Experiential Landscape Lighting Initiative

07/03/2025

Understanding Evening Rituals--A Deeper Level of Lighting Design

When I first created ELLI, I began to separate landscape spaces into 'use-areas'--Personal-Use Spaces vs. Public-Use Spaces. I did this for a couple of reasons: 1) How the space was to be used, and 2) Who was using the space. In other words, the activities within these spaces require a different amount and type of lighting.

Recently, I purchased a new book called 'Chiaroscuro' (2025) by Michael Bamling of the U.K., and it is in complete alignment with my approach to landscape lighting design. It talks about the importance of our customers' evening rituals and providing lighting designs based on these scenarios. It's a much deeper level of thought, as you are considering mood and the emotional state one would like to achieve. Michael's approach is to divide your garden into emotional zones.

As we look to identify spaces, think about the two questions above...how is the space to be used (its purpose/intent or activity), and who is using the space (one or two people in more of an intimate setting, or a group of people to socialize or entertain). These are important questions that will guide you with the amount of light required and the color of light to use.

For more insights, please visit the ELLI website: https://lnkd.in/gGiS22ja

06/27/2025

The Trend to Stimulate in Landscape Lighting Design

It's interesting to see the changes that most lighting designers go through as they develop their skills. First, they lack knowledge and are timid to provide only the basic lighting applications. As they gain experience, they become emboldened to add more and more lights to their designs, but still cannot compose on the whole.

Once these designers reach this point of progress, they tend to shift their role into that of managing the business. Therefore, they don't continue to grow from a design perspective. With that said, where have these designers left off...as it applies to design-ability and proficiencies? Most are at a phase where they desire to "stimulate" the customer. Most use excessive amounts of light, which includes excessive amounts of fixtures. In other words...Over-stimulation.

So, if this is the truth, then what is lacking in our profession? It's the transition from this stimulation into the understanding of "how" to apply light for the need...purposeful light. Consider this...what is required most of the time at night? "Soothing" conditions.

This is the next advancement step for lighting designers...can the design for rejuvenation, calm, and/or serenity? The majority of consumers all need this in their lives, and this seems to be one of the big lacking in our profession. Why is this important? It's because this type of low-level lighting supports the parasympathetic nervous system and activates the "rest & digest" mode of our daily routines.

As humans, we need to have a balance like this in our lives in order to thrive. This means low lighting levels, warm tones, and minimal contrast. This is what makes it soothing. Food for thought.

06/20/2025

Curiosity is a Powerful Design Tool

I just received a book I purchased from a lighting designer located in the UK. His name is Michael Bambling...his book is called "Chiaroscuro--a modern guide to lighting outdoor spaces with soul" (2025). I'm only a couple of chapters in and I have to say...I am impressed by what this 40+ year veteran of lighting has to say.

There are very few, if any, landscape lighting type books out there that address 'Affect'--the experience of feeling. However, this book is about that. It's about the psychological impact of light and how we should all better embrace 'darkness' as an equal part of this outdoor experience.

Part of my excitement is that somebody else is exploring deeper into the emotional aspects of this art form...much like myself. This is a rarity, indeed.

Here's what Michael has to say about Curiosity--"If you garden shows all its cards at once, there's no reason to explore." This is a wonderful perspective both on the psychology behind being curious...the desire to explore, as well as having too much light that it kills the experiences within the space. There must be a balance of light and shadow (darkness) to evoke emotion.

I'll write more once I'm finished with this book. But, I believe I have now found another "like" colleague within this specialty craft--this is a good thing.

06/16/2025

ELLI Mentor Discussion--Part 2 with Mike Gambino

We will be releasing Part 2 of my interview with Mike Gambino of Gambino Landscape Lighting to our 'Premium' members tomorrow, where he talks about how new practitioners should approach sales and design.

Mike has been and continues to work his highly successful landscape lighting business (30+ years), and he is one of ELLI's mentors. Mike is a leading authority in this trade and art form, so there is much to gain from his wisdom.

You'll only be able to view this by being a 'Premium' member of ELLI--the benefit of joining. Membership is cheap considering what you gain through our educational offering. See our Membership page for details: https://lnkd.in/gwEFhEVU

06/13/2025

Question for Landscape Lighting Installers-Designers

Over the past couple of decades, this question has come up more than once, but "Who" should drive education for landscape lighting? Should it be one of our organizations? Should it be the lighting manufacturers? Or, should it just be left to individuals looking to advance themselves? This question has haunted our profession since its inception.

Let's look at the reality of it. First, "Who" has the best financial ability to do this? Second, "Who" benefits more by this?

