LIGHTFAIR^® International (LFI^®) set a record at McCormick Place in Chicago May 6-10, 2018 with the largest trade show floor, and it increased registration over last year.

The trade show footprint spanned 285,600 net square feet housing 600 exhibitors, including 66 first-time exhibiting companies and 136 manufacturers headquartered outside the U.S. Exhibitors displayed the lighting and design industry’s latest innovations and newest concepts from the world’s leading manufacturers. The Intelligent Lighting Pavilion and IoT Pavilion continued in their second year and displayed cutting-edge products and solutions showcased in product presentations featuring technology and connectivity innovations.

LIGHTFAIR 2018’s registration of 28,075 exceeded the 2017 Philadelphia registration total. Registrants represented 85 countries.

LIGHTFAIR International is the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference.  It is sponsored by the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and produced by AmericasMart^® Atlanta.

LFI’s expanded trade show floor featured a product mix of 47 categories that included controls, IoT (Internet of Things), decorative, alternative energy including solar power, software, site and roadway, digital signage, healthcare and hospitality.

Preceding and setting the stage for the trade show opening, the prestigious LFI Innovation Awards^® highlighted the industry’s most innovative products and designs introduced during the last 12 months.  The Awards saw 238 entries from 108 exhibiting companies spanning 14 categories, with each submission judged by an independent panel of lighting professionals.  Please visit https://lia.lightfair.com/#!/home for the 2018 submissions and winners list.

The 2018 LFI Conference curriculum offered 150 hours of education and contained 73 courses taught by 121 industry experts.  The brand-new Smart Cities Forum (sponsored by ARROW ELECTRONICS, Booth 214) and the new courses in the Light & Health Forum (sponsored by VISA LIGHTING, Booth 2061) covered the newest knowledge in those areas.  LIGHTFAIR also continued to offer Spanish and Portuguese simultaneous translation this year for eight select seminars.

Two keynotes headlined the 2018 LIGHTFAIR Institute^® Pre-Conference.  Danielle Feinberg of Pixar Animation Studios delivered an inspiring presentation on Sunday, May 6 – “From Pixels to Pictures: The Cinematography of Pixar’s Films.”  On Monday, May 7, Hugh Herr from the Biomechatronics group at the MIT Media Lab spoke about his groundbreaking innovations creating bionic limbs that emulate the function of natural limbs (keynote sponsored by EATON, Booth 807).

New events in The HUB gave attendees the opportunity to make new connections with colleagues from a diverse array of disciplines. The opening day Impact Speakers were visionaries Anastasia Su and Martin Lesjak, co-founders of product design firm 13&9.  Lesjak is also the CEO and creative director of INNOCAD Architecture.  Their presentation on May 8 was “New Holism – A Transdisciplinary Approach to Human-Centered Design.”

Other new events included “Networking Reception: Industry Professionals, Students and Emerging Professionals” on May 9 and “Life Before and After a Lighting Designer: Why Hire a Lighting Designer?” sponsored by the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) on May 10.  A variety of exhibitor presentations and seminars also took place in The HUB.

The “Chicago Architectural Cruise” gave attendees the opportunity to explore the renowned architecture of the city on a docent-led tour by the Chicago Architectural Foundation on May 8.  Those interested in learning about navigating the beginning stages of their career in the industry attended the “Student and Emerging Professional Roundtable” on May 9.

The New Exhibitor Pavilion was a gathering place for viewing the latest innovations from first-time exhibitors while enjoying refreshments.  There was a special event each trade show day: “Cocktail Hour” (May 8, 5-6 p.m.), “Chicago Snack” (May 9, 2-3 p.m.) and “Morning Mingle” (May 10, 9:30-10:30 a.m.).

The LFI app provided attendees with a personalized schedule, tools to easily and quickly navigate the trade show floor, quick access to important event information and a networking feature to provide the ultimate on-site experience.  Attendees and exhibitors connected to LFI via social media during the event and can continue to interact throughout the year on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.  LFI videos released on YouTube captured the LIGHTFAIR experience through highlights and attendee and exhibitor interviews.

For LIGHTFAIR International 2018, the Pre-Conference program took place from Sunday, May 6 – Monday, May 7 and the LFI Trade Show and Conference ran from Tuesday, May 8 – Thursday, May 10.  For more information about LIGHTFAIR International, please visit LIGHTFAIR.COM.