Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 1981 - 31

The

T.O.L.D.
Conference:

An Introduction
by Lee Watson

The USITT sponsored "Training of Lighting Designers"
(T.O.L.D.) conference was held on the Purdue University campus at West Lafayette, Indiana, on Saturday and Sunday, January 10th and 11 th, 1981. Twenty-three industry leaders from
the areas of theatre, television, film, architectural and interior
lighting design, including educators, designers, manufacturers and publishers, were in attendance. Many were officially designated representatives of the six major professional
societies included: USITT, IES, IES-ttfl, IALD, ASLD, SMPTE
and PEPS. This national meeting of a broadly-based group
embraced the entire lighting industry and was the first gathering together of leaders from all segments of lighting design
and engineering. What did it accomplish?
First, there were direct benefits to USITT as a national organization. Most of the fellow-professional societies were
barely, if at all, aware of the existence of USITT, it's size, it's
objectives and the leadership quality of many of our activities.
USITT will benefit in innumerable ways for many years to
come from this undertaking. We will immediately gain added
readership for TD& T, as well as some increase in membership
by advanced professionals who are now aware that our interests coincide with theirs.
Secondly, "the climate was right." Most in attendance
were aware of the existence and national reputation of other
leaders in allied fields, but had not actually met in person. A
comraderie rapidly developed which led to meaningful work
sessions and lasting professional acquaintanceships. USITT,
as the funding sponsor, will benefit from this, too.
Thirdly, the total TOLD conference "came in" more than
$500 under the budget allocated by the Board.
The final T.O.L.D. statement was rather amazing in many
ways. Twenty-three individualistic and assertive industry leaders actually managed to meet together for several hours and
agree upon the statement that follows. Each and every word,
phrase, comma, etc., was discussed and argued about. Yet
the final statement bears the endorsement of not only the
twenty-three present, but each of the sister professional so-

Lee Watson is President of USITT.

USITT/Summer, 1981

ciety representatives felt that he or she could obtain support
or endorsement from their total organization.
The final step in implementation is now underway. The
statement, a press release, and a photo of those in attendance
has been sent to all major lighting industry trade journals. Letters requesting support or endorsement from the fellow society groups are before other executive boards. Additional
signed letters of endorsement from a number of other industry
leaders who were unable to attend were solicited and are beginning to come back, signed. Within a matter of a few
months, the final statement and list of supporters (quite likely
to represent the combined voice of 75,000 people in the lighting industry through their organizations) will be set in type as
a one-page magazine statement and widely disseminated both
through direct mail and trade journals.
Several letters commending USITT have already arrived.
James L. Nuckolls, President of the International Association
of Lighting Designers (architectural lighting designers; NYC
based) wrote: "The outcome of the conference will be of great
benefit to both the I. A. L. D., and every organization who either participated, or will be touched by the importance of our
summary statement. You have our continued support, and
heartfelt thanks." Robert B. Allen, Professor of Architecture at
Washington State University (illuminating engineering and application) wrote: "I want to offer my thanks to the U. S. I. T. T.
The fact that we seem to agree on a core of lighting information relevant to so many diverse user groups is a major step
forward in the field of lighting education. The opportunity to
meet other persons involved professionally in the use of light
was most valuable. The USITT ... has done a great service to
the lighting industry." E. Carlton Winckler of Imero Fiorentino
Associates wrote: "I hope that the conference declaration will
provoke some thought and discussion in the training field."
In briefest form, this successful first step toward USITT's
organizing national support for better lighting design and engineering training throughout the American and Canadian educational systems, reflected well upon our organization.

Report of the T.O.L.D. Conference

Training of Lighting Designers
It is necessary to improve educational programs for lighting
design. Design complexities and energy constraints require
special instruction with a broader foundation than present curricula provide. Lighting design education should cross departmental lines.
Lighting design encompasses esthetics, perception, illuminating engineering and specific technical expertise. These are
used to reinforce project goals. Improvement in lighting design education must fulfill the need of the designer and those
served.
Design for the arts, architecture, industry and other applications requires a thorough understanding of the psychological, psycho-physical and physical aspects of lighting. The
characteristics of human, photographic, and photo-electric receptors must be addressed.
Properly trained people are readily employable but job entry requirements are significantly more stringent than in the
past. Educators must respond.
Lighting design is the process of creatively using the qualities and functions of lighting to affect people, objects and
space. The qualities of lighting are intensity, form, color and
movement. The functions of lighting are visibility, mood/atmosphere, composition and motivation. Study should include at
least a fundamental understanding of the following:
DESIGN TECHNIQUE AND APPLtCA TlON: color, light
sources; photometrics; brightness relationships. In(Continued on page 43 ... J

Theatre Design & Technology

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