Museum lighting design process
The architect is responsible for the lighting design of basic buildings in museum projects, natural lighting, outdoor and on-site, public space, office lighting, storage facilities and other areas. "Museum lighting" generally refers to the lighting of exhibition halls, exhibitions and exhibits, also known as "museum exhibition lighting". Museum lighting design is coordinated by the museum owner, curator, exhibition designer, architect, electrical engineer and lighting designer. Museum lighting is related to cultural relics "lighting safety, historical restoration, visual comfort". It is a professional lighting field. Museum lighting design team should design reasonable lighting solutions to support the key design objectives of the project, including:
1) Curatorial needs
2) Protection of Cultural Relics
3) Restoration of Exhibits'History and Art
4) Visitor Experience
5) Budget
6) Equipment maintenance and sustainable development
7) Social impact and media dissemination
In the process of museum lighting design, each of the above objectives must be constantly re-examined to achieve the maximum goal.
According to the different stages of Museum and Museum exhibition construction, the lighting design process includes six stages:
1) Project analysis
2) Conceptual design of lighting
3) Deepening Design
4) Construction documents
5) Equipment Installation
6) Project Acceptance and Maintenance
Each stage can be a gradual refinement process, which is modular and flexible. In most projects, certain phases are either reduced or skipped. In addition, the design team can be composed of fewer members, with a single team member playing multiple roles. Therefore, the process outlined here can be modified, but it needs to be in line with the overall project design objectives.
1) Curatorial needs
2) Protection of Cultural Relics
3) Restoration of Exhibits'History and Art
4) Visitor Experience
5) Budget
6) Equipment maintenance and sustainable development
7) Social impact and media dissemination
In the process of museum lighting design, each of the above objectives must be constantly re-examined to achieve the maximum goal.
According to the different stages of Museum and Museum exhibition construction, the lighting design process includes six stages:
1) Project analysis
2) Conceptual design of lighting
3) Deepening Design
4) Construction documents
5) Equipment Installation
6) Project Acceptance and Maintenance
Each stage can be a gradual refinement process, which is modular and flexible. In most projects, certain phases are either reduced or skipped. In addition, the design team can be composed of fewer members, with a single team member playing multiple roles. Therefore, the process outlined here can be modified, but it needs to be in line with the overall project design objectives.
The clarification of these problems enables lighting designers to develop a unique preliminary concept of lighting design suitable for the project.
1. Project Analysis: How to achieve the curatorial objectives by lighting
Collection and exhibition are the most basic functions of museums. It is the daily work of museums to plan and implement exhibitions with different themes.
The basic situation and special requirements of the project are studied by checklist analysis method to determine the preliminary design direction. The contents of the checklist include:
What is the design style of museum building space? What design elements exist?
Exhibition theme, historical theme, art or natural science theme?
How should a particular exhibition hall feel when visitors visit and enter?
What is the light sensitivity of the exhibits? Do you need very low light levels?
The type of cultural relics, bronze, silk, pottery or porcelain? (Note that we usually talk about ceramics, but ceramics and ceramics are different materials, so we should use different lighting methods.)
Exhibits, volume of objects, large exhibits? Or combination exhibits? How many?
Is there a unique cultural relic or artwork occupying the whole exhibition hall? How does this exhibit become the focus?
Is the display cabinet the main mode of display? Is it inside or outside the cabinet?
Is space empty and full of light, or does it use discrete, highly dramatic beams of light in darkness?
Is it a plane exhibit or a three-dimensional exhibit?
Are there specific objects that require special lighting?
Are there specific details or themes that can be revealed through specific lighting processes?
Is the surface of an object or work of art reflective or dumb?
Coloured exhibits or monochrome ones?
How to take into account the visual needs of audiences of different ages?
Are there rich graphics and text descriptions?
The basic situation and special requirements of the project are studied by checklist analysis method to determine the preliminary design direction. The contents of the checklist include:
What is the design style of museum building space? What design elements exist?
Exhibition theme, historical theme, art or natural science theme?
How should a particular exhibition hall feel when visitors visit and enter?
What is the light sensitivity of the exhibits? Do you need very low light levels?
The type of cultural relics, bronze, silk, pottery or porcelain? (Note that we usually talk about ceramics, but ceramics and ceramics are different materials, so we should use different lighting methods.)
Exhibits, volume of objects, large exhibits? Or combination exhibits? How many?
Is there a unique cultural relic or artwork occupying the whole exhibition hall? How does this exhibit become the focus?
Is the display cabinet the main mode of display? Is it inside or outside the cabinet?
Is space empty and full of light, or does it use discrete, highly dramatic beams of light in darkness?
Is it a plane exhibit or a three-dimensional exhibit?
Are there specific objects that require special lighting?
Are there specific details or themes that can be revealed through specific lighting processes?
Is the surface of an object or work of art reflective or dumb?
