Category: News

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ILHA Partnership

DMF Partners with International Luxury Hotel Association

November 18, 2025

ILHA Partnership

DMF Partners with International Luxury Hotel Association

DMF is thrilled to announce our partnership with the International Luxury Hotel Association (ILHA), an organization serving as a dynamic networking platform dedicated to fostering meaningful connections to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of luxury hospitality.

 

“In luxury hospitality, every detail defines the experience. That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with DMF Lighting, the trusted choice in lighting of world-class designers and hoteliers,” said Barak Hirschowitz, president, International Luxury Hotel Association. “Lighting transforms the way a space is felt, turning design into experience. From boutique resorts to branded residences, DMF’s solutions elevate ambiance and expectations.”

 

The ILHA brings together hospitality experts and leaders in the industry. It’s the world’s largest association for luxury hospitality owners, operators, developers and investors that accelerate growth and innovation by providing critical information and a global networking stage.

 

“As an International Luxury Hotel Association partner, they’ll help our community rethink how lighting shapes luxury. Whether you’re renovating a flagship or designing from the ground up — this is a partner you want to know,” Hirschowitz noted.

 

With a vibrant network spanning over 700,000 members across 90 countries, the International ILHA stands as a truly global force in luxury hospitality. Each year, ILHA proudly hosts the renowned INSPIRE USA and INSPIRE EUROPE conferences, premier gatherings that unite industry leaders, innovators and visionaries to shape the future of luxury hospitality worldwide.


“We’re excited to work together to deliver innovative lighting solutions that will continue to elevate the luxury hospitality experience,” said Samantha Orzel, senior director of Commercial Growth, DMF Lighting.

 

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Reframing Sustainability CEU

Taking a broader view of sustainability in lighting

November 17, 2025

Reframing Sustainability CEU

Taking a broader view of sustainability in lighting

A New Perspective on Sustainability

Traditionally, lighting sustainability focuses on energy efficiency metrics like lumens per watt, controls, and daylighting strategies. While important, they are only part of the story. A broader view of sustainability includes reliability, modularity, serviceability, and material transparency. These concepts directly impact real-world design outcomes and contribute to long-lasting lighting systems.

 

Rethinking Sustainability: What truly makes lighting sustainable?

Efficiency is just the starting point, not the end goal. Consider what happens after installation: serviceability, replacement parts, and matching output over time. These factors are crucial for long-term sustainability but are often overlooked. We need to look beyond consumption and consider how long a fixture lasts, how easily it can be maintained, and whether it supports the evolving needs of the space.

The Reality of Today’s Specification Process.

Lighting must support evolving demands over time, not just day-one aesthetics. Architects and designers face increasing complexity, balancing visual outcomes, meeting codes, integrating systems, navigating supply chain realities, and delivering long-term value within compressed timelines. Often one of the last systems specified, lighting is highly visible when issues arise.

Sustainability is not isolated; decisions about lighting are influenced by budget, performance expectations, aesthetics, and future service needs. These constraints shape possibilities. It’s time to redefine sustainability, considering the total experience over time, not just consumption.

A New Lens on Lighting Sustainability: The Five Pillars of Reframed Sustainability

Let’s redefine sustainability to encompass how lighting is designed, built, maintained, and evolved over time. This broader definition supports occupant health, safety, environmental responsibility, and long-term value.

 

Instead of focusing solely on energy performance, we introduce five key concepts that affect the full lifecycle of a lighting system: modularity, reliability and longevity, serviceability, backward compatibility, and material transparency. These elements contribute to better outcomes for both the space and its occupants.

Modularity as a Sustainable Strategy, Enabling Longevity

Modularity is a practical and impactful way to enhance sustainability in lighting design. Instead of replacing entire fixtures when changes or failures occur, modular systems allow individual components (like the LED module, optic, or trim) to be swapped out. This approach reduces waste, lowers costs, and minimizes disruptions to the finished space.

 

Modular systems also support design flexibility. A single light housing can accommodate multiple configurations, adapting to different outputs, finishes, or beam angles, even years after installation. By keeping more of the original infrastructure in place, modular systems facilitate maintenance, upgrades, and retrofits without compromising the architectural design.

Modularity in Action Example                                                     

Imagine a downlight in a finished ceiling, part of a wall wash layout in a residential or hospitality space. Years after installation, one of the lights fails. With a modular system, there’s no need to cut into the ceiling or rewire anything. The trim is removed cleanly, and the module is swapped from below. This approach saves money, minimizes disruption, and preserves the original design.

 

Serviceability = Sustainability

A sustainable lighting system should be maintainable, allowing components like the light module or driver to be accessed and replaced from below the ceiling without disruption. This approach minimizes waste, labor, and downtime, while maintaining design consistency.

