Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 1980 - 6

Proposed National Lighting
Training Symposium
by Lee Watson

USITT has become increasingly aware of basic problems in
the training of lighting designers. Currently those interested in
a career in lighting can study in theatre/drama departments,
architecture schools, engineering departments, communications-radio-television departments, interior design departments or photography/cinematography departments. All can
and do offer some training in the designed use of light. Students trained in anyone of these disciplines are quite likely, in
post-graduate employment, to move freely away from the specific lighting design discipline for which they were prepared
and into an allied area when a job is available. Certain jobs
(manufacturing, sales, engineering development of lighting
equipment) draw freely from those who may be trained in any
of the many different lighting design areas.
USITT has also recognized that certain basic knowledge
and primary skills are fundamental to everyone working in the
lighting industry. The training needs divide into those necessary for two specific groups: (1) basic skills and knowledge
needed by the potential illumination engineer, and (2) skills
and knowledge necessary for a successful career in lighting
design. Lighting design embraces architectural lighting,
theatre-opera-dance-musicals lighting, theme parks, ice
shows, discos, laser and holography work, television, cinematography, etc. It is only the highly specialized knowledge and
skills specific to each specialty which are not common property.
Numerous recent liaison conversations between USITT, IES
(Illumination Engineering Society), IES' TTFL (Theatre, Television and Film Lighting group), IALD (International Association
of Lighting Designers), ASC (American Society of Cinematographers), ASLD (American Society of Lighting Directors),
SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers)
and the League of Professional Theatre Training has brought
forth discussion of this common problem. In fact, it is the president of IES who recently suggested that USITT is the proper
professional society to initiate action in this area.
The IALD, for example, in implementing their Internship
Program finds many applicants whose prior lighting design
training hardly makes these applicants suitable for architectural work. According to Prof. John Flynn (Architectural
Engineering instructor at Pennsylvania State University and
president of IES), illuminating engineers at his school have
benefited by additional theatre training in lighting design to
supplement their engineering instruction. Numerous other examples can readily be cited.
Common to all of this is the fact that we all, either as engineers or as designers, deal with light: how it functions, how it
is produced and controlled, how people react to it's designed
use. It is these basic5----{;ertainly not the more specialized advanced training need for lifetime pursuit of one specialtywhich are being erratically handled by most colleges and universities in the American educational system. There are outstanding exceptions; programs of merit exist in all of the specialties in a limited number of educational institutions, guided
by outstanding illumination engineering and lighting design

educators. However, given the fact that most lighting students
can be proven to move freely (more with each passing year)
among the various specialties, USITT-after consultation with
the presidents of many of the above named fellow organizations-would like to convene a national conference on January 10-11, 1981, at Purdue University, to lay the groundwork
for joint, concerted action.
This conference should be limited to twenty leaders in the
field. A suggested listing is appended below. Each was selected because: (1) they are duly elected officers/spokesmen
for their fellow professional society members and can present
the conference results back to their membership for discussion and endorsement, or (2) they are nationally noted active educators in one or more of the lighting specialties who
have indicated an awareness of the problem.
The symposium can be called: Training of Lighting Designers, or, "TOLD." The purposes are twofold:
1 . To gather together for meaningful discussion and action the major elements of two fields: illumination engineering and lighting design training. USITT is fully aware
that no "hard and fast" line exists between these two
basic groups of "users of light." It is not likely that such
a dividing line will ever, or should be, established. Cooperation in mutual educational interests is important.
2. To outline, in briefest form, fundamental areas of instruction which all students should be exposed to in (1)
illuminating engineering, or (2) lighting design, regardless of the specialty students may choose to pursue as
advanced undergraduates, graduate students, or in
their post-collegiate careers.

What will this accomplish? It is USITT's belief that such an
agreed-upon, brief listing of areas of instruction fundamental
to all specialties can be published (one page) as an "Open
Letter to American Education" in our combined journals, endorsed by our combined memberships and thereby have a
lasting effect (undoubtedly gradual change over a period of
years) upon instruction in our educational system-in whatever department or school it may be offered. Such a joint declaration, carefully arrived at and backed by the combined
membership of our several professional societies (which embrace the entire lighting industry) can have great weight if
jointly published in The International Cinematographer,
SMPTE Journal, Lighting Design & Application, Theatre
Crafts, Lighting Dimensions, Theatre Design & Technology,
etc.
This explanation of intention and objectives is presented to
solicit further comment and useful suggestions, both as to
those to be invited to participate and the ultimate objectives of
a TOLD symposium. We in the lighting industry are entitled to
more flexible, better trained newcomers. USITT can be willing
to serve as a moving force. Only concerted action by all organizations can guarantee effective results.
Continued on page 33 .

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 1980