DLFNY

About Us

Discover more about our mission, community, history, events, educational programs and our organization.

About DLFNY

Who We Are

The Designers Lighting Forum of New York is an organization dedicated to exploring the power of light in design and the latest in lighting innovation and education. We are led by a volunteer Board of Managers and are supported by the DLFNY general membership, the generosity of its corporate sponsors, and financial proceeds from LEDucation.

Membership

Our membership is a diverse community sharing a passion for lighting and design. Membership is open to all: established professionals, emerging professionals, students, design firms, and others in the lighting and construction industries.

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Programs

With a love for lighting at its core, the DLFNY produces an annual season of events and educational programs that are stimulating, educational, and inspirational. Join us for enlightening visual experiences, practical information, and networking.

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Education

We support education in lighting by offering numerous professional development programs, as well as financial support through donations, grants, and scholarships to schools and universities for their lighting programs.

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We believe in the power of lighting design.

Our mission: we bring exciting educational activities to the design community and support lighting education for professionals and students.

Light is invisible; lighting needs to be experienced in three dimensions. As a spirited community, we engage directly with lighting in the built environment by hosting interactive project visits, guided by the designers who made them.

LEDucation

LEDucation – our annual conference and trade show – offers professionals ready access to the latest in LED products and technology, together with a wide range of accredited seminars. Manufacturers enjoy access to a rich flow of specifying designers. Introduced in 2007, LEDucation has grown to become the preferred venue for meaningful interaction in the lighting community.

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History

The Designers Lighting Forum had its origins in 1935 as the Women’s Auxiliary of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, serving the interests of residential lighting. The Auxiliary quickly became the Lighting Forum for Residential Lighting, then expanded over the years to engage lighting design in commercial and institutional applications, ultimately becoming the Designers Lighting Forum, attracting eminent designers in the NYC community. The DLFNY separated from the IES in the 1980’s and is a not-for-profit organization.

DLFNY Leadership

The DLFNY Board of Managers

Amy Ruffles

President

Amy Ruffles is an Associate Principal at Lighting Workshop. LC, LEED GA.

Cynthia Turner

Vice President

Cynthia Turner is an experienced lighting professional whose career has touched all facets of the lighting industry.

Kathleen Carlisle

Treasurer

Kathleen Carlisle is Managing Partner of Dark No More LLC.

Jennifer Mason

Recording Secretary

Jennifer Mason is Specification Sales Manager at O’Blaney Rinker Associates.

Francesca Bastianini

Francesca Bastianini is Past-President of DLFNY, Founding Partner of Sighte Studio, and part time faculty at Parsons School of Design – The New School.

Dan Blitzer

Dan Blitzer is Principal at Practical Lighting Workshop, providing strategy, communication, and training. He is an advisor to Next Generation Lighting Systems and Treasurer at the Nuckolls Fund. LC, FIES.

Patrick Carbone

Patrick is a project manager and lighting designer at Orsman Design, focused on experiential interiors.

Jesse Coletta

Jesse is a lighting designer who has worked with highly regarded lighting design firms and currently works daily to bridge the gap between lighting design and the end users of a space.

Carl Everett

Carl Everett is Principal Designer at Sense Lighting Design, a studio that works with artists, architects, and creative agencies to develop permanent constructed environments, exhibitions, and temporary experiential installations.

Burt Grant

Burt Grant is Co-Founder and Co-Chair of LEDucation, Past Vice-President of DLFNY, and Past-President of IES Long Island.

Wendy Kaplan

Wendy Kaplan is the Northeast Regional Manager for Feelux Lighting. She enjoys the creativity of the lighting designers, architects, and interior designers involved in our community.

Olivia King

Olivia King is a project manager and interior designer with Rockwell Group.

Tzu-Hao Kuo

Tzu-Hao Kuo is Lighting Designer at Borealis Lighting Studio (BR+A), a studio that works through the challenges that each environment brings, from Healthcare to Laboratories and Higher Education to Civic and Performance Spaces as well as Arts, Entertainments, Façade, and Landscape.

Sirun Maloney

Sirun Maloney is a lighting designer at Celano Design Studio Co., a New York-based interior design firm that creates unique and memorable built-environment primarily in hospitality industry.

Charles Pavarini III

Pavarini’s experience, theatrical career, and vision have made him a recognized Designer. Recipient of 33 design awards including a LUMEN, his accomplishments confirm his influence within the Industry.

Matteo Seconi

Matt Seconi is Chief Executive Officer of Moxie Lighting.

Judy Sheridan

Judy Sheridan is a residential interior designer with a passion for redoing, refurnishing, and redecorating. She is also author of How To Work With An Interior Designer.

Brian Smith

Past President

Brian Smith is a Studio Leader at BOLD LLC. His enthusiasm for design and collaboration is celebrated by his leadership and lighting approach.

Cliff Starr

Cliff Starr is an independent lighting designer and Showroom Manager at Goodmart Lighting Design Center. He has enjoyed creatively helping his clients needs and problems for close to 40 years.