The difference between...

[SceneMaster]

Hi

 

Can anyone tell me what the difference is (when it comes to courses) between lighting design and Lighting Technology. Lighting design I persume to be LIGHTING DESIGN of show ect. But Lighting Technology??? :blink:

 

Thanks

[sam.henderson]

Taking a guess (so don't mark me on this) I expect Lighting Technology is about the electrics of Lights and the opperation/programming of lights etc. where as Lighting Design is more artisitic and How to create atmospheres with light, different effects etc.

 

Just a guess

 

Sam

[gareth]

I guess lighting technology is the electrical/electronic/mechanical theory behind the equipment that we use to light performances and events - in other words, how the kit does what it does. Lighting design, on the other hand, is what you actually do with the kit, and the pictures you create with it.

[Guest lightnix]

What's the difference ? About £30k a year, I'd say.

 

:P :o

 

Sorry.

[paulears]

from the colleges point of view, most consider design to be an artistic programme and the technical/techniques version to be more practical based. Very often if colleges offer both versions the designers come up with ideas and the techs put them into practice - a bit like the real world really. Some lighting design courses are very much based on analysis of existing designs, interpretation of them and critiques of how well they worked. These students then produce their own designs which may be put into practice, but can be just the 'paper' version. Some colleges do both - 1st and second year students implement the designs of the final year students, which seems a sensible system. LIPA and Rose Bruford both do this quite well, and it seems to work. If you look at the hnd route rather than degree courses, the design and technical (actually called Lighting Practice) tend to be separate courses with a few common elements. Very often the automated fixture side of things is minimised in one unit, and separated out into another - this enables colleges with smaller equipment stocks to still offer the qualification. i.e. if they don't have moving lights, don't teach the automated lighting unit - but they can still do design and practice using generic fixtures. The automated units set a minimum standard of equipment at a couple of washes and a couple of 'anything with gobo wheels' so even older moving mirror kit would suffice. hope this helps. For what it's worth, there are now National diplomas (16-19), Higher nationals (19+) and professional diplomas (PD's) - sort of mini HNDs for people already in work all dealing with design, practice and automation. These all have freely available criteria and outcomes, so you can see what will be covered on the courses - full degrees and the newer foundation degrees tend to have more generic outcomes that are different for each uni or college who are offering the course. Most people who read these documents still cant work out what will be taught without talking to the individual colleges & unis.

 

confused? not surprising really. if anyones really interested I could e-mail them some of the HND stuff showing what needs to be done for each unit. this isn't possible with degree courses as everyone keeps them very close to their chest till you're actually there!

paul