Reliability & Longevity

Reliability isn’t just about warranty; it’s about trust in performance. Long-term sustainability depends on how well a product performs over time, not just its day-one efficiency. While many high-quality fixtures are rated for 50,000 hours of operational life, real-world performance varies based on usage conditions. For example, a fixture running 24/7 in a commercial space may only carry a 5-year warranty, whereas the same fixture in a part-time, temperature-controlled residential setting could last much longer.

 

When evaluating lighting systems, look beyond the spec sheet. Consider the quality of the driver, thermal design, and the manufacturer’s confidence in the product’s actual field life, not just its lab performance. The same scrutiny should apply to lighting system integration and controls compatibility.

Transparency Matters: What’s in the Fixture?

Lighting sustainability also depends on what the fixture is made of and how much you know about it. Materials like casting, adhesives, wiring, and coatings affect performance, longevity, and occupant health. For instance, some cast parts include lead to improve mold performance, certain paints and adhesives may off-gas under heat, and flame retardants in plastics are often not disclosed.  

 

Many lighting products today are assembled through outsourced, OEM channels, making it hard to trace what’s inside. Transparency impacts long-term safety, serviceability, and compliance with health and environmental standards.

Transparency Matters: What’s in the Fixture?

Lighting sustainability also depends on what the fixture is made of and how much you know about it. Materials like casting, adhesives, wiring, and coatings affect performance, longevity, and occupant health. For instance, some cast parts include lead to improve mold performance, certain paints and adhesives may off-gas under heat, and flame retardants in plastics are often not disclosed. 

 

Many lighting products today are assembled through outsourced, OEM channels, making it hard to trace what’s inside. Transparency impacts long-term safety, serviceability, and compliance with health and environmental standards.

Built for What’s Next: Designing Backward Compatibility

Backward compatibility ensures that today’s lighting decisions remain effective in the future. When product lines evolve or technology changes, new components should integrate seamlessly with existing installations, matching performance, beam, and output.

 

Without backward compatibility, even minor changes can lead to visual inconsistency or system mismatch, often necessitating broader replacements that impact budget, controls, and code compliance. Designing with this in mind allows systems to evolve without starting over, enabling easier upgrades, better long-term support, and reduced risk to design integrity over time.

Codes Are Evolving

The concepts of modularity, serviceability, and transparency are evolving from best practices to actual standards and code frameworks.

 

In Europe, the Ecodesign Directive will require serviceability by 2026, ensuring fixtures are accessible and repairable with standard tools. In the U.S., WELL and LEED are advocating for greater transparency, durability, and lifecycle thinking, while the IgCC is incorporating service and reuse considerations.

 

The trend is clear: sustainability now encompasses not just efficiency, but also the longevity, maintainability, and overall impact of fixtures.

Sustainable Systems Support People and Places

Sustainability goes beyond materials and efficiency targets; it’s about the long-term functionality and feel of a space. When lighting systems are designed for longevity, easy maintenance, and adaptability, they enhance the user experience by being consistent, seamless, and less disruptive. This is where sustainability intersects with design integrity.

Reliable systems protect visual intent, serviceable systems minimize invasive repairs, and modular systems support change without compromise.

Key Takeaways

In summary, the five concepts create the foundation for a more complete and durable view of lighting sustainability.

 

Five Concepts of Lighting Sustainability

  • Modularity: Supports reuse, upgrades, and flexibility
  • Serviceability: Protects both the ceiling and the design
  • Reliability & Longevity: Reduces failure, callbacks, and long-term cost
  • Transparency: Ensures safer materials and smarter sourcing
  • Backward Compatibility: Allows seamless integration over time

Together, these concepts create a system built to last. Early integration of these concepts in the design process reduces risk, supports evolving needs, and delivers greater value for clients and end users.

 

If you are interested in learning more, DMF offers a Reframing Sustainability CEU training course. Please email training@dmflighting.com for more information.

News
DMF Design Awards 2025 Winner Clay Holden Architects featured on America ByDesign: Architecture

Clay Holden discusses the design of the Los Angeles AIA headquarters and community center.

August 29, 2025

DMF Design Awards 2025 Winner Clay Holden Architects featured on America ByDesign: Architecture

Clay Holden discusses the design of the Los Angeles AIA headquarters and community center

America ByDesign: Architecture, a livestreamed television series program on Saturday evenings on CBS, promotes American architectural innovation, ingenuity and design excellence.

 

Clay Holden of Clayton Holden Architects, who is a DMF Design Awards 2025 winner, was asked to discuss the design of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) headquarters and community center in Los Angeles (AIA|LA + ACLA Center for Communities).

 

The AIA|LA + ACLA Center for Communities serves as a hub fostering collaboration between professionals and the broader community on design solutions for a more sustainable and equitable future. Located within a historic 1927 neoclassical bank building, the project seamlessly integrates modern functionality while preserving the building’s original character.

