Survey on the Use of Lighting Design Software in Architecture and Interior Design Undergraduate Education

Abstract

With the steady development of global illumination algorithms over the past four decades, lighting design software is no longer the domain of a specialist. Easy to use interface, built-in flexibility, reliable calculation models, and compelling visuals has made today's lighting design software useful to architects and interior designers. However, despite these advantages, the use of lighting design software is not widely included in the undergraduate architecture and interior design education. This paper summarizes the results of an online survey of a sample of accredited architecture and interior design schools in the United States conducted to (a) determine the extent of use of lighting design software in teaching and learning lighting at the undergraduate level and (b) to assess design educators' attitude toward their usefulness in design education. This paper discusses directions for the future based on the survey results.