The AWARE art installation, which was featured at Dallas Market Center’s ArchLIGHT Summit, has been permanently moved to the UNT College of Visual Arts and Design’s Department of Design to promote sustainability and inspire Interior Design students and future generations of designers. ArchLIGHT Summit, the lighting trade event and educational platform for the architectural and design communities, took place on September 19-20, 2023. 

The AWARE installation is an experiential art installation by Your Lighting Brand and The Lighting Exchange led by Co-Founder & Principal Jonathan Ayala, was designed to drive awareness to viewers of the need for sustainability in the lighting industry by using different lighting components.

“Having the AWARE exhibit as a permanent fixture at the Interior design school on campus serves as a daily source of inspiration for our students and as a reminder about the important role sustainability places in interior design,” said Jeannine Vail, Assistant Professor of Interior Design at the University of North Texas. 

The College of Visual Arts and Design is accepting donations to cover the cost of additional materials and installation. Planned student engagement activities surrounding the installation

include researching and producing banners to display with the installation on topics such as the History of Lighting, Policy in Lighting and Sustainability (such as LEED and WELL), Artificial vs Natural Lighting, Product Development, and Effects on Lighting and Behavior. Ideas for community engagement are also being explored. Online gifts may be made to Support the College of Visual Arts and Design and designate your gift for AWARE or contact Felicia Lewis, senior director for CVAD development and fundraising, Felicia.Lewis@unt.edu, 940-369-8042

Vail’s students will be making light fixtures in the month of April as part of The Robert Bruce Thompson Student Design Competition, and she will be encouraging them to use sustainable materials and methods for those projects. Additionally, Ayala has volunteered to guest lecture in this timeframe via Zoom to discuss sustainability and lighting. 

“We are thrilled to have found a new home for the AWARE installation and that this important sustainability story has the opportunity to begin a new chapter,” said Ayala. “The University of North Texas fully embodies what this installation stands for, and we are honored to contribute this symbol of sustainability to their future students and faculty.” 

The University of North Texas was present for Student Day at ArchLIGHT Summit, September 20, along with other universities from across the country to take part in educational programming, student-oriented interactive sessions, and demonstrations. In addition to dedicated programming, students were urged to walk the showroom floor to listen in on panels and learn the latest lighting technologies.

The next ArchLIGHT Summit will take place September 17-18, 2024. Registration is now open. For more information, visit www.ArchLIGHTSummit.com and follow ArchLIGHT Summit on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest developments and information. For information on Dallas Market Center, visit our website. In addition to hosting ArchLIGHT Summit, Dallas Market Center hosts Lightovation, the largest residential lighting show in North America. The next edition will take place June 19-22, 2024. Keep up-to-date on information about that event by following the Lightovation Facebook page and joining the Lightovation – Lighting Industry Discussion Group.