 

Now in its third season, all America ByDesign: Architecture episodes are available for Livestreaming every Saturday at 9:00 p.m. EDT on CBS News (New York Livestream), the network’s free live-streaming platform, as well as other viewing platforms, including the @ByDesignTV YouTube Channel. Watch the episode featuring AIA|LA + ACLA Center for Communities here.

 

Clay Holden Architects, in collaboration with HLB Lighting Design, was awarded Second Place in DMF Design Awards 2025, which recognizes outstanding lighting design projects and the talented designers that creatively incorporate DMF products.

 

The prestigious competition highlights the most innovative and visually compelling projects from designers, architects and custom installers from across the United States, all showcasing the creative use of DMF Lighting products. To learn more, visit www.dmflighting.com/designawards.

News
Maintenance Professionals Honor M Series Commercial Downlights

M Series Downlights Recognized for Innovation and Excellence in FMD/FCD Reader’s Choice Awards

July 10, 2025

Maintenance Professionals Honor M Series Commercial Downlights

M Series Downlights Recognized for Innovation and Excellence in FMD/FCD Reader’s Choice Awards

Awarding outstanding and innovative products that contribute “to the efficient and profitable operations, maintenance and cleaning of institutional and commercial buildings,” readers of Facility Maintenance Decisions and Facility Cleaning Decisions magazines have honored the M Series Commercial Downlighting Collection with an honorable mention Reader’s Choice Award.

 

Leading the lighting space for simplifying maintenance, the 4-inch downlighting family features a modular design with field-interchangeable modules, optics and trims, allow easy serviceability, as well as design changes, as they can be easily swapped on site from below the ceiling.

 

The versatile series meets most site requirements with lumen packages ranging from 750 to 3500 lumens, while providing continuity in aesthetics and performance throughout varying ceiling heights across an entire property.

 

Drivers are uniquely integrated into the modules versus the housing, so modules, equipped with quick connects, can be easily swapped out below the ceiling, making serviceability quick and easy, saving on maintenance costs.

News
X Series Downlights Clinch Top Honors in MVP Awards

X Series Downlights Win Top Honors in MVP Awards

May 19, 2025

X Series Downlights Clinch Top Honors in MVP Awards

Top honors in the MVP Awards go to the X Series Downlights

Chosen by a panel of residential construction professionals for “ground-breaking innovation and practical excellence to environmental benefits and jaw-dropping beauty,” PROBUILDER’s annual Most Valuable Product (MVP) Awards recognize the “best of the best to help its readers design, build, remodel and sell homes” in 16 different categories.

 

Winning the top GOLD honor in the Lighting category, the 2-inch X Series modular downlights feature field-changeable trims, light engine modules, and optics for exceptional versatility, while providing the ultimate in performance, installation, serviceability and sustainability.

 

The downlight or adjustable (360-degree rotation and 35-degree tilt) modules are paired with the universal housing, offering a small footprint (quiet ceiling) without sacrificing light output (750 to 1500 lumens) — comparable performance to 3- and 4-inch downlights in ceilings up to 10 feet, but providing a more architectural look.

 

Drivers are integrated into the light engine modules versus the housing for easy serviceability. Housings also have been designed with a unique trap door, providing post-install access below the ceiling.

It’s the first truly serviceable 2-inch downlight with an integrated driver and below-ceiling access. Together these features allow for painless serviceability, unheard of in a 2-inch fixture!

 

“From more than 200 entries, these products exhibit great design and style, convenience, efficiency, and true innovation in their respective categories.”             –PROBUILDER editor

News
A Series Signage Wins an Interiors + Sources Product Innovation Award

Representing the very finest innovative commercial products

April 11, 2025

A Series Signage Wins an Interiors + Sources Product Innovation Award

Representing the very finest innovative commercial products

Honoring outstanding commercial solutions that balance beauty and functionality, the Interiors + Sources (i+s) Product Innovation Awards (PIAs) are guided by the magazine mission to “design with purpose,” and the A Series Illuminated Signage certainly embodies this ethos.

 

A specifier’s favorite, the sleek, ADA compliant, and elegantly diffused illuminated room sign offers complete customization including the choice of orientation, text alignment and faceplate color.

 

Featuring a thin design with only a 1/2-inch depth, the surface-mount sign can be mounted in either Landscape or Portrait orientation and text alignment can be positioned in any of the four upper/lower corners. Elegantly illuminated through a clear, diffused lens, the standard faceplate color is black, but specifiers can choose any custom color (RAL) to compliant their project’s décor.

 

The sign’s modular design features an integrated driver – versus remote – allowing for straight-forward installation and simplified serviceability, saving time and money.

 

Judged by an esteemed and experienced panel of judges from the interior design community, the i+s PIAs celebrate unique solutions to help its readers of interior designers, architects, and product specification influencers to create beautiful, functional and high-performance commercial projects.

