LED lighting design in Berlin

Sabine de Schutter2 MarLighting Tips and Awareness5 Min
Written By Sabine De Schutter

Technology, emotion and sustainability in harmony

Anyone searching for LED lighting design in Berlin usually has a concrete project in mind:

A new build.
An office.
A showroom.
A residential property.

And needs reliable, well-founded answers.

Here are a few general guidelines:

 
StudioDeSchutter_HotelCoreum_Leselicht-PhotoStudioDeSchutter (2).jpg

Lighting in the Coreum Hotel: Designed by SDS.

1. Light quality: precision instead of compromise

LED is not the same as LED.

What matters are measurable criteria that we define already in the concept phase:

• CRI above 90 for realistic color rendering
• TM-30 analysis for a differentiated evaluation of color fidelity and saturation
• UGR below 19 for visual ergonomics in work environments
• MacAdam 2- or 3-step for uniform light colors without visible deviations

These parameters determine how materials appear.
How skin tones are perceived.
How surfaces are read.

Light should not distort.
It should refine.

 

Lighting in the Ahrend x Office Group Showroom: Designed by SDS.

2. Control: intelligent systems instead of isolated solutions

Modern LED lighting design is scenario-based.

Technical foundation:

• DALI or KNX integration
• Tunable White systems from 2700K to 6500K
• Daylight-responsive control
• Presence sensors and zoned control

We do not design static installations, but adaptive systems that respond to use and time of day.

A conference room reacts differently than an open space.

A lounge differently than a reception area.

 

Lighting in the Full Node Office: Designed by SDS.

3. Integration into architecture

LED systems today enable a level of constructive precision that was hardly achievable in the past. Thanks to compact dimensions and flexible installation options, lighting solutions can be aligned exactly with the architectural concept — not the other way around.

Typical elements in our projects:

• Flush-mounted downlights with a calm ceiling appearance
• Linear profiles with minimal installation depth
• Concealed coves for indirect illumination
• Accent spots with narrow beam angles

Light is not an add-on.
It is part of the spatial structure.

 

Lighting in the Ahrend x Office Group Workplace: Designed by SDS.

4. Efficiency and lifecycle

For us, sustainability is not decorative — it is technically embedded. It begins with the selection of systems and continues through detailed planning. What matters is not only energy consumption during operation, but a holistic view over many years.

Relevant parameters in our projects:

• System efficiencies above 120 lm/W
• L80/B10 values at 50,000 hours and beyond
• Modular driver concepts with replaceable components
• Maintenance-friendly constructions and clear accessibility

In addition, well-considered control strategies prevent unnecessary operating hours and regulate energy use according to actual demand. Efficiency becomes measurable — not only on paper, but in real operation.

We think in lifecycles.
Not in trends.

 

Lighting in Covivio: Designed by SDS.

5. Different requirements, one clear stance

Office and New Work

• Standard-compliant lighting according to DIN EN 12464
• Vertical illumination for spatial depth
• Glare-free workstation solutions

Here, visual performance takes priority.

Retail and showroom

• Precise accentuation
• Flexible track systems
• High color stability

Products are staged — without exaggeration.

Residential and villa

• Warm light colors below 3000K
• Finely tuned dimming scenes
• Integration into smart home systems

 

Why Studio De Schutter

LED technology is widely available. Expertise is not.

Studio De Schutter combines architectural understanding with deep technical detail knowledge. We work manufacturer-independently, develop tailored concepts, and support projects from the early design phase through to on-site implementation.

certificates

A space can be illuminated in compliance with standards. Or it can be intentionally designed.

The difference lies in the planning.

When technology, emotion and sustainability are aligned, lighting emerges that supports performance, makes identity visible and endures over time.

LED is the tool.
Planning makes the difference.

 
 

Contact Us:

 
Sabine De Schutter

Founded in Berlin in 2015 by Belgian born Sabine De Schutter, Studio De Schutter reflects the strong belief that architectural lighting design is much more than just lighting up the built environment.

As independent lighting designers, the studio's focus is on user-centred design, because design is about creating meaningful spaces that positively affect people's lives. Studio De Schutter work focuses on creative lighting for working spaces, custom fixtures for heritage buildings to workshops and installations for public space.The studio's motto = #creativityisourcurrency

Sabine teaches at the HPI d.school, Hochschule Wismar, is an IALD member and the ambassador for Women in Lightingin Germany.

Studio De Schutter wurde 2015 von der in Belgien geborenen Sabine De Schutter (*1984) in Berlin gegründet. Die in Berlin lebende Designerin studierte Innenarchitektur in Antwerpen und Barcelona, hat einen zweiten Master-Abschluss in architektonischem Lichtdesign (HS Wismar) und studierte Design Thinking an der HPI d.school in Potsdam.

Das Studio De Schutter zeigt, dass es beim architektonischen Lichtdesign darum geht, Wahrnehmung zu formen und Erfahrungen zu schaffen. Für Studio De Schutter geht es beim Lichtdesign darum, eindrucksvolle Umgebungen zu schaffen, die das Leben der Menschen positiv beeinflussen. Der Benutzer steht im Mittelpunkt ihres Ansatzes und deshalb lassen sie und ihr Team sich nicht durch konventionelle Beleuchtungsstandards einschränken. Sie arbeiten eng mit ihren Kunden zusammen, um die Vision des Projekts und die Nutzerbedürfnisse zu verstehen und sie mit Licht zu akzentuieren. Das Studio De Schutter hat kreative Lichtlösungen für Arbeitsumgebungen, Lichtkunstinstallationen und kundenspezifische Leuchten in seinem Portfolio. Heute ist es ein vierköpfiges Team von internationalen Power-Frauen, die sich alle leidenschaftlich damit, wie Licht den Raum, die Erfahrungen und Emotionen formt, beschäftigt.

Sabine De Schutter lehrt an der Hochschule Wismar und ist Botschafterin für Women in Lighting (https://womeninlighting.com) in Deutschland.

https://www.studiodeschutter.com
Next

Villa lighting by a lighting designer: holistic concepts from Berlin