Coloured exhibits or monochrome ones?
How to take into account the visual needs of audiences of different ages?
Are there rich graphics and text descriptions?
Every exhibition hall, every cultural relic and every artwork is unique. Successful lighting design projects must use the following lighting design language flexibly.
2. Lighting conceptual design: preliminary design evaluation stage
Lighting conceptual design addresses all priorities and technical issues, such as curatorial requirements and heritage conservation, as well as the expected aesthetic sensation of lighting and how it affects visitor experience. In addition to lighting designers, other project design team members, including owners, exhibition designers, graphic designers, architects, electrical engineers, curators and content developers, will bring different visions and priorities to the project. Conceptual design stage focuses on refining these factors into a clear, concise and unified design direction, providing a brief description and summary as a reference for decision-making.
Every exhibition hall, every cultural relic and every artwork is unique. Successful lighting design projects must use the following lighting design language flexibly.
1) Illuminance
2) Brightness
3) Color temperature
4) Color rendering index
5) Contrast
6) Uniformity
7) Lighting distribution
8) Glare control
To better interpret the unique charm of each project, specific objectives include:
• To determine the purpose of the lighting scheme: function and atmosphere creation;
• Establish a visual hierarchy: What should the audience see first when entering the exhibition hall? Secondly, what should they see? Use illumination, angle and color tools to create focus, attract attention and form visual guidance.
• Balance between background light and focus light: Background light, or ambient light in public space, should not compete with focus lighting designed to generate focus.
• Appropriate contrast: Intense focus lighting can attract a lot of attention. Differences in brightness can help focus attention on brighter objects in the field of vision, while contrast between light and darkness can create drama and reveal textures. Recognition of significant differences in the human eye requires a brightness contrast of more than 2:1. For example, if a highly light-sensitive exhibit can only be illuminated to a low light level, such as 50 Lux, then the environment of the exhibit needs to be adjusted to a lower level.
• Good lighting speaks: all aspects of lighting design should fully support the overall objectives of the project exhibition and help tell stories with excellent lighting design.
• Budget management and cost performance: advanced lighting equipment with excellent light color, high efficiency, variable light conversion, accurate light distribution and support of multiple intelligent dimming can not only complete lighting design with high quality, save a lot of reserves and daily expenses for owners, but also is the key factor to achieve high performance-price ratio for projects.
• Maintenance and sustainable development: Lighting power density should meet the international advanced energy efficiency requirements, lighting equipment should be easy to maintain, manufacturers have rapid and convenient service capabilities, which can ensure the sustainability of lighting projects.
• Space Aesthetics: Lighting equipment is highly compatible with architectural structure, exhibition hall space and Exhibition style.
Every exhibition hall, every cultural relic and every artwork is unique. Successful lighting design projects must use the following lighting design language flexibly.
1) Illuminance
2) Brightness
3) Color temperature
4) Color rendering index
5) Contrast
6) Uniformity
7) Lighting distribution
8) Glare control
To better interpret the unique charm of each project, specific objectives include:
• To determine the purpose of the lighting scheme: function and atmosphere creation;
• Establish a visual hierarchy: What should the audience see first when entering the exhibition hall? Secondly, what should they see? Use illumination, angle and color tools to create focus, attract attention and form visual guidance.
• Balance between background light and focus light: Background light, or ambient light in public space, should not compete with focus lighting designed to generate focus.
• Appropriate contrast: Intense focus lighting can attract a lot of attention. Differences in brightness can help focus attention on brighter objects in the field of vision, while contrast between light and darkness can create drama and reveal textures. Recognition of significant differences in the human eye requires a brightness contrast of more than 2:1. For example, if a highly light-sensitive exhibit can only be illuminated to a low light level, such as 50 Lux, then the environment of the exhibit needs to be adjusted to a lower level.
• Good lighting speaks: all aspects of lighting design should fully support the overall objectives of the project exhibition and help tell stories with excellent lighting design.
• Budget management and cost performance: advanced lighting equipment with excellent light color, high efficiency, variable light conversion, accurate light distribution and support of multiple intelligent dimming can not only complete lighting design with high quality, save a lot of reserves and daily expenses for owners, but also is the key factor to achieve high performance-price ratio for projects.
• Maintenance and sustainable development: Lighting power density should meet the international advanced energy efficiency requirements, lighting equipment should be easy to maintain, manufacturers have rapid and convenient service capabilities, which can ensure the sustainability of lighting projects.
• Space Aesthetics: Lighting equipment is highly compatible with architectural structure, exhibition hall space and Exhibition style.
After the conceptual design is approved, the lighting designer will improve the concept, focusing on project's sustainability and budget, to ensure that the lighting objectives will eventually be met.