 

Check out the i+s issue featuring the A Series.

News
Architects Recognize the X Series Cylinders in AP’s PIAs

Architectural Products magazine highlights ground-breaking products

March 20, 2025

Architects Recognize the X Series Cylinders in AP’s PIAs

Architectural Products magazine highlights ground-breaking products

Created to celebrate innovative products, systems, and materials that help architects achieve new levels of creativity or performance in their design, DMF is pleased to celebrate that Architectural Products magazine has honored the X Series Cylinders with a 2024 Product Innovation Award.

 

DMF Lighting’s small 3-inch modular cylinder system is offered in pendant, surface-mount and ADA compliant wall-mount configurations. Featuring field-changeable optics and trims, the X Series Cylinders provide an unmatched level of flexibility and customization with a choice of over a million configurations and the ability to swap onsite.

 

Judges Comment: “The field-swappable components are a welcome change in the industry and hopefully a game changer. I also love that this is one of the few LED fixtures with a Declare list showing Red List compliance.”

 

The interchangeable trims choices include Snoot, Wall Wash, Standard and unique decorative choices including Floating, Hyberbolic and Open trims. Our decorative options feature finely crafted acrylic with transparent and frosted visual elements to help to achieve and assist with your vision.

 

Read the article in the November/December issue of Architectural Product.

News
A Place to Flourish

The Bowery Mission, an organization transforming lives

January 6, 2025

A Place to Flourish

The Bowery Mission, an organization transforming lives

Based in New York City on the Lower East Side, The Bowery Mission is one of the most historic and dedicated non-profit organizations, serving and helping those facing homelessness, hunger, and other hardships for over 150 years.

 

With the doors open 365 days a year, The Bowery Mission services 1,000 to 1,200 people a day, providing food, clothing, counseling, shelter, and a tranquil place for its clients. Last year alone the organization provided over 320,000 meals, 66,000 nights of sleep, 45,000 showers, and 32,000 articles of clothing while treating every person who steps through its door like family.

 

George Oliphant, host of NBC’s home renovation show “George to the Rescue,” recently surprised the center with a well-deserved renovation. Working alongside general contractor SilverLining, Inc., Robert A.M. Stern Architects, LLP, Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design, and generous contributors including DMF Lighting, the team transformed the building’s life-changing career center, along with a lounge area, into comfortable and rejuvenating spaces with next-level amenities for its hardworking volunteers, staff and clients.

 

DMF was proud to donate its M Series recessed downlight and wall washers to assist with the renovation.

 

Watch the episode of “George to the Rescue” to learn more about this wonderful organization and project. The Bowery Mission story was also recently featured on a TODAY Show segment.

News
M Series Commercial Downlights Win Vision Award

M Series Commercial Collection Honored for Innovation and Excellence

December 16, 2024

M Series Commercial Downlights Win Vision Award

2024 Vision Awards Champion

The FacilitiesNet Vision Awards honor innovation and excellence in products that contribute to the efficient, profitable operations and management of institutional and commercial buildings in the United States.

 

“The Vision Awards are a great indicator of the trends and challenges in facility management today,” said Editor-in-Chief Dan Weltin, Facility Market. “Every winner is a solution that can solve a problem or make buildings more efficient.”

 

Emerging victorious in the Lighting category, the M Series Commercial Downlighting Collection meets all site requirements and ceiling heights with lumen packages from 750 up to 3500, while providing continuity in aesthetics and performance across an entire property.

 

The 4-inch architectural collection’s modular design features tool-less, field-interchangeable trims, LED light engine modules, and optics, providing exceptional serviceability and flexibility when aiming a project or making design changes, as they can be easily swapped onsite from below the ceiling from fixed to adjustable to wall wash.

 

The M Series Commercial family was chosen by an independent panel of facility executives and influencers including members of the Building Operating Management and Facility Maintenance Decisions Editorial Advisory Boards, and other prestigious facility managers.

 

To view all winners and learn more, click here.

News
X Series Downlights Honored in the 2024 Architizer A+ Product Awards

X Series recognized for sustainability

October 9, 2024

X Series Downlights Honored in the 2024 Architizer A+ Product Awards

The A+Product Awards recognizes X Series for quality, design, and impact.

We’re proud that our X Series Downlights have been recognized as one of the world’s most distinguished brands for performance, aesthetics, and impact by the 200+ member jury of industry leaders who are actively shaping the world.

 

 

Every architect and designer appreciates that it takes spectacular products and materials to make their designs a reality. The A+Product Awards honors the elements behind the globe’s most inspiring contemporary buildings — as chosen by the architects and design professionals who specify them every day. It’s a true celebration of the best and most innovative building products worldwide.

Visit the Special Mention.