Written by Paul Boken
I talk to lighting designers all over the world, and the same challenge keeps coming up: we are losing power, not gaining it. Too often, designers set the vision but leave procurement and pricing to others, only to see their work get value-engineered into oblivion. If we don’t own the procurement strategy and the budget for our designs, someone else will—and it won’t be in service of good lighting.
Designers need to take a more active role in pricing and procurement, ensuring that specifications are not just recommendations but protected mandates. Setting a clear design vision isn’t enough—we must also set the tone for how our projects are purchased and built. If we don’t establish a firm price for quality, procurement teams and contractors will find ways to strip our designs down to whatever fits their budget and maximizes their profit, regardless of intent or impact.
When Designers Lose Control of Procurement, Design Suffers
- When price becomes the sole factor, the nuance and experience of good lighting design are lost. The layers, the warmth, the careful interplay of light and shadow—replaced by whatever is cheapest.
- When contractors run the show, commoditization of your design is inevitable. They are incentivized to find substitutions that maximize margins, not maintain the integrity of your concept.
- When procurement prioritizes cost over quality, innovation is punished. Unique, high-performing products are replaced with mass-market alternatives that “get the job done” but fail to elevate the space.
Designers Need to Build Moats Around Their Specifications
- Own the budget conversation – Establish early that quality lighting comes at a cost, and be prepared to defend it.
- Integrate procurement into the design process – clearly define sourcing strategies and key stakeholders.
- Align with agents and manufacturers – Work with those who advocate for quality and become a united front to push back against procurement-led downgrades.
If we don’t take control, others will dictate the future of lighting design for us. Are we willing to let that happen?
