Illuminating Young Minds: Introducing Lighting at an Architectural Design Camp for Kids
I still remember when I was 5 or 6, going with my Girl Scout Troop to the local theater for a tour. We were invited backstage, and I was given a lighting gel to hold in my hand. The feeling of the crinkly blue square in my hands is forever embedded in my memory. That experience for me was the first step on a lifelong journey navigating my way through performing arts, theater, lighting, and eventually, architectural lighting.
This year, SoCal NOMA hosted its 15th annual Project Pipeline Summer Camp. Four years ago, Lauren Dandridge and Kate Furst initiated the idea of including architectural lighting into the overall architectural curriculum of the Project Pipeline Summer Camp, and this year, Kristina Jajalla and I joined the team to help expand the lighting curriculum to cover color theory, daylighting, and an introduction to basic light fixture types through a small lighting manufacturer expo. Being a lighting volunteer at this year’s camp was my chance to provide that same “ah-ha” moment to the next generation of designers – watching eyes widen as static objects seem to change color under different colored lights or watching handmade models of school classrooms come alive, as our daylighting simulations activate the windows and skylights, creating shadows that dance across the room throughout the simulated day.
Architecture is a collaborative process; it has many moving parts that all need to work in sync with one another in order to create the desired outcome. We are so grateful to SoCal NOMA for allowing architectural lighting to be a part of their Project Pipeline Summer Camp, the incorporation of architectural lighting into a camp that aims to introduce students to the built environment and architectural profession not only allowed us to introduce the basic concepts of color theory and daylight, but also emphasized the collaborative and symbiotic nature of design – and the importance of teamwork as a lifelong skill.