3. Deepening Design: Further Refining and Implementing Solutions
At this stage, the lighting designer will complete:
Establishment of lighting modes
Selection of equipment
Determine the location of lighting equipment
Establishment of lighting control methods
Full-space lighting simulation (static or AR video)
Illuminance calculation
Glare evaluation
Establishment of virtual typical scenes and field testing
Overall equipment budget and operational energy consumption
Maintenance requirements
In this stage, the feasibility study and analysis of lighting scheme have been completed. From the perspective of aesthetics, heritage conservation, energy consumption, sustainability and budget, fully communicate and audit with librarians, curators, exhibition designers, architects and electrical engineers in order to accurately assess the impact on existing or under-construction infrastructure such as air conditioning, safety supervision and fire protection, and ultimately implement lighting solutions.
Establishment of lighting modes
Selection of equipment
Determine the location of lighting equipment
Establishment of lighting control methods
Full-space lighting simulation (static or AR video)
Illuminance calculation
Glare evaluation
Establishment of virtual typical scenes and field testing
Overall equipment budget and operational energy consumption
Maintenance requirements
In this stage, the feasibility study and analysis of lighting scheme have been completed. From the perspective of aesthetics, heritage conservation, energy consumption, sustainability and budget, fully communicate and audit with librarians, curators, exhibition designers, architects and electrical engineers in order to accurately assess the impact on existing or under-construction infrastructure such as air conditioning, safety supervision and fire protection, and ultimately implement lighting solutions.
All documents must be clear to ensure that contractors have the necessary information to deal with unforeseen on site obstacles and challenges, to achieve the lighting design objectives.
4. Construction documents: final design stage
After the concept of lighting is transformed into a practical solution, the lighting designer should formulate detailed construction rules and schedules so that owners, project managers, contractors, electrical and manufacturer sales representatives can review and understand the design.
At this stage, the designer will complete and provide:
hoose the final equipment, quantity and create a lighting schedule that lists all relevant information (i.e., model of lamps, optical characteristics, accessories or electrical requirements);
Instructions for installation of equipment
- Lighting bitmap and installation method
Detailed control charts for lighting control systems
Construction management plan
Emergency Response Mechanisms
At this stage, the designer will complete and provide:
hoose the final equipment, quantity and create a lighting schedule that lists all relevant information (i.e., model of lamps, optical characteristics, accessories or electrical requirements);
Instructions for installation of equipment
- Lighting bitmap and installation method
Detailed control charts for lighting control systems
Construction management plan
Emergency Response Mechanisms
The exciting moment is coming. Lighting design has changed from concept to reality. The exhibition begins with project planning and will eventually be presented to the audience.
5. Equipment installation and debugging: Lighting concept becomes reality
After the completion of construction documents, lighting equipment arrives at the project site according to the schedule and starts installation. The project team includes owners, contractors, system integrators, electricians and lighting manufacturers. Each aspect has its own priority key points. The lighting designer is responsible for balancing these key points according to the design plan to protect the design. Intended to avoid unnecessary changes to achieve the overall project requirements:
Response to on-site issues in all aspects of the project in a timely manner
Audit the drawings and site drawings submitted by the construction party to ensure that the equipment and quantity provided are the same as the design plan.
On-site coordinated installation
Check to verify that the appropriate lamps are in the right position and the right direction of projection
Initiate and debug lighting control system procedures
Lighting effect verification: for example, overall visual perception, whether all display design elements are accurately illuminated, whether there are unexpected glares, whether text and signs are visible?
Maintenance training to ensure that equipment maintenance personnel know how to use and maintain equipment.
Response to on-site issues in all aspects of the project in a timely manner
Audit the drawings and site drawings submitted by the construction party to ensure that the equipment and quantity provided are the same as the design plan.
On-site coordinated installation
Check to verify that the appropriate lamps are in the right position and the right direction of projection
Initiate and debug lighting control system procedures
Lighting effect verification: for example, overall visual perception, whether all display design elements are accurately illuminated, whether there are unexpected glares, whether text and signs are visible?
Maintenance training to ensure that equipment maintenance personnel know how to use and maintain equipment.
Lighting effect is a key link in project acceptance
6. Project Acceptance and Maintenance: Confirmation of Lighting Effect and Guarantee Services
Installation and commissioning of lighting equipment is usually the final stage of the completion of museum construction project or museum exhibition project. The whole project team includes owners, curators, exhibition designers, architects, electrical engineers, lighting designers and library management team has a process of project acceptance and transfer. Lighting effect is a key link in project acceptance.
• Has the lighting design objectives been achieved?
• Are owners and other design team members satisfied with the lighting effect?
• Whether the completion documents have been delivered in full
• Are there any measures to deal with the problems that may arise in the use and maintenance of equipment?
• Guarantee service docking
• Has the lighting design objectives been achieved?
• Are owners and other design team members satisfied with the lighting effect?
• Whether the completion documents have been delivered in full
• Are there any measures to deal with the problems that may arise in the use and maintenance of equipment?
• Guarantee service docking
