Why Is Lighting Undervalued

Lighting sits at the very core of how a space is experienced and yet is routinely treated as expendable in cost evaluations, rather than fundamental to purpose. At the same time, environmental metrics often drive decision-making – ticking boxes instead of designing spaces for the people who inhabit them. This panel explores why lighting design is often considered a ‘nice to have’ rather than a core design driver and how lighting designers can breathe new life into the industry by designing for both certificates and people - ensuring that light remains a medium for emotion, character and drama. Moderator: Matt Waring, editor at [d]arc media Speakers: Jasper Sanders, Founder & Director - Jasper Sanders + Partners; Stefan Isherwood, Associate Lighting Designer - Nulty; Duncan Jackson, Billings Jackson. Recorded at House of Detention as part of [d]arc thoughts, Clerkenwell Design Week 2026. Sponsored by Ideolux