John Bullock. lighting designer
My Lighting Design
I work as an independent consultant, so my income is derived entirely from fee-based appointments. Typically the design contract would be directly with the client, though there are occasions when it's deemed preferable for me to 'belong' to an existing part of the design team - the architect or consulting engineers, for example.
Although I have an hourly fee rate, I prefer to agree a set fee at the beginning of my work, having established the 'deliverables' - what's expected of me - and the time across which the design work needs to be done. I think that's the fairest way of operating; everyone knows what's going on and there should be no hidden costs anywhere.
I work closely with the architects or interior designers, though I do prefer to involve the client as much as possible. This is particularly important on residential projects, where the quality of the lighting design will have a huge impact on the people living there.
Usually, the lighting design plans are built up over the architect's plans. I use AutoCad for layouts and EXCEL worksheets for creating schedules of light fittings and circuit/dimming details.
I produce detailed schedules of lighting fittings, including manufacturer's technical data and costs. I also make a point of detailing all of the switching and dimming arrangements. The control of a lighting installation is just as important as the light fittings themselves - so I think its only right that I should bear that responsibility.
Because I have no loyalty or commitment to any manufacturer or supplier, I am free to specify the best lighting equipment for the project. And although there is no contractual or financial connection with the manufacturers, I've been around long enough to have a very good relationship with many companies and can call on their support in the development of a lighting scheme - for on-site lighting trials, for example.
A final design note:
I'm a lighting designer, not an electrical designer. Although I speak 'electricalese' like a native, I am not properly qualfied to produce electrical designs. In electrical terms, what I produce is only a 'specification'. A competent person needs to translate that specification into an electrical design. This is the job of electrical consulting engineer, or the electrical contractor (if the installer has taken on design responsibility as well as installation responsibility).
John Bullock Lighting Design: 01305 889256
