. In this talk, he shares his insights and experiences of illuminating landscapes across a number of projects such as the acclaimed Cloudy Bay Discovery Pavilion at the 2013 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the Royal Terrace Gardens in Torquay and Claremont Park, part of the £7 billion Brent Cross Town development.

  • Michael Grubb
  • FutureScape, ExCeL London

Starting out in Design

Previous

This panel will discuss what it takes to become established in the world of design; whether the opportunities presented are always fair and available to all; and what lead designers could do to promote marginal groups within design.

  • Michael Grubb
  • Business Design Centre, London

The Future of Lighting Design

Previous

Michael captivated the audience at the AIDI 2022 National Congress in Naples with his insightful outline of The Future of Lighting Design.

What is the impact of digital transformation on the lighting industry? What will the role of lighting design be in the future? How can lighting designers influence the adoption of the circular economy? These are some of the key topics Michael Grubb discussed.

Image credit: Raffaele Ferraro

  • Michael Grubb
  • Naples, Italy

Michael Grubb attends [d]arc sessions 2022 as a keynote speaker

Previous

As a key note speaker, Michael held his talk with a range of specifiers in attendance, as he spoke about his multiple award winning project, Bath Abbey.

Bath Abbey achieved incredible success at this years [d]arc awards, winning not only the Places – High Budget category, the project was awarded the coveted ‘Best of the Best’ award.

This award is given to the project that received the most amount of votes out of all the project category winners.

  • Michael Grubb
  • [d]arc sessions, Arabian Gulf

The Story of Lightplay

Previous

Michael captivated the audience at the Surface Design Show at the Business Design Centre in London with the story of Lightplay.

Influenced by the desire to forever capture the ethos and ambience associated with sunset, Michael told the story of how our studio collaborated with the local community to create Lightplay – an interactive and playful backdrop to Royal Terrace Gardens in Torquay.

To read more about our recent project, click here.

  • Michael Grubb
  • Surface Design Show, UK

The search for a new reality

Previous

The paper will raise an awareness of the journeys of other art forms whilst encouraging contemplation on how this can be related to lighting. Lighting designers will be inspired to consider new ways to approach the lighting of spaces which historically regularly follow a ‘set approach.’

  • Melissa Byers
  • PLDC, Rotterdam, Holland

Educating Retail Clients

Previous

Greta presented her talk, “Educating Retail Clients” which built upon research undertaken and presented at PLDC 2018, Singapore. The result being the successful creation and implementation of a sustainable spotlight, as well as the establishment of a circular economy with major retail client, LUSH.

  • Greta Smetoniute
  • PLDC, Rotterdam, Holland

Lighting Design: An Alternative Roadmap

Previous

The lighting design industry and evolved significantly over the last 20 years, but are lighting design practices moving with the times or is there an alternative way of working? Michael Grubb will present an alternative guide based on how he built his practice, case studying various projects and how they materialised.

  • Michael Grubb
  • ExpoTrade, Melborne Convention Centre, Australia

For the love of cables

Previous

Stuart’s talk focused on the production of new wireless technologies in architectural lighting and questioned whether this technology is succeeding in replacing the humble cable. The talk was streamed live – and as you can see he even made a t-shirt for the occasion.

  • Stuart Alexander
  • London Design Festival, DARC Room

Learning from the past to improve the future.

Previous

Greta Smetoniute & Matt Waugh have taken on their own side project to identify the amount of embodied energy that goes into producing luminaires, with the objective of trying to fully understand the potential of producing a 100% sustainable product. The paper will share the results and offer ideas for the future.

  • Matthew Waugh & Greta Smetoniute
  • PLDC, Singapore

What’s Light got to do with it?

Previous

Stuart will be presenting ‘What’s Light got to do with it? What’s Light but a second hand experience?’ – which will look at some of our most recent public realm lighting schemes and how we turned unnoticed spaces into places.

  • Stuart Alexander
  • LUX Live, London Excel

Lighting in the Modern World

Previous

The internet changed everything. Online and Offline were once two very separate worlds. But with the rise of e-commerce and in particular mobile e-commerce, the distinction between online and offline is blurring rapidly. Those brands that can seamlessly integrate the online and in-store environments to create experiences on interaction, not just transaction will be those who are here for the long term.

  • Michael Grubb
  • 9 Degree LED Forum, Sao Paulo, Brazil

The Modern Age Lighting Designer

Previous

Michael will present what it takes to be a lighting designer in the modern age. Michael will showcase the journey his studio has taken and how adopting a ‘think, play, produce’ mindset unlocks creativity and produces enhanced lighting design schemes.

  • Michael Grubb
  • Light Middle East, Dubai