In the first question of who has the financial ability to do this, it likely comes down to either the lighting manufacturer or the lighting organization. However, the reason this has never been successful is that these entities only look at this problem (education) from a sales perspective--what group buys the majority of our products, or what group primarily joins our organization.

The problem with this behavior is that we never advance...we never grow beyond the "entry level" position, as it applies to training or education. Everything taught is recycled material that rarely advances one to a higher achievement level.

With regards to the second question of who benefits more...it's obviously the manufacturer or organization. The practitioner or student in this case, never really advances unless they study or train on their own.

I bring these questions up because we ALL constantly complain, "How do we learn more?" "How can we get better?" Additionally, the practitioner/student typically faces the real-world challenge of NOT having enough money to pay for advancing education.

I'd love to hear some feedback on this. What perspective do you have, and what would you suggest to correct this lacking?

06/11/2025

ELLI 'Designer Series' Launch

As promised, ELLI has just launched its 'Designer Series', which will consist of topics related to Landscape Lighting Design. We believe that if we are going to advance people, then we must concentrate our efforts on "Design". This is the biggest weakness of our profession.

I've included a link to our first series, which is on 'Plant Forms'. This is Part #1 of 3 total videos. It will address how to better understand plant forms so that we can properly illuminate them. I've found that it's more important to understand plant shapes and their associated characteristics than being able to rattle off their scientific names.

ELLI 'Designer Series' Launch

As promised, ELLI has just launched its 'Designer Series', which will consist of topics related to Landscape Lighting Design. We believe that if we are going to advance people, then we must concentrate our efforts on "Design". This is the biggest weakness of our profession.

I've included a link to our first series, which is on 'Plant Forms'. This is Part #1 of 3 total videos. It will address how to better understand plant forms so that we can properly illuminate them. I've found that it's more important to understand plant shapes and their associated characteristics than being able to rattle off their scientific names.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zERUPCnwK48

Please note that Part #1 is a complimentary offering to all parties. However, Parts #2 & #3 will only be available to ELLI members. Membership is cheap, considering all of the educational opportunities you are getting--36 total per year. If you want to see and gain more to advance your career path in landscape lighting, then sign up at: https://lnkd.in/gwEFhEVU

Please note that Part #1 is a complimentary offering to all parties. However, Parts #2 & #3 will only be available to ELLI members. Membership is cheap, considering all of the educational opportunities you are getting--36 total per year. If you want to see and gain more to advance your career path in landscape lighting, then sign up at: https://lnkd.in/gwEFhEVU

"ELLI is proud to launch its 'Designer Series' of video education, and this class is considered Part 1 of 3 sessions on the topic of Plant Forms. Our goal i...

06/05/2025

Are Product Distributors Worth Their Cost?

Today's story starts with a simple purchase at a local, large distributor for irrigation and lighting products. As a highly seasoned landscape lighting professional, I have very few needs from distributors because their offerings don't support their high costs. However, some items like cable, transformers, and misc. parts are just easier to gain at a moment's need.

So, I brought in a pathlight that had a damaged lens (I just needed a lens replacement), and it's a brand I don't normally work with. The gal who helped me took me down an aisle and is looking at another brand. I told her that it was the wrong brand that she was looking at and I pointed her to the other side of the aisle where the brand was (1st. red flag!).

Next, I asked, "I just need a replacement lens", and she told me that they don't do that...I must buy a whole new light fixture (2nd red flag!). Therefore, I question her and say, "Most every brand does this, why wouldn't this brand?" So, she takes me over to her more experienced counter help guy. I end up re-explaining everything to him, and it takes another 10 minutes of him ultimately calling his manufacturer rep--in this case, Unique Lighting. Fortunately, they were able to figure it out and order me the lens.

As we are going through this, the gal asks me..." Are you looking to buy anything else today?" I said, "No." She replied, "Oh", and walked away. Is this today's service? Is this how one should be trained? It's nothing short of sad, if not lame. I won't mention who the distributor was, but this all goes back to the question, "What good is distribution?"

Why would I or anyone, for that matter, be willing to lose an extra 30% in mark-up by utilizing distribution stores? In this day and age, when most everything can be drop-shipped to you, as well as most established contractors purchase direct...I'm surprised any of these entities are still in business. With regards to 'professional knowledge' on these products and these subject matters, good luck with that, too!

This post primarily serves as a rant. I'm sure many others have gone through the same experience. Have a great evening.

06/02/2025

Upcoming ELLI Class Series

Every month, ELLI provides educational content to help advance landscape lighting designers — this is part of our mission, and it's what sets ELLI apart from other groups.

We have a new series coming into play starting this month...a 4-part series that will dig deep into the understanding of 'Plant Forms'. We'll look at basic morphology and understand how best to illuminate. Our approach is not to become a 'botanist' by learning scientific names, but by understanding form, as many species share common forms.

We'll look into how to apply light based on 'Light Levels' (Levels 1, 2, & 3), so that proper lighting applications can be applied to fulfill the lighting composition of each space. ELLI provides a format of steps to approach each space. This includes determining the 'Emphasis' and ensuring each of the 6 principles of composition are established--thereby making it a good lighting design.

If you are a lighting designer or provider and you don't have an opportunity to learn, then ELLI is the place to go. Sign up for membership and you'll have access to these training videos: https://lnkd.in/gwEFhEVU

05/29/2025

ELLI Mentor Studies--video release

A week ago, we made an announcement about a lengthy interview I did with Mike Gambino of Gambino Landscape Lighting. For those who don't know, Mike, in my opinion, is one of the top landscape lighting professionals working today...if not the best. There are many reasons for this claim, but I'll leave it to discuss at a different time.

I spent 2 hours with Mike and made 3 separate videos out of our time together. The video I am sharing today is Part 1, and it discusses Mike's approach to sales and design. This has always been asked by many of Mike's followers. We are fortunate to have had this time with him because he rarely does interviews, and he is only involved with ELLI--no other organization.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9fPR7UL-bM&t=2s

I hope you enjoy this. Please note: videos #2 and #3 will only be shared with ELLI members over the next month or two. We will share them publicly in 2026. So, if you want to stay ahead of the competition and learn more now, become a member! https://lnkd.in/gwEFhEVU

If you have any questions: understand.elli@gmail.com.

Mark Carlson & Mike Gambino discuss his approach to sales and design with new clients.

05/19/2025

ELLI Mentor Discussions

I just finished over 2 hrs. in discussions with Mike Gambino of Gambino Landscape Lighting, located in Simi Valley, CA. Mike is one of the premier, leading landscape lighting providers in the country.

ELLI is fortunate and blessed to have Mike as a mentor in our educational program. We are the only organization that he will spend time with to offer his insights--that says a lot. Regardless, the benefit to having him share with us is in his vast experience performing in this trade and art form.

During our conversation, I asked 3 key questions:

1) What is his approach to sales & design?

2) How should others approach sales & design--entry level, mid-level, and/or advanced?

3) What are some of the problems or what is lacking in today's environment?

ELLI will be sharing part 1 of this 3 part series on May 28th...keep an eye out. This will be offered to all parties. However, part 2 and 3 will be available to our Premium members only in the near future. If you want to ensure this learning opportunity, then sign up for the ELLI membership: https://lnkd.in/gwEFhEVU

05/14/2025

Currently working on new video content...part of our Designer Series training. Today, we shot the Plant Form (part 1) content that will aid lighting designers in understanding how these plant forms & characteristics can benefit their implementation of good lighting applications.

05/09/2025

Landscape Lighting Designers--Do You Develop As-Built Plans?

You should! If you are engaged in this type of business and wish to be recognized as a professional, then As-built plans are part of this solution. The #1 benefit to having As-built plans is that it saves you and your company a ton of time. #2, it provides relevance to your professional role (what the customer sees), and in what you charge for your services.

Both of these benefits give your company an edge over the competition. One could argue that if you charge more for design services than your competition, how is that a benefit? The benefit lies in future costs, as you will more quickly be able to identify problems and repair them. This is an obvious savings in time for the customer. Altogether, you are 'justifying' your costs by the value you provide.

An As-built plan doesn't have to be drawn at an exact scale because this doesn't mean much in landscape lighting. Typically, I use 'Relative Scale' drawings, as shown below--they are quick and easy to prepare once you develop the skill proficiency. These drawings are prepared by drawing everything closely, as the eye sees, and will use existing building structures and/or hardscape elements as a foundation.

I will only plot key elements that are necessary to develop my lighting design. Initially, this plan is used as a Concept Plan to sell the project. Once the job is installed, I turn it into an As-built plan. Both the Concept and As-built plans are kept for record documentation--always available for company needs, as well as customer needs.

As a final note, I typically give a limited As-built to the customers--there is no reason for them to have detailed information, such as LED type/specifications, aiming notes, etc. However, our company plan will provide these added details, including electrical loads, cable runs, junction boxes, switching, etc.

There are not a lot of ways to separate yourself from the sea of landscape lighting designers or those claiming to be. It all comes down to one's 'experience' and 'provisions'. What are you providing your customer? Professionals are prepared, fully engaged in the design process, and have a system in place to recall this information. Education and proper training are also part of this solution. ELLI is the only organization focused specifically on landscape lighting design: https://lnkd.in/gGiS22ja

Contact us for any questions about our programs: understand.elli@gmail.com.