North light is the most consistent source of daylight in the nordic hemisphere. It is a diffuse light source that just like indirect lighting creates an even, shadow-free lighting ambiance. Traditionally, a north-facing studio provides the optimal lighting conditions for a workplace. today, our city is built so densely that workplaces do not always have the privilege of being properly oriented.

Tip from a lighting designer

We believe that the supplement of artificial lighting also during daylight hours in office buildings is essential to enable tasks to be carried out as well as to ensure the well-being of workers.

Mood lighting describes a type of lighting setting that creates an ambiance. It is usually understood as a lighting atmosphere that is more intimate and warm or dimmed down. Mood lighting is found in architectural spaces like hotels, restaurants and private residences.

Tip from a lighting designer

To create variable moods for spaces which are used both during the day and into the night, we recommend planning a lighting system that offers flexibility and which enables the selection of different moods or scenes: from a brighter one during the day, to a dimmed-down and warmer one in the evening. Ideal fixtures for moods selection are those with either a dim to warm or a tunable white light source.

Light is much more than a medium that allows us to perceive. When designed, light has the ability to create ambience, to shape our experiences or to set the mood for an evening of entertainment. Lighting design enhances buildings, shapes the user experience and alters the mood of a space. It is also capable of fulfilling functional and ergonomic requirements like having enough and comfortable (non-glary) light where you need it .

The definition of (architectural) lighting design is the work of shaping the visual experience of a space.

A lighting concept describes the design intent for the lighting scheme of a space or lighting installation. A lighting concept generally answers to a client brief and takes into account their needs, wishes and constraints.

We love to communicate our vision for the lighting or design intent with mood images, sketches, and visualisations to enable both our client and other consultants to clearly understand them always incorporating their inputs and opinions.

Luminous flux describes the total amount of emitted light by a light source and is measured in lumen (lm). It is a measure of the total quantity of visible light emitted by a source or lamp. The brighter the light source the higher the lumen.

Tip from a lighting designer

It is essential for us to know the lumen output of a light source or fixture to create a balanced lighting atmosphere and a pleasant visual hierarchy.

Lumen (lm) is the unit used to measure luminous flux and describes the total amount of visible emitted light by a source of light – either a lamp or a luminaire.

Defining the lumen of light sources and fixtures is essential for creating a balanced lighting atmosphere and a pleasant visual hierarchy. The brighter the light source the higher the lumen.

At Studio De Schutter we like to think outside of the box. Often we design custom-made fixtures to match users' needs and specific project requirements. Often we design what we call "lighting hack" to meet deadline or budget requirements. A light hack is a semi-bespoke solution that combines off-the-shelfe components and mixes them in a new and creative way.

We live by the motto #creativityisourcurrency and don’t let us be stopped by limitations.

As lighting specialists, we notice that the terms “lamp” and “luminaire” are often used interchangeably, with a tendency to use “lamp” to describe a “luminaire”.

A lamp is a light source that produces optical visible radiation. The characteristics of a lamp are described by its colour temperature, dimension, socket, lamp lifetime, distribution, and luminous flux.

A luminaire or fixture is a lighting product that emits visible radiation. A luminaire contains all parts necessary to contain the lamp, thus the housing including the lamp socket, the reflectors or covers to distribute the lighting, and the technical equipment like heat sinks and drivers.

Tip from a lighting designer

Lighting designers design the layout of luminaires and define the characteristics of the lamps.

Kelvin (K) is the unit of temperature and describes the colour temperature of light or the light colour. The measurement of Kelvin describes the coldness or warmness impression of light and moves on a scale going from1000K to 10 000K.

A junction box or j-box is a housing for electrical connections. J-boxes are used for lighting and other electrical installations primarily to protect electrical connections from water, dust or the weather but especially to prevent people from getting electrical shocks.

Illuminance is the term used to describe the amount of light or luminous flux from a light source falling on a surface and is measured at specific points on this plane. Illuminance is expressed in lux.

Disability glare causes discomfort and impairs the vision in comparison to discomfort glare. It is an effect caused by inter-reflections within the eyeball and causes a sense of pain and even a headache. The sense of vision is reduced by disability glare and can be both caused by direct or reflected light.

Tip from a lighting designer

We as lighting consultants, plan lighting arrangements that are balanced and take both glare and contrast into account.

Discomfort glare is the glare caused by a light source without necessarily impairing vision in comparison to disability glare. Discomfort glare can be caused by direct or reflected light and high-contrasts in comparison to the surrounding. An example of this is a bright spotlight on the ceiling when working on a computer screen. The user of the space will still be able to see their surroundings, however, the presence of the bright light source in their field of vision, causes discomfort and distraction.

Dim to warm or also called warm dim is the characteristic of a light source, mainly LED to change its colour temperature (link) to change when being dimmed down.

Dynamic white lighting or also called “tunable white” is one of the technical advantages of LED lighting. In contrast to conventional lighting sources, a dynamic white light source, often an LED strip or COB can vary its light colour from daylight-like cold white to candle-like warm white, e.g. 2700K white lighting.

Indirect lighting describes the lighting distribution of a fixturewhere the emitting surface is not directed towards the work plane or surface where the visual task is executed. It is however directed towards a surface (e.g. ceiling or wall) and only the reflected or bounced lighting reaches the work plane.

Designing the visual hierarchy is one of the design tools of lighting consultants. Architectural lighting designers shape the perception of space by creating a visual hierarchy. This is done by setting focal points and highlights in certain areas and leaving others in shadow.

Gobo is a term used for a graphical lighting effect that comes from stage lighting. A gobo projection is a lighting effect created by a mask or cut-out placed between the light source and the surface onto which it is projected.

Flicker from light sources is the impression of unsteadiness of visual sensation caused by rapid and repeated changes in the luminous intensity of a source.

Dynamic white lighting or also called “tunable white” is one of the technical advantages of LED lighting. In contrast to conventional lighting sources, a dynamic white light source, often an LED strip or COB can vary its light colour from daylight-like cold white to candle-like warm white, e.g. 2700K white